http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/09/california-tightens-lid-dark-money-groups
"California regulators took another step last week to crack down on secretive money in state elections. And for that, we have the Koch brothers to thank.
Politically active nonprofits have become a preferred way for deep-pocketed donors to influence elections without revealing their identities. As nonprofits, these groups are under no obligation to disclose where their money comes from. But as the amount of dark money entering elections has soared, federal regulators have largely taken a pass on adding new disclosure requirements. California regulators, on the other hand, have gone straight at the issue, and in the wake of a 2012 scandal involving several groups from the network of political organizations run by the Koch brothers, they have aggressively fought to keep dark money groups out of state elections.
On Thursday, state regulators added another layer of security, closing a loophole that might have allowed out-of-state groups and donors to secretly buy influence in California elections. If there was any wiggle room for dark money groups to operate in California, it's likely gone now.
California's dark-money crackdown stems from an investigation sparked in the run-up to the 2012 election, in which regulators uncovered a plot by a Virginia-based dark-money group called Americans for Job Security to funnel more than $24 million from secret donors through a series of intermediary groups to be spent on two state ballot initiatives: one to raise taxes and the other to ban labor unions from making political donations. According to the investigation, AJS routed the money to an Arizona dark-money group called the Center to Protect Patient's Rights, which then passed it on to two more groups, including one called Americans for Responsible Leadership. Those groups, in turn, channeled the money to at least two California-based groups that spent it on campaigns to defeat the tax increase proposal and to support the ban on donations from unions.
The CPPR, which was actually just a post office box in Arizona, became known as the ATM for a sprawling network of politically active groups tied to libertarian brothers Charles and David Koch."
September 23, 2015
Mathematician Declares War On Kansas Republicans For Committing Election Fraud (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/09/23/mathematician-declares-war-on-kansas-republicans-for-committing-election-fraud-video/
"Kansas Republicans should be shaking in their boots right about now. Because mathematician Beth Clarkson is taking them to court to force Secretary of State Kris Kobach to release voting records that would prove that Republicans committed election fraud to help them maintain control over the state."
"Kansas Republicans should be shaking in their boots right about now. Because mathematician Beth Clarkson is taking them to court to force Secretary of State Kris Kobach to release voting records that would prove that Republicans committed election fraud to help them maintain control over the state."
The Republican Insurgency Against the Judicial Branch
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/32895-the-republican-insurgency-against-the-judicial-branch
"What's really going on here is another example of the "Caucus Room Conspiracy," the plot Republicans hatched on the day President Obama took office to prevent him, our nation's first Black President, from building up any legacy what-so-ever.
On January 20, 2009, the night when the Obamas were dancing at inaugural balls and most Americans were out celebrating the end of the Bush years, a group of powerful Republicans was planning the end of Obama presidency before it even got going.
At the Caucus Room restaurant in Washington, DC, GOP leaders drew up a plan to intentionally sabotage President Obama at every point possible.
On the guest list for this "invitation only" meeting were Republican Senators like Jim DeMint, Jon Kyl, Tom Coburn, John Ensign and Bob Corker.
Also in attendance were Congressmen Paul Ryan, Pete Sessions, Jeb Hensarling, Pete Hoekstra, Dan Lungren, Eric Cantor and Kevin McCarthy.
The whole thing was orchestrated by Republican propaganda mastermind Frank Luntz and over the course of four hours, this group of the most powerful conservative lawmakers in the country committed to a plan of action.
They promised each other that they would filibuster and obstruct any and all legislation supported by the new president, Barack Obama."
"What's really going on here is another example of the "Caucus Room Conspiracy," the plot Republicans hatched on the day President Obama took office to prevent him, our nation's first Black President, from building up any legacy what-so-ever.
On January 20, 2009, the night when the Obamas were dancing at inaugural balls and most Americans were out celebrating the end of the Bush years, a group of powerful Republicans was planning the end of Obama presidency before it even got going.
At the Caucus Room restaurant in Washington, DC, GOP leaders drew up a plan to intentionally sabotage President Obama at every point possible.
On the guest list for this "invitation only" meeting were Republican Senators like Jim DeMint, Jon Kyl, Tom Coburn, John Ensign and Bob Corker.
Also in attendance were Congressmen Paul Ryan, Pete Sessions, Jeb Hensarling, Pete Hoekstra, Dan Lungren, Eric Cantor and Kevin McCarthy.
The whole thing was orchestrated by Republican propaganda mastermind Frank Luntz and over the course of four hours, this group of the most powerful conservative lawmakers in the country committed to a plan of action.
They promised each other that they would filibuster and obstruct any and all legislation supported by the new president, Barack Obama."
The GOP’s venomous Pope tirades are the ultimate example of hypocritical right-wing rage
The GOP’s venomous Pope tirades are the ultimate example of hypocritical right-wing rage
"The ultimate incongruity is this: The Pope has consistently, though not always, illustrated exactly how people of faith can serve the common good, while the GOP is more interested in exploiting religion to oppress, restrict and demonize. This really what’s freaking them out. And once again, the rage is growing thick and loaded down with flaming hypocrisy."
"The ultimate incongruity is this: The Pope has consistently, though not always, illustrated exactly how people of faith can serve the common good, while the GOP is more interested in exploiting religion to oppress, restrict and demonize. This really what’s freaking them out. And once again, the rage is growing thick and loaded down with flaming hypocrisy."
Pope Francis Reminds Us that Our Economic Systems Should Reflect our Moral Values
Pope Francis Reminds Us that Our Economic Systems Should Reflect our Moral Values
"While many have lauded Pope Francis for consistently discussing economic inequality and poverty, some on the right have been less enthusiastic. In response to the pope’s encyclical on poverty and the environment, Jeb Bush, for example, remarked, “I don’t get economic policy from my bishops or my cardinal or my pope. I think religion ought to be about making us better as people and less about things that end up getting in the political realm.”
Bush’s dismissal of the pope’s positions on economic issues not only contradicts his earlier claims about the relationship between religion and politics, but also ignores the history of his own church."
"While many have lauded Pope Francis for consistently discussing economic inequality and poverty, some on the right have been less enthusiastic. In response to the pope’s encyclical on poverty and the environment, Jeb Bush, for example, remarked, “I don’t get economic policy from my bishops or my cardinal or my pope. I think religion ought to be about making us better as people and less about things that end up getting in the political realm.”
Bush’s dismissal of the pope’s positions on economic issues not only contradicts his earlier claims about the relationship between religion and politics, but also ignores the history of his own church."
Latinos Are Fighting Back Against Republican Racism (Video)
http://samuel-warde.com/2015/09/latinos-are-fighting-back-against-republican-racism-video/
"Not since the 2004 re-election campaign of President George W Bush has a Republican presidential candidate earned as much as 40% of the Hispanic vote. Mitt Romney got a dismal 27% in the 2012 contest against President Barack Obama."
"Not since the 2004 re-election campaign of President George W Bush has a Republican presidential candidate earned as much as 40% of the Hispanic vote. Mitt Romney got a dismal 27% in the 2012 contest against President Barack Obama."
Latinos are fighting Republican racism by registering voters
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/20/1421435/-Latinos-are-fighting-Republican-racism-by-registering-voters
"The 2016 primary campaign continues to expose the ugly behavior of Republicans toward the Latino community"
"The 2016 primary campaign continues to expose the ugly behavior of Republicans toward the Latino community"
'Son of an immigrant family' Pope Francis gets a White House welcome
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/23/1424105/--Son-of-an-immigrant-family-Pope-Francis-gets-a-White-House-welcome
"Francis does not address Congress until Thursday, but already he is giving Republicans reason to grind their teeth, introducing himself as "the son of an immigrant family," and noting that America "was largely built by such families." But he focused more on climate issues:
Mr. President, I find it encouraging that you are proposing an initiative for reducing air pollution. Accepting the urgency, it seems clear to me also that climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation. When it comes to the care of our “common home”, we are living at a critical moment of history. We still have time to make the changes needed to bring about “a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change” (Laudato Si’, 13). Such change demands on our part a serious and responsible recognition not only of the kind of world we may be leaving to our children, but also to the millions of people living under a system which has overlooked them. Our common home has been part of this group of the excluded which cries out to heaven and which today powerfully strikes our homes, our cities and our societies. To use a telling phrase of the Reverend Martin Luther King, we can say that we have defaulted on a promissory note and now is the time to honor it."
