Friday, January 31, 2014

(62 unread) - dpnewport@att.net - att.net Mail

(62 unread) - dpnewport@att.net - att.net Mail:



The Republican National Committee's fleeting boycott of MSNBC has been lifted, but the cable news channel has been put on notice



 LOL Repugs lie every time they move their lips and they get to act holier than thou cuz MSNBC told the unvarnished truth. What a country we have!

RNC Chair Says MSNBC Is On 'Probation'

RNC Chair Says MSNBC Is On 'Probation'



The Republican National Committee's fleeting boycott of MSNBC has been lifted, but the cable news channel has been put on notice



 LOL
Repugs lie every time they move their lips and they get to act holier
than thou cuz MSNBC told the