"Francis does not address Congress until Thursday, but already he is giving Republicans reason to grind their teeth, introducing himself as "the son of an immigrant family," and noting that America "was largely built by such families." But he focused more on climate issues:
Mr. President, I find it encouraging that you are proposing an initiative for reducing air pollution. Accepting the urgency, it seems clear to me also that climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation. When it comes to the care of our “common home”, we are living at a critical moment of history. We still have time to make the changes needed to bring about “a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change” (Laudato Si’, 13). Such change demands on our part a serious and responsible recognition not only of the kind of world we may be leaving to our children, but also to the millions of people living under a system which has overlooked them. Our common home has been part of this group of the excluded which cries out to heaven and which today powerfully strikes our homes, our cities and our societies. To use a telling phrase of the Reverend Martin Luther King, we can say that we have defaulted on a promissory note and now is the time to honor it."
Pope Francis To Conservatives: If I’m ‘A Liberal’, So Was Jesus!
http://www.occupydemocrats.com/pope-francis-to-conservatives-if-im-a-liberal-so-was-jesus-3/
"it illustrates the GOP’s false religiosity and their true devotion to the altar of hypercapitalism and the free market, their disdain for the poor and the needy, the constant catering to the rich and powerful."
"it illustrates the GOP’s false religiosity and their true devotion to the altar of hypercapitalism and the free market, their disdain for the poor and the needy, the constant catering to the rich and powerful."
Pope Visit Backfires On Republicans As Obama and Francis Team Up On Climate Change
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/09/23/pope-visit-backfires-republicans-obama-francis-team-climate-change.html
"Pope Francis spoke positively about President Obama’s proposed steps to combat climate change:
Mr. President, I find it encouraging that you are proposing an initiative for reducing air pollution. Accepting the urgency, it seems clear to me also that climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to our future generation. When it comes to the care of our common home, we are living at a critical moment of history. We still have time to make the change needed to bring about a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change.
Such change demands on our part a serious and responsible recognition not only of the kind of world we may be leaving to our children, but also to the millions of people living under a system which has overlooked them. Our common home has been part of this group of the excluded, which cries out to heaven and which today powerfully strikes our homes, our cities, our societies. To use a telling phrase of the Reverend Martin Luther King, we can say that we have defaulted on a promissory note, and now is the time to honor it.
Republicans are some of the few remaining holdouts in the world who have a stated public policy position that deny the reality of climate change."
"Pope Francis spoke positively about President Obama’s proposed steps to combat climate change:
Mr. President, I find it encouraging that you are proposing an initiative for reducing air pollution. Accepting the urgency, it seems clear to me also that climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to our future generation. When it comes to the care of our common home, we are living at a critical moment of history. We still have time to make the change needed to bring about a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change.
Such change demands on our part a serious and responsible recognition not only of the kind of world we may be leaving to our children, but also to the millions of people living under a system which has overlooked them. Our common home has been part of this group of the excluded, which cries out to heaven and which today powerfully strikes our homes, our cities, our societies. To use a telling phrase of the Reverend Martin Luther King, we can say that we have defaulted on a promissory note, and now is the time to honor it.
Republicans are some of the few remaining holdouts in the world who have a stated public policy position that deny the reality of climate change."
The Planet Set Three Major Heat Records In August
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/09/17/3702638/hottest-august-summer-year/
"Like a broken record, we are breaking records for temperature over and over and over again. NOAA’s latest monthly State of the Climate Report reports that the Earth just experienced the hottest August on record, the hottest summer (June to August) on record, and the hottest year to date."
"Like a broken record, we are breaking records for temperature over and over and over again. NOAA’s latest monthly State of the Climate Report reports that the Earth just experienced the hottest August on record, the hottest summer (June to August) on record, and the hottest year to date."
Sounds Like Sci-Fi Horror, but It's Frighteningly Real: Giant Viruses May Be Unleashed by Arctic Thaw @alternet
Sounds Like Sci-Fi Horror, but It's Frighteningly Real: Giant Viruses May Be Unleashed by Arctic Thaw @alternet
"This newly discovered pathogen, named Mollivirus sibericum, is 0.6 microns long and has more than 500 genes. By contrast, the contemporary influenza A and B viruses each contain eight genes.
Viruses are classed as “giant” when they are longer than half a micron, or about 0.00002 inch."
"This newly discovered pathogen, named Mollivirus sibericum, is 0.6 microns long and has more than 500 genes. By contrast, the contemporary influenza A and B viruses each contain eight genes.
Viruses are classed as “giant” when they are longer than half a micron, or about 0.00002 inch."
Human Activity Pushing Marine Life to the Brink of Collapse
Human Activity Pushing Marine Life to the Brink of Collapse
"Human activity is pushing marine life to the brink of collapse, warned a leading international conservation group, which found that overfishing, destruction of marine habitats, and climate change has led to the loss of almost half the world's marine mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish within a single generation."
"Human activity is pushing marine life to the brink of collapse, warned a leading international conservation group, which found that overfishing, destruction of marine habitats, and climate change has led to the loss of almost half the world's marine mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish within a single generation."
47 Republican Senators Want To Block The EPA’s Clean Water Rule
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/09/18/3703024/senate-republicans-disapprove-of-waters-rule/
"The rule, developed with the Army Corps of Engineers using what a White House spokesman called “the best science available” to determine how waterways are connected, protects two million miles of streams and 20 million acres of wetlands that the Clean Water Act did not clearly cover before. The EPA estimates that a third of Americans get their drinking water from sources connected to the added waterways." The pro pollution, pro poison party strikes again."
"The rule, developed with the Army Corps of Engineers using what a White House spokesman called “the best science available” to determine how waterways are connected, protects two million miles of streams and 20 million acres of wetlands that the Clean Water Act did not clearly cover before. The EPA estimates that a third of Americans get their drinking water from sources connected to the added waterways." The pro pollution, pro poison party strikes again."
Exxon Doubled Down on Climate Denial and Deceit
Exxon Doubled Down on Climate Denial and Deceit
"ExxonMobil’s own scientists had secretly confirmed the science behind human-caused climate change as early as the late 1970s.
Yes—this is the same ExxonMobil that has funded efforts to attack the science of climate change for more than two decades."
"ExxonMobil’s own scientists had secretly confirmed the science behind human-caused climate change as early as the late 1970s.
Yes—this is the same ExxonMobil that has funded efforts to attack the science of climate change for more than two decades."
The Pope's Visit Is Illustrative Of How Screwed Up The Republican Party Has Become
The Pope's Visit Is Illustrative Of How Screwed Up The Republican Party Has Become
"It's an ironic twist; we finally have a pope who seems to be trying to lead the Catholic Church based on the values and teachings of Jesus Christ – the man on which Christianity is based – and that's really pissing off a lot of Republicans."
"It's an ironic twist; we finally have a pope who seems to be trying to lead the Catholic Church based on the values and teachings of Jesus Christ – the man on which Christianity is based – and that's really pissing off a lot of Republicans."
Scientists Seek Prosecution Of Climate Change Deniers Under RICO Statutes
http://samuel-warde.com/2015/09/scientists-seek-prosecution-of-climate-change-deniers-under-rico-statutes/
"A RICO investigation (1999 to 2006) played an important role in stopping the tobacco industry from continuing to deceive the American people about the dangers of smoking. If corporations in the fossil fuel industry and their supporters are guilty of the misdeeds that have been documented in books and journal articles, it is imperative that these misdeeds be stopped as soon as possible so that America and the world can get on with the critically important business of finding effective ways to restabilize the Earth’s climate, before even more lasting damage is done."
"A RICO investigation (1999 to 2006) played an important role in stopping the tobacco industry from continuing to deceive the American people about the dangers of smoking. If corporations in the fossil fuel industry and their supporters are guilty of the misdeeds that have been documented in books and journal articles, it is imperative that these misdeeds be stopped as soon as possible so that America and the world can get on with the critically important business of finding effective ways to restabilize the Earth’s climate, before even more lasting damage is done."
Pope Francis Attacked By Climate Deniers Over Support For Accurate Science
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/09/21/3703544/climate-deniers-smear-pope-francis/
"From George Will to the Heartland Institute, climate science deniers are a one-trick pony when it comes to responding to effective climate change communicators: smear, smear, smear. They are at it again, shamelessly, on the eve of the U.S. visit by the widely-admired Pope Francis — who issued a ground-breaking Encyclical on the moral urgency of climate action back in June."
"From George Will to the Heartland Institute, climate science deniers are a one-trick pony when it comes to responding to effective climate change communicators: smear, smear, smear. They are at it again, shamelessly, on the eve of the U.S. visit by the widely-admired Pope Francis — who issued a ground-breaking Encyclical on the moral urgency of climate action back in June."
Debunking 5 of the Biggest Republican Lies About President Obama and the Middle East
Debunking 5 of the Biggest Republican Lies About President Obama and the Middle East
"1. President Obama is the reason why American troops left Iraq: This is easily the biggest one I come across. The truth remains that the timetable for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq was setup by George W. Bush in 2008 when he signed a SOFA agreement with the Iraqi government. President Obama simply enforced that agreement. Oh, by the way, Dick Cheney called the SOFA agreement signed by his boss a “sign of success” in Iraq."
"1. President Obama is the reason why American troops left Iraq: This is easily the biggest one I come across. The truth remains that the timetable for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq was setup by George W. Bush in 2008 when he signed a SOFA agreement with the Iraqi government. President Obama simply enforced that agreement. Oh, by the way, Dick Cheney called the SOFA agreement signed by his boss a “sign of success” in Iraq."
Bogus Veterans’ Group Backing Donald Trump Loses Its Non-Profit Status
http://www.liberalamerica.org/2015/09/19/bogus-veterans-group-backing-donald-trump-loses-its-non-profit-status/
"It was proven earlier this week that Veterans for a Strong America is actually one man named Joel Arends who lives in South Dakota. The group has $30 cash in assets and $318 in debts. Yet this is the group Trump sold tickets to support with his speech aboard the USS Iowa. Those tickets ranged in price from $100-1,000. The group’s endorsement of Trump at the event could also raise larger legal issues under campaign finance laws."
"It was proven earlier this week that Veterans for a Strong America is actually one man named Joel Arends who lives in South Dakota. The group has $30 cash in assets and $318 in debts. Yet this is the group Trump sold tickets to support with his speech aboard the USS Iowa. Those tickets ranged in price from $100-1,000. The group’s endorsement of Trump at the event could also raise larger legal issues under campaign finance laws."
Trump Galvanizing the Hispanic Vote to the Death of GOP: Hispanic Grassroots Rising
http://ringoffireradio.com/2015/09/trump-galvanizing-the-hispanic-vote-to-the-death-of-gop-hispanic-grassroots-rising/
"America’s Hispanic community is thanking Donald Trump. Because of his racist, xenophobic, rhetoric, repeated by other GOP candidates, Hispanic voters will be showing up to the polls in droves to make sure the GOP doesn’t gain the White House."
"America’s Hispanic community is thanking Donald Trump. Because of his racist, xenophobic, rhetoric, repeated by other GOP candidates, Hispanic voters will be showing up to the polls in droves to make sure the GOP doesn’t gain the White House."
Trump’s Fake Veteran Group Endorsement Just Lost its Charitable Exemption from the IRS
http://ringoffireradio.com/2015/09/trumps-fake-veteran-group-endorsement-just-lost-its-charitable-exemption-from-the-irs/
"Veterans for a Strong America, the fake vets group that endorsed Trump and has no members, just lost its non-profit status. Joel Arends, the group’s founder and only member, has not filed any tax returns for the group in three years, prompting the IRS to revoke the group’s non-profit status."
"Veterans for a Strong America, the fake vets group that endorsed Trump and has no members, just lost its non-profit status. Joel Arends, the group’s founder and only member, has not filed any tax returns for the group in three years, prompting the IRS to revoke the group’s non-profit status."
President Obama Makes History With Record-Setting Economic Turn-Around (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/09/18/president-obama-makes-history-with-record-setting-economic-turn-around-video/
"President Obama’s economy had already smashed existing records in the area of private-sector jobs creation, dragging the country back from the job-gushing economy left to us by former Republican President George W. Bush.
A year later, President Obama continues to shatter previous records for economic performance.
The US has now seen 66 straight months of job creation, the longest streak ever recorded. Over that time period, American businesses have added 13.1 million jobs to the economy. As we approach the holiday season, a time of year when jobs are routinely added to the economy, that record streak is certain to continue.
During the first year of the George W. Bush economic crash more than $13 trillion dollars in household wealth evaporated. Nearly 20 percent of the country’s total wealth was swallowed up, a figure which was five times higher than losses during the first year of the Great Depression.
From a historical perspective, the kind of devastating losses that gripped the United States following the Bush presidency had never been seen before, not even in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, when the country was in the darkest days of the Great Depression. From the same perspective, no president had ever before been charged with the task of engineering a financial recovery of the magnitude that was needed to stop our country’s financial bleeding, and return the economy to a place of productivity and economic growth.
Seven years after the economic crash of 1929, household wealth remained at 30 percent below pre-depression levels. Yet in spite of the fact that the first year of the GWB recession hit Americans five times harder than the Great Depression, today total household wealth is 30 percent above what it was in 2008.
Another record set by former republican president George W. Bush, during the first year of the Great Recession housing prices plummeted faster and farther than they had fallen during the first year of the Great Depression. Today property values, a major component to U.S. household wealth, are back to pre-recession levels and the housing market is flourishing again. 65 percent of U.S. housing markets reported an 8-year sales high in July of 2014. Construction-related jobs are also making a strong comeback, as the housing market continues to stabilize.
Again the quick recovery of the U.S. housing market following the 2008 economic disaster is another of President Obama’s historic achievements. Home foreclosures are now at a 15 year low, whereas in 2008, home foreclosures spiked by a record-setting 81 percent over the previous year, and rose by 225 percent between 2006 and 2008, as George W. Bush was leaving office."
"President Obama’s economy had already smashed existing records in the area of private-sector jobs creation, dragging the country back from the job-gushing economy left to us by former Republican President George W. Bush.
A year later, President Obama continues to shatter previous records for economic performance.
The US has now seen 66 straight months of job creation, the longest streak ever recorded. Over that time period, American businesses have added 13.1 million jobs to the economy. As we approach the holiday season, a time of year when jobs are routinely added to the economy, that record streak is certain to continue.
During the first year of the George W. Bush economic crash more than $13 trillion dollars in household wealth evaporated. Nearly 20 percent of the country’s total wealth was swallowed up, a figure which was five times higher than losses during the first year of the Great Depression.
From a historical perspective, the kind of devastating losses that gripped the United States following the Bush presidency had never been seen before, not even in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, when the country was in the darkest days of the Great Depression. From the same perspective, no president had ever before been charged with the task of engineering a financial recovery of the magnitude that was needed to stop our country’s financial bleeding, and return the economy to a place of productivity and economic growth.
Seven years after the economic crash of 1929, household wealth remained at 30 percent below pre-depression levels. Yet in spite of the fact that the first year of the GWB recession hit Americans five times harder than the Great Depression, today total household wealth is 30 percent above what it was in 2008.
Another record set by former republican president George W. Bush, during the first year of the Great Recession housing prices plummeted faster and farther than they had fallen during the first year of the Great Depression. Today property values, a major component to U.S. household wealth, are back to pre-recession levels and the housing market is flourishing again. 65 percent of U.S. housing markets reported an 8-year sales high in July of 2014. Construction-related jobs are also making a strong comeback, as the housing market continues to stabilize.
Again the quick recovery of the U.S. housing market following the 2008 economic disaster is another of President Obama’s historic achievements. Home foreclosures are now at a 15 year low, whereas in 2008, home foreclosures spiked by a record-setting 81 percent over the previous year, and rose by 225 percent between 2006 and 2008, as George W. Bush was leaving office."
'Justice Is Not For Sale': Sanders Leads Charge Against For-Profit Prisons
'Justice Is Not For Sale': Sanders Leads Charge Against For-Profit Prisons
"The bill is designed to counteract the lobbying efforts of corporations that benefit financially from mass incarceration."
"The bill is designed to counteract the lobbying efforts of corporations that benefit financially from mass incarceration."
Bill Maher Lays Waste To Republican Predictions Of Doom And Gloom Under Obama
Bill Maher Lays Waste To Republican Predictions Of Doom And Gloom Under Obama
"Bill Maher Annihilates Republicans By Debunking 11 Wrong GOP Predictions In 100 Seconds:
During the last election Mitt Romney said, “If President Obama is elected you will not be able to get a job.” But unemployment is now lower than it ever was under Reagan. It’s Romney who can’t get a job.
Mitt also said if we bailed out the car companies you could kiss the American automotive industry goodbye. But we did bail them out, and it’s doing better than ever.
Donald Trump said Obamacare would be a job killer. But it didn’t kill jobs. It didn’t result in death panels. It didn’t bankrupt the states. It didn’t bankrupt the nation. It didn’t bankrupt Medicare. It didn’t bankrupt the insurance industry.
Here’s what actually happened. Insurance companies got richer; some black kids got inhalers, and John Boehner had to pay more taxes on his tan.
Or how about Newt Gingrich in 2012 saying if you want ten dollar a gallon gasoline, Barack Obama should be your candidate. Or the NRA president saying that a reelected Obama would erase the Second Amendment from the Bill of Rights. Or Rick Santorum warning that if gay marriage became the law of the land our country will fall.
You know, for a party that’s so anti-gay, they sure pull a lot of stuff out of their ass.
The basis for the Republican Party’s comprehensive track record of being wrong about everything is their decision to oppose anything President Obama suggests. The Republican refusal to compromise combined with a failed social and economic ideology has created an inability for Republicans to be right.
The Republican refusal to recognize facts has left them living a parallel universe that is governed by their feelings and beliefs. Republicans can’t share common ground with the rest of us because they invent their own reality. Until Republicans decide to join the rest of us, they are going to be off on an island watching the rest of the world pass them by.
The United States is changing, evolving, and growing while the castaways on GOP island cling on to the past."
"Bill Maher Annihilates Republicans By Debunking 11 Wrong GOP Predictions In 100 Seconds:
During the last election Mitt Romney said, “If President Obama is elected you will not be able to get a job.” But unemployment is now lower than it ever was under Reagan. It’s Romney who can’t get a job.
Mitt also said if we bailed out the car companies you could kiss the American automotive industry goodbye. But we did bail them out, and it’s doing better than ever.
Donald Trump said Obamacare would be a job killer. But it didn’t kill jobs. It didn’t result in death panels. It didn’t bankrupt the states. It didn’t bankrupt the nation. It didn’t bankrupt Medicare. It didn’t bankrupt the insurance industry.
Here’s what actually happened. Insurance companies got richer; some black kids got inhalers, and John Boehner had to pay more taxes on his tan.
Or how about Newt Gingrich in 2012 saying if you want ten dollar a gallon gasoline, Barack Obama should be your candidate. Or the NRA president saying that a reelected Obama would erase the Second Amendment from the Bill of Rights. Or Rick Santorum warning that if gay marriage became the law of the land our country will fall.
You know, for a party that’s so anti-gay, they sure pull a lot of stuff out of their ass.
The basis for the Republican Party’s comprehensive track record of being wrong about everything is their decision to oppose anything President Obama suggests. The Republican refusal to compromise combined with a failed social and economic ideology has created an inability for Republicans to be right.
The Republican refusal to recognize facts has left them living a parallel universe that is governed by their feelings and beliefs. Republicans can’t share common ground with the rest of us because they invent their own reality. Until Republicans decide to join the rest of us, they are going to be off on an island watching the rest of the world pass them by.
The United States is changing, evolving, and growing while the castaways on GOP island cling on to the past."
Jade Helm is over, but America's conspiracy theorists have moved on
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/19/1421644/-Jade-Helm-is-over-but-America-s-conspiracy-theorists-have-moved-on
"one third of current American Republican voters are extraordinarily, almost mind-bogglingly, well, stupid."
"one third of current American Republican voters are extraordinarily, almost mind-bogglingly, well, stupid."
In Less Than Two Minutes, Bill Maher Slams The GOP’s Failed Doomsday Prophecies (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/09/19/maher-gop-prophecies/
"The world has left the GOP behind. They have had to resort to the same tactics as evangelical scam artists in order to maintain their power. Rather than worry about the problems facing the United States and the world, they simply take what the left has to offer in terms of progress and say “No.” Whether it is their denial of climate change, their refusal to accept that trickle-down economics is nonsense, or that minorities deserve the same rights as everyone else, they simply cannot join the rest of world and try to actually work to make the United States a stronger nation."
"The world has left the GOP behind. They have had to resort to the same tactics as evangelical scam artists in order to maintain their power. Rather than worry about the problems facing the United States and the world, they simply take what the left has to offer in terms of progress and say “No.” Whether it is their denial of climate change, their refusal to accept that trickle-down economics is nonsense, or that minorities deserve the same rights as everyone else, they simply cannot join the rest of world and try to actually work to make the United States a stronger nation."
Noam Chomsky: Why the Republican 'Radical Insurgency' Is So Panicked About the Iran Nuclear Deal @alternet
Noam Chomsky: Why the Republican 'Radical Insurgency' Is So Panicked About the Iran Nuclear Deal @alternet
"It is important to bear in mind that the Republicans have long abandoned the pretence of functioning as a normal parliamentary party. Rather, they have become a “radical insurgency” that scarcely seeks to participate in normal parliamentary politics, as observed by the respected conservative political commentator Norman Ornstein of the right-wing American Enterprise Institute. Since Ronald Reagan, the leadership has plunged so far into the pockets of the very rich and the corporate sector that they can attract votes only by mobilising sectors of the population that have not previously been an organised political force, among them extremist evangelical Christians, now probably the majority of Republican voters; remnants of the former slave-holding States; nativists who are terrified that “they” are taking our white Christian Anglo-Saxon country away from us; and others who turn the Republican primaries into spectacles remote from the mainstream of modern society—though not the mainstream of the most powerful country in world history."
"It is important to bear in mind that the Republicans have long abandoned the pretence of functioning as a normal parliamentary party. Rather, they have become a “radical insurgency” that scarcely seeks to participate in normal parliamentary politics, as observed by the respected conservative political commentator Norman Ornstein of the right-wing American Enterprise Institute. Since Ronald Reagan, the leadership has plunged so far into the pockets of the very rich and the corporate sector that they can attract votes only by mobilising sectors of the population that have not previously been an organised political force, among them extremist evangelical Christians, now probably the majority of Republican voters; remnants of the former slave-holding States; nativists who are terrified that “they” are taking our white Christian Anglo-Saxon country away from us; and others who turn the Republican primaries into spectacles remote from the mainstream of modern society—though not the mainstream of the most powerful country in world history."
Democrat Files Bill To Take Away Pay From All Congressmen Who Shut Down Government
http://www.occupydemocrats.com/democrat-files-bill-to-take-away-pay-from-all-congressmen-who-shut-down-government-4/
"Nolan introduced a similar bill during the last shutdown, and donates his shutdown pay to charities in his district. His actions send a strong message to the rest of Congress. The constant re-fighting of political battles and the brinkmanship that the Republican-led Congress has established as business as usual is a huge embarrassment to our country and a dire indictment of our political system. Congress’s 15% approval rating is evidence enough. There are huge issues facing our nation, but the right-wing insists on wasting our time on social issues that the majority of Americans aren’t concerned about. It’s far beyond time our legislators began behaving like rational adults and actually sit down to govern."
"Nolan introduced a similar bill during the last shutdown, and donates his shutdown pay to charities in his district. His actions send a strong message to the rest of Congress. The constant re-fighting of political battles and the brinkmanship that the Republican-led Congress has established as business as usual is a huge embarrassment to our country and a dire indictment of our political system. Congress’s 15% approval rating is evidence enough. There are huge issues facing our nation, but the right-wing insists on wasting our time on social issues that the majority of Americans aren’t concerned about. It’s far beyond time our legislators began behaving like rational adults and actually sit down to govern."
Democrat Introduces Bill Aimed At Stripping Congress Of Their Paycheck If The Government Shuts Down
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/09/19/democrat-introduces-bill-aimed-at-stripping-congress-of-their-paycheck-if-the-government-shuts-down/
"If Ted Cruz and Republicans think they can take America hostage in order to get what they want and not face any consequences or backlash, they are sorely mistaken."
"If Ted Cruz and Republicans think they can take America hostage in order to get what they want and not face any consequences or backlash, they are sorely mistaken."
Can independent state judiciaries survive the onslaught of Republican rule?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/19/1421272/-Can-independent-state-judiciaries-survive-the-onslaught-of-Republican-rule
"What the Kansas legislature actually did pass, and Brownback signed into law, is […] a measure to defund all Kansas courts if any state judge overturns a 2014 law removing the state Supreme Court's authority to select 31 chief district judges. Could the message be any clearer? "Decide a legal case the exact way we want, or we'll put you out of business." This month, after a judge struck down the judicial-appointment law for violating the separation of powers, the court-defunding law is now facing a constitutional challenge in court.
In Wisconsin, legislators pushed through a ballot initiative this year on a party line vote to amend the state constitution, laying the foundation for replacing a liberal, longtime chief justice in the middle of an elected term of office, with a conservative one.
And that’s exactly what happened. The court’s conservative majority voted quickly, by email, for the change in leaders. This consolidated political clout on a court that has subsequently quashed a campaign finance probe, with several special interest groups under investigation.
Finally, in North Carolina, legislators passed a bill changing the way elected Supreme Court justices go about seeking a new term. They will have an option to run in retention (up-or-down) rather than contested races. Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, signed the bill into law and it takes effect next year."
"What the Kansas legislature actually did pass, and Brownback signed into law, is […] a measure to defund all Kansas courts if any state judge overturns a 2014 law removing the state Supreme Court's authority to select 31 chief district judges. Could the message be any clearer? "Decide a legal case the exact way we want, or we'll put you out of business." This month, after a judge struck down the judicial-appointment law for violating the separation of powers, the court-defunding law is now facing a constitutional challenge in court.
In Wisconsin, legislators pushed through a ballot initiative this year on a party line vote to amend the state constitution, laying the foundation for replacing a liberal, longtime chief justice in the middle of an elected term of office, with a conservative one.
And that’s exactly what happened. The court’s conservative majority voted quickly, by email, for the change in leaders. This consolidated political clout on a court that has subsequently quashed a campaign finance probe, with several special interest groups under investigation.
Finally, in North Carolina, legislators passed a bill changing the way elected Supreme Court justices go about seeking a new term. They will have an option to run in retention (up-or-down) rather than contested races. Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, signed the bill into law and it takes effect next year."
Walker's Partisans Poised to Raze Nonpartisan Government Accountability Board
Walker's Partisans Poised to Raze Nonpartisan Government Accountability Board
"Stung by the campaign finance probe into potentially illegal coordination between Governor Scott Walker and independent campaign finance groups, the Wisconsin GOP is on the warpath. Governor Walker called for “dismantling” of the Government Accountability Board (GAB), the nonpartisan, independent agency that oversees Wisconsin elections, campaign finance and ethics laws.
So now the GOP-controlled legislature is getting down to business."
"Stung by the campaign finance probe into potentially illegal coordination between Governor Scott Walker and independent campaign finance groups, the Wisconsin GOP is on the warpath. Governor Walker called for “dismantling” of the Government Accountability Board (GAB), the nonpartisan, independent agency that oversees Wisconsin elections, campaign finance and ethics laws.
So now the GOP-controlled legislature is getting down to business."
As CEO of HP, Fiorina Violated U.S. – Iran Sanctions: Selling Millions of Computers to Them
http://ringoffireradio.com/2015/09/as-ceo-of-hp-fiorina-violated-u-s-sanctions-on-iran-and-sold-millions-of-computers-to-them/
"GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina likes to portray herself as a hard-liner on Iran. However, during Fiornia’s six-year tenure at Hewlett-Packard between 1999 and 2005, the company sold more than $100 million worth of computers and other high-tech equipment to Iranian customers, despite US export sanctions at the time. It’s a small detail she has neglected to mention while on the campaign trail."
"GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina likes to portray herself as a hard-liner on Iran. However, during Fiornia’s six-year tenure at Hewlett-Packard between 1999 and 2005, the company sold more than $100 million worth of computers and other high-tech equipment to Iranian customers, despite US export sanctions at the time. It’s a small detail she has neglected to mention while on the campaign trail."
California Just Outlawed Undisclosed ‘Dark Money’ Donations To Political Campaigns
http://www.occupydemocrats.com/california-just-outlawed-undisclosed-dark-money-donations-to-political-campaigns/
"We are all familiar with the infamous 2010 Supreme Court Citizens United decision, in which the Court ruled that it was a violation of the First Amendment for the government to prohibit political expenditures by a nonprofit corporation. The decision unleashed a torrent of dark money into our politics, threatening the integrity of our democracy and giving the wealthy an unprecedented level of influence over our elections.
One of the biggest results of that decision was the rise of political action committees (PACs) and their larger counterparts (Super PAC) – a vehicle by which nonprofit groups contribute ‘dark money’ to ballot measures and candidates in California. Dark money is money whose source needn’t be disclosed – until yesterday – at least in California."
"We are all familiar with the infamous 2010 Supreme Court Citizens United decision, in which the Court ruled that it was a violation of the First Amendment for the government to prohibit political expenditures by a nonprofit corporation. The decision unleashed a torrent of dark money into our politics, threatening the integrity of our democracy and giving the wealthy an unprecedented level of influence over our elections.
One of the biggest results of that decision was the rise of political action committees (PACs) and their larger counterparts (Super PAC) – a vehicle by which nonprofit groups contribute ‘dark money’ to ballot measures and candidates in California. Dark money is money whose source needn’t be disclosed – until yesterday – at least in California."
California Bans Undisclosed Dark Money
California Bans Undisclosed Dark Money
"Right now we have no disclosure and unlimited money. If we can't limit donations, we should understand who is paying for all that speech, and there's nothing in the Citizens United decision that stands in the way of that."
"Right now we have no disclosure and unlimited money. If we can't limit donations, we should understand who is paying for all that speech, and there's nothing in the Citizens United decision that stands in the way of that."
Tea Party Senator: $7/Hour Is Too Much For You, But $700,000/Year Is Barely Enough For Me
http://www.occupydemocrats.com/tea-party-senator-7hour-is-too-much-for-you-but-700000year-is-barely-enough-for-me/
"Johnson is just another plutocrat working to keep the working class perpetually downtrodden and exploitable and to continue funneling America’s wealth to the top."
"Johnson is just another plutocrat working to keep the working class perpetually downtrodden and exploitable and to continue funneling America’s wealth to the top."
September 22, 2015
Republicans Prove Once Again That Facts Are Meaningless To Them
Republicans Prove Once Again That Facts Are Meaningless To Them
"While discussing Jeb(!) Bush's revisionist history during the second Republican "debate," and I use that term loosely, here's her response when asked about Bush saying that his brother "kept us safe"."
"While discussing Jeb(!) Bush's revisionist history during the second Republican "debate," and I use that term loosely, here's her response when asked about Bush saying that his brother "kept us safe"."
The GOP’s bullsh*t campaign: Why they’re drowning the country in an ocean of lies
The GOP’s bullsh*t campaign: Why they’re drowning the country in an ocean of lies
"Republicans are spending so much of their time misleading and lying to the public. How will the media keep up?"
"Republicans are spending so much of their time misleading and lying to the public. How will the media keep up?"
The Republican Candidates Just Can’t Quit Neoconservatism
http://www.thenation.com/article/the-republican-candidates-just-cant-quit-neoconservatism/
"what last night’s ridiculous and at times rather alarming GOP debate showed is a party that remains in thrall to a bankrupt neoconservative ideology, willfully deaf to reason, blind to reality and unable and unwilling to learn from its multitude of past mistakes."
"what last night’s ridiculous and at times rather alarming GOP debate showed is a party that remains in thrall to a bankrupt neoconservative ideology, willfully deaf to reason, blind to reality and unable and unwilling to learn from its multitude of past mistakes."
The GOP debate’s terrifying alternate reality: Inside the political delusions of a party on the edge
The GOP debate’s terrifying alternate reality: Inside the political delusions of a party on the edge
"Last night’s Republican debate was a theater and master class in lies. Joseph Goebbels would be proud as the 2016 Republican candidates channeled his Principles of Propaganda and their directives that:
16. Propaganda to the home front must create an optimum anxiety level.
18. Propaganda must facilitate the displacement of aggression by specifying the targets for hatred
The reality is this: Social security will not be bankrupt in 7 to 8 years. George Bush did not keep America “safe” as he presided over the worst terrorist attacks in the country’s history. The Iraqi government demanded that the United States leave after years of a disastrous war—Obama did not choose to “abandon” the country of Iraq. Global warming is a fact. And “Benghazi” has been investigated repeatedly. There is only malfeasance and “treason” in the minds of the right-wing faithful and their media. Christians are not “under assault” in America."
"Last night’s Republican debate was a theater and master class in lies. Joseph Goebbels would be proud as the 2016 Republican candidates channeled his Principles of Propaganda and their directives that:
16. Propaganda to the home front must create an optimum anxiety level.
18. Propaganda must facilitate the displacement of aggression by specifying the targets for hatred
The reality is this: Social security will not be bankrupt in 7 to 8 years. George Bush did not keep America “safe” as he presided over the worst terrorist attacks in the country’s history. The Iraqi government demanded that the United States leave after years of a disastrous war—Obama did not choose to “abandon” the country of Iraq. Global warming is a fact. And “Benghazi” has been investigated repeatedly. There is only malfeasance and “treason” in the minds of the right-wing faithful and their media. Christians are not “under assault” in America."
Stop calling it a “debate”: CNN’s GOP circus was a postmodern spectacle
Stop calling it a “debate”: CNN’s GOP circus was a postmodern spectacle
"even if CNN were interested in something a bit more high-minded, the ideological conformity of the Republican Party is so rigid, and the conservative movement’s obsession with white identity politics is so entrenched, the network wouldn’t have much to work with. The hollowing-out of democracy wrought by inequality and polarization has reduced our politics into a shell — bright, glittering, and empty."
"even if CNN were interested in something a bit more high-minded, the ideological conformity of the Republican Party is so rigid, and the conservative movement’s obsession with white identity politics is so entrenched, the network wouldn’t have much to work with. The hollowing-out of democracy wrought by inequality and polarization has reduced our politics into a shell — bright, glittering, and empty."
It’s Time to Tell the Truth: The GOP Presidential Primary is an Embarrassment to the United States
It’s Time to Tell the Truth: The GOP Presidential Primary is an Embarrassment to the United States
"It’s a sad state of affairs when you look at a group of Republican candidates and Jeb Bush is probably the most moderate of the bunch."
"It’s a sad state of affairs when you look at a group of Republican candidates and Jeb Bush is probably the most moderate of the bunch."
‘Kept us safe?’ Victims’ families slam Jeb Bush’s 9/11 claim
‘Kept us safe?’ Victims’ families slam Jeb Bush’s 9/11 claim
"In one of his biggest moments of Wednesday night's Republican presidential debate, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said his brother, former President George. W. Bush, "kept us safe" from terrorism during his years in the White House. The retort drew raucous applause from the audience at the Reagan Presidential Library in California, but the line was not as well-received in cyberspace, or in the homes of families who lost loved ones on 9/11."
"In one of his biggest moments of Wednesday night's Republican presidential debate, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said his brother, former President George. W. Bush, "kept us safe" from terrorism during his years in the White House. The retort drew raucous applause from the audience at the Reagan Presidential Library in California, but the line was not as well-received in cyberspace, or in the homes of families who lost loved ones on 9/11."
How the Republican Party became a haven of resentment and rage
How the Republican Party became a haven of resentment and rage
"The modern right’s ideological alchemy has already turned Kim Davis into a latter-day Rosa Parks, the founding fathers into born-again evangelicals, climate science into a hoax, and Reagan’s outlandish and discredited “voodoo economics” into the only way America can get back on track."
"The modern right’s ideological alchemy has already turned Kim Davis into a latter-day Rosa Parks, the founding fathers into born-again evangelicals, climate science into a hoax, and Reagan’s outlandish and discredited “voodoo economics” into the only way America can get back on track."
11 Distortions, Misrepresentations and Outright Lies in the GOP Debate @alternet
11 Distortions, Misrepresentations and Outright Lies in the GOP Debate @alternet
"Candidates made statement after statement that represented distortion, mistruths, and outright lies."
"Candidates made statement after statement that represented distortion, mistruths, and outright lies."
No Jeb, Your Brother Did Not Keep Us ‘Safe’
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2015/09/17/3702732/jeb-bush-911-kept-us-safe/
"Much of the analysis following the World Trade Center attacks revealed that the Bush administration ignored warnings that such a plot could be in the works. Declassified documents indicate that Osama bin Laden had been planning the attacks for years. But rather than preparing for potential terrorist attacks, reports indicated that the Bush administration was more focused on missile defense.
Furthermore, even if Bush is trying to argue that it was his brother’s post-9/11 counterterrorism strategy that kept America “safe,” most evidence indicates that the war in Iraq was dangerously misguided. The Iraq war wasn’t linked to the attacks on U.S. soil, and a 2006 intelligence report indicated that the U.S. presence in Iraq actually worsened the threat of terrorism."
"Much of the analysis following the World Trade Center attacks revealed that the Bush administration ignored warnings that such a plot could be in the works. Declassified documents indicate that Osama bin Laden had been planning the attacks for years. But rather than preparing for potential terrorist attacks, reports indicated that the Bush administration was more focused on missile defense.
Furthermore, even if Bush is trying to argue that it was his brother’s post-9/11 counterterrorism strategy that kept America “safe,” most evidence indicates that the war in Iraq was dangerously misguided. The Iraq war wasn’t linked to the attacks on U.S. soil, and a 2006 intelligence report indicated that the U.S. presence in Iraq actually worsened the threat of terrorism."
Jeb Bush: My Brother 'Kept Us Safe'
Jeb Bush: My Brother 'Kept Us Safe'
"Scott Walker did his best to get in on some of the action before Bush made a bigger fool of himself, saying that we needed some sort of "forces agreement" before we pulled out of Iraq, forgetting of course that it was his brother's Status of Forces Agreement that the Obama administration was following when they pulled out troops out of Iraq in the first place.
The revisionist history is strong with this one. I don't think he's going to make it out of the GOP primary race, but if he does, treating the public like a bunch of idiots that can't remember what happened when his brother was in office isn't going to go over too well with the majority of the electorate that isn't insane and still remembers the damage that his brother did to the United States in the general election."
"Scott Walker did his best to get in on some of the action before Bush made a bigger fool of himself, saying that we needed some sort of "forces agreement" before we pulled out of Iraq, forgetting of course that it was his brother's Status of Forces Agreement that the Obama administration was following when they pulled out troops out of Iraq in the first place.
The revisionist history is strong with this one. I don't think he's going to make it out of the GOP primary race, but if he does, treating the public like a bunch of idiots that can't remember what happened when his brother was in office isn't going to go over too well with the majority of the electorate that isn't insane and still remembers the damage that his brother did to the United States in the general election."
Jeb Bush’s noxious myth: Dubya didn’t “keep us safe” — he made the world infinitely more dangerous
Jeb Bush’s noxious myth: Dubya didn’t “keep us safe” — he made the world infinitely more dangerous
"Jeb Bush is trying desperately to distance himself from his brother, George W. Bush, and for obvious reasons. George W. Bush’s presidency was an unmitigated disaster"
"Jeb Bush is trying desperately to distance himself from his brother, George W. Bush, and for obvious reasons. George W. Bush’s presidency was an unmitigated disaster"
Carly Fiorina Fabricates Fantasies About Iran, Planned Parenthood
Carly Fiorina Fabricates Fantasies About Iran, Planned Parenthood
"Carly Fiorina took great advantage of her moment on the Big "Stage last night, but it will take more than telling a lot of lies with great authority for her to overwhelm Donald Trump and even Jeb Bush."
"Carly Fiorina took great advantage of her moment on the Big "Stage last night, but it will take more than telling a lot of lies with great authority for her to overwhelm Donald Trump and even Jeb Bush."
September 16, 2015
GOP’s Hispanic rebrand delusions: The party’s problems go far beyond “tone”
GOP’s Hispanic rebrand delusions: The party’s problems go far beyond “tone”
"To stand a chance of winning in 2016, the Republican nominee will have to pull in more Latino support than John McCain and Mitt Romney were able to muster. That would be a heavy lift on its own, and the fact that the 2016 immigration policy discussion has been framed by Donald Trump’s undiluted nativism isn’t making it any easier."
"To stand a chance of winning in 2016, the Republican nominee will have to pull in more Latino support than John McCain and Mitt Romney were able to muster. That would be a heavy lift on its own, and the fact that the 2016 immigration policy discussion has been framed by Donald Trump’s undiluted nativism isn’t making it any easier."
Robert Reich: Americans Obsess Over the Sex Lives of Strangers While CEOs Rob the Country Blind @alternet
Robert Reich: Americans Obsess Over the Sex Lives of Strangers While CEOs Rob the Country Blind @alternet
"Glass-Steagall must be resurrected. Big banks have to be broken up.
CEO pay must be bridled. Pay in excess of $1 million shouldn’t be deductible from corporate income taxes. Corporations with high ratios of executive pay to typical workers should face higher tax rates than those with lower ratios."
"Glass-Steagall must be resurrected. Big banks have to be broken up.
CEO pay must be bridled. Pay in excess of $1 million shouldn’t be deductible from corporate income taxes. Corporations with high ratios of executive pay to typical workers should face higher tax rates than those with lower ratios."
Take That Billionaires: The Average Donation to Bernie Sanders’ Campaign Is a Soul-Saving $30 @alternet
Take That Billionaires: The Average Donation to Bernie Sanders’ Campaign Is a Soul-Saving $30 @alternet
"Start with the “Billionaire 400,” a clique of the elite organized by the conniving Koch brothers. These ultra-rich right-wingers gather each winter in some warm weather resort for a secretive, invitation-only retreat.
There, they plot strategies and pledge money for electing politicos who support their vision of corporate rule in America. For the 2016 elections, their network has already committed nearly a billion dollars to impose its vision of plutocracy over our democratic ideals — more than double the combined amount the Republican and Democratic parties spent in 2012.
Then there are the secretive SuperPACs that are sacking up tens of millions of dollars to back various presidential candidates. Again, a mere 400 corporations and rich families — each writing checks for hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars — have put up nearly half of all the money in these electioneering committees.
But now, here comes the antidote to this corruption of our politics by fat cats. Instead of being financed by 400 billionaires bent on their special interests, Bernie Sanders’ White House bid has raised its $15 million from 400,000 ordinary Americans. In fact, the average donation to the Vermont senator is a heartwarming, soul-saving $33.51!
"Start with the “Billionaire 400,” a clique of the elite organized by the conniving Koch brothers. These ultra-rich right-wingers gather each winter in some warm weather resort for a secretive, invitation-only retreat.
There, they plot strategies and pledge money for electing politicos who support their vision of corporate rule in America. For the 2016 elections, their network has already committed nearly a billion dollars to impose its vision of plutocracy over our democratic ideals — more than double the combined amount the Republican and Democratic parties spent in 2012.
Then there are the secretive SuperPACs that are sacking up tens of millions of dollars to back various presidential candidates. Again, a mere 400 corporations and rich families — each writing checks for hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars — have put up nearly half of all the money in these electioneering committees.
But now, here comes the antidote to this corruption of our politics by fat cats. Instead of being financed by 400 billionaires bent on their special interests, Bernie Sanders’ White House bid has raised its $15 million from 400,000 ordinary Americans. In fact, the average donation to the Vermont senator is a heartwarming, soul-saving $33.51!
‘Veterans Group’ Donald Trump Fundraised For Is Really Just Some Guy Named Joel (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/09/16/veterans-group-donald-trump-fundraised-for-is-really-just-some-guy-named-joel-video/
"Trump’s use of a fake veteran’s organization shows us that he will do quite literally anything to win — and, sadly, Republicans will likely ignore this, just like they do every single other thing the billionaire does in his quest to become our next President."
"Trump’s use of a fake veteran’s organization shows us that he will do quite literally anything to win — and, sadly, Republicans will likely ignore this, just like they do every single other thing the billionaire does in his quest to become our next President."
Media Covers Trump’s Fake Veteran’s Speech and Endorsement: Doesn’t Realize it was a Fraud
http://ringoffireradio.com/2015/09/corp-media-covers-trumps-fake-veterans-speech-and-endorsement-doesnt-realize-it-was-a-fraud/
"Donald Trump stood on the U.S.S. Iowa yesterday giving a speech billed by Corporate Media as a pro-military message in support of veterans. Corporate Media even announced that the group’s sponsor Veterans for a Strong America endorsed him.
There is a big problem. Veterans for a Strong America is a fake organization. It has one member, it’s creator Joel Arends, an attorney from South Dakota. It has $30 in cash on hand, and $318 in debts. Trump claimed at the event that the organization has hundreds of thousands of members, but it appears to be only one person, Arends, its founder. It’s not a Veteran’s organization. It’s a Super PAC fundraising business."
"Donald Trump stood on the U.S.S. Iowa yesterday giving a speech billed by Corporate Media as a pro-military message in support of veterans. Corporate Media even announced that the group’s sponsor Veterans for a Strong America endorsed him.
There is a big problem. Veterans for a Strong America is a fake organization. It has one member, it’s creator Joel Arends, an attorney from South Dakota. It has $30 in cash on hand, and $318 in debts. Trump claimed at the event that the organization has hundreds of thousands of members, but it appears to be only one person, Arends, its founder. It’s not a Veteran’s organization. It’s a Super PAC fundraising business."
Screw U: The GOP’s War on College Students @alternet
Screw U: The GOP’s War on College Students @alternet
"As nutty as the current slate of GOP nominees may seem, it would be a mistake to ignore the very real threat of their higher education policy. Across the board, in a variety of ways, the GOP lineup is on the hunt for higher education as we know it."
"As nutty as the current slate of GOP nominees may seem, it would be a mistake to ignore the very real threat of their higher education policy. Across the board, in a variety of ways, the GOP lineup is on the hunt for higher education as we know it."
5 Examples Proving Republicans Have Become the Party of Crazy
5 Examples Proving Republicans Have Become the Party of Crazy
"when you really look at it, it’s not just stupidity that’s running rampant through the GOP; crazy has fully cemented itself as a driving force within the Republican party as well."
"when you really look at it, it’s not just stupidity that’s running rampant through the GOP; crazy has fully cemented itself as a driving force within the Republican party as well."
The 5 Craziest Conservative Claims About President Obama
The 5 Craziest Conservative Claims About President Obama
"literally none of their outlandish fear-mongering has been based in reality."
"literally none of their outlandish fear-mongering has been based in reality."
The Fearsome Four: The Leading Governors Seeking 2016 GOP Nomination Are All Dismal Right-Wingers @alternet
The Fearsome Four: The Leading Governors Seeking 2016 GOP Nomination Are All Dismal Right-Wingers @alternet
"The four have worked from nearly identical playbooks in pursuing a similar extremist agenda, unashamedly serving the top 1 percent and other so-called job creators, while grinding down the rights, wages and living conditions facing poor and working families. Their record provides a clear flash-forward into the future of America, should any of them be elected president in 2016.
This shared agenda of the Fearsome Foursome has common roots in the model legislation and strategies launched by the right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council, which has been propelled to national importance with funding from the multi-billionaire Koch brothers."
"The four have worked from nearly identical playbooks in pursuing a similar extremist agenda, unashamedly serving the top 1 percent and other so-called job creators, while grinding down the rights, wages and living conditions facing poor and working families. Their record provides a clear flash-forward into the future of America, should any of them be elected president in 2016.
This shared agenda of the Fearsome Foursome has common roots in the model legislation and strategies launched by the right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council, which has been propelled to national importance with funding from the multi-billionaire Koch brothers."
Republican insiders continue to fret over their party's obvious slide into extremism
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/09/1419825/-Republican-insiders-continue-to-fret-over-their-party-s-obvious-slide-into-extremism
"We've been here before, of course. For years now Republican insiders have fretted that their party's obsession with racism, bigotry, religious zealotry and general "righteous" lawlessness has been making them look bad, and yet the Republican base not only continues to persist in all these things but seems to have ratcheted them up after each brow-furrowing plea for them to not do that. The Republicans just want to be a nice, simple party of doing good things for rich people, but decades of dog-whistles to racists and bigots in order to put together a coalition capable of winning has left them with a base of, unsurprisingly, racists and bigots."
"We've been here before, of course. For years now Republican insiders have fretted that their party's obsession with racism, bigotry, religious zealotry and general "righteous" lawlessness has been making them look bad, and yet the Republican base not only continues to persist in all these things but seems to have ratcheted them up after each brow-furrowing plea for them to not do that. The Republicans just want to be a nice, simple party of doing good things for rich people, but decades of dog-whistles to racists and bigots in order to put together a coalition capable of winning has left them with a base of, unsurprisingly, racists and bigots."
Jeb Bush Crashes And Burns Immediately After Announcing Plan To Cut Taxes For The Rich
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/09/09/jeb-bush-doubles-failed-trickle-unpaid-tax-cuts-rich.html
"Bush has unveiled his tax plan and it’s basically the same old same old Republican Trickle Down promise, replete with tax cuts for the rich and corporations"
"Bush has unveiled his tax plan and it’s basically the same old same old Republican Trickle Down promise, replete with tax cuts for the rich and corporations"
Meet The Trickle-Down Conservatives Behind Jeb Bush’s Tax Plan
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/09/09/3699564/jeb-bushs-economic-advisers/
"But these men aren’t just any trickle-down economists. They’re all high-profile proponents of Reaganomics — they all actually advised Reagan while he was in the White House."
"But these men aren’t just any trickle-down economists. They’re all high-profile proponents of Reaganomics — they all actually advised Reagan while he was in the White House."
The terrifying reason Donald Trump is winning: The infantilized conservative base wants rage, not ideas
The terrifying reason Donald Trump is winning: The infantilized conservative base wants rage, not ideas
"Trump’s success (and Jeb’s decline) shows how easy it is to openly infantilize the conservative base. You don’t need ideas to win over Republicans anymore; you simply have to reflect their paranoia and frustration, with as much bombast and superficiality as possible."
"Trump’s success (and Jeb’s decline) shows how easy it is to openly infantilize the conservative base. You don’t need ideas to win over Republicans anymore; you simply have to reflect their paranoia and frustration, with as much bombast and superficiality as possible."
The GOP And Fox News Are Pushing For War With Iran The Same Way They Did Iraq (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/09/11/the-gop-and-fox-news-are-pushing-for-war-with-iran-the-same-way-they-did-iraq-video/
"Fox News repeatedly spreads false information and half-truths at the expense of the American people, and at the benefit of Republican policies and those who take advantage of Republicans in Congress."
"Fox News repeatedly spreads false information and half-truths at the expense of the American people, and at the benefit of Republican policies and those who take advantage of Republicans in Congress."
Dick Cheney’s despicable alternate history just got even worse
Dick Cheney’s despicable alternate history just got even worse
"If anyone thinks that Cheney and his fellow travelers learned a thing from the Iraq debacle, think again."
"If anyone thinks that Cheney and his fellow travelers learned a thing from the Iraq debacle, think again."
Myths and Facts About The Landmark Iran Deal
http://mediamatters.org/research/2015/09/08/myths-and-facts-surrounding-the-landmark-irania/205419
"the myths that have pervaded the media debate on the deal."
"the myths that have pervaded the media debate on the deal."
Fox News Has Been Promoting War With Iran For Almost A Decade
Fox News Has Been Promoting War With Iran For Almost A Decade
"Fox is using the same rhetoric it used to gin up support for the war in Iraq to gin up a new war with Iran."
"Fox is using the same rhetoric it used to gin up support for the war in Iraq to gin up a new war with Iran."
Peace Warrior Bernie Sanders Storms The Senate And Calls Out GOP Warmongers
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/09/09/bernie-sanders-marches-senate-floor-calls-republican-war-mongers-wrong.html
"Republicans have less than no credibility on this issue, and Sen. Sanders did his country a great service when he reminded everyone about the GOP’s record of pro-war lies."
"Republicans have less than no credibility on this issue, and Sen. Sanders did his country a great service when he reminded everyone about the GOP’s record of pro-war lies."
Plutocrats have captured it all: How Sheldon Adelson shows the need for campaign finance reform
Plutocrats have captured it all: How Sheldon Adelson shows the need for campaign finance reform
"A billionaire extremist is buying his way to the top of the GOP. Thanks again, Citizens United!"
"A billionaire extremist is buying his way to the top of the GOP. Thanks again, Citizens United!"
Watch A Retired Colonel Rip Cheney: He’s An ‘Insane’ War Profiteer Who Won’t Go Away!
http://www.occupydemocrats.com/watch-a-retired-colonel-rip-cheney-hes-an-insane-war-profiteer-who-wont-go-away/
"Cheney is a very devious, dangerous man who cannot be allowed to have any say in our foreign policy."
"Cheney is a very devious, dangerous man who cannot be allowed to have any say in our foreign policy."
Dick Cheney Was for the Iran Deal Before He Was Against It
https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/09/08/dick-cheney-hypocritical-speech-aei-iran-deal/
"Cheney’s dishonesty extends beyond his revisionist history of the Bush administration — it also is evident in his proposed measures to undermine the nuclear agreement."
"Cheney’s dishonesty extends beyond his revisionist history of the Bush administration — it also is evident in his proposed measures to undermine the nuclear agreement."
Watch the 1991 Documentary Donald Trump Didn’t Want Anyone to See @alternet
Watch the 1991 Documentary Donald Trump Didn’t Want Anyone to See @alternet
"the film was never aired because Trump managed to prevent its circulation."
"the film was never aired because Trump managed to prevent its circulation."
How Jeb Bush's Florida Plan for School 'Choice' Created an Industry of Corruption and Chaos @alternet
How Jeb Bush's Florida Plan for School 'Choice' Created an Industry of Corruption and Chaos @alternet
"Aided by influencers like the Waltons and others, Jeb Bush put South Florida squarely at the forefront of the charter school bonanza. And the rise of the charters as big business in Florida brought with it new and special forms of financial corruption."
"Aided by influencers like the Waltons and others, Jeb Bush put South Florida squarely at the forefront of the charter school bonanza. And the rise of the charters as big business in Florida brought with it new and special forms of financial corruption."
“He’s a progressive!”: Glenn Beck explains to Bill O’Reilly why he can’t support Donald Trump
“He’s a progressive!”: Glenn Beck explains to Bill O’Reilly why he can’t support Donald Trump
"On Tuesday night’s edition of “The O’Reilly Factor,” once and future Fox hosts Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly discussed the legitimacy of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign — or, more precisely, Beck attempted to convince O’Reilly of its illegitimacy, given that all of the solutions Trump poses are inherently “progressive"."
"On Tuesday night’s edition of “The O’Reilly Factor,” once and future Fox hosts Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly discussed the legitimacy of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign — or, more precisely, Beck attempted to convince O’Reilly of its illegitimacy, given that all of the solutions Trump poses are inherently “progressive"."
Rick Santorum Perfectly Showcases Just How Ignorant Republicans Are About Science
Rick Santorum Perfectly Showcases Just How Ignorant Republicans Are About Science
"Maybe it’s time Rick Santorum takes his own advice and starts listening to the scientists."
"Maybe it’s time Rick Santorum takes his own advice and starts listening to the scientists."
September 7, 2015
Let the Toilers Assemble
Let the Toilers Assemble
"In light of this long weekend of beach and barbecue time, a moment to give thanks to the long struggle of a labor movement, born in heartfelt resistance, that won it for us. Read, listen and remember those fighting, then and now, for "a glimpse of something you're not allowed to see." Also check out Bernie on a picket line. Because "this is what I do"."
"In light of this long weekend of beach and barbecue time, a moment to give thanks to the long struggle of a labor movement, born in heartfelt resistance, that won it for us. Read, listen and remember those fighting, then and now, for "a glimpse of something you're not allowed to see." Also check out Bernie on a picket line. Because "this is what I do"."
Why the DOL's New Overtime Rule is Such a Big Deal
Why the DOL's New Overtime Rule is Such a Big Deal
"This summer, the Department of Labor announced sweeping changes to federal overtime rules that would dramatically impact the lives of working Americans. The new rules raise the income level at which workers can automatically qualify for overtime eligibility for the first time in decades, effectively giving around five million workers a raise while strengthening overtime protection for another ten million, according to the White House. This week, the Department of Labor ends its public comment period on the proposed changes, with enforcement set to begin early next year."
"This summer, the Department of Labor announced sweeping changes to federal overtime rules that would dramatically impact the lives of working Americans. The new rules raise the income level at which workers can automatically qualify for overtime eligibility for the first time in decades, effectively giving around five million workers a raise while strengthening overtime protection for another ten million, according to the White House. This week, the Department of Labor ends its public comment period on the proposed changes, with enforcement set to begin early next year."
The best way to support low-wage workers: Save their tax credits
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/07/1417844/-The-best-way-to-support-low-wage-workers-Save-their-tax-credits
"As many as 19 million low-wage workers could lose what's been called "one of the most successful labor market innovations in U.S. history." The income these credits bring "leads to better maternal and infant health, improved school performance, higher college enrollment, and increased work effort and earnings in adulthood." That's a lot of bang for some federal bucks.
But key provisions are expiring in 2017, and Senate Republicans have already staked out ground suggesting they'll be ready to gut them. At H&R Block's behest, they've put policy riders into a key spending bill that would make filing for these tax credits difficult and expensive. Because that's what Republicans do."
"As many as 19 million low-wage workers could lose what's been called "one of the most successful labor market innovations in U.S. history." The income these credits bring "leads to better maternal and infant health, improved school performance, higher college enrollment, and increased work effort and earnings in adulthood." That's a lot of bang for some federal bucks.
But key provisions are expiring in 2017, and Senate Republicans have already staked out ground suggesting they'll be ready to gut them. At H&R Block's behest, they've put policy riders into a key spending bill that would make filing for these tax credits difficult and expensive. Because that's what Republicans do."
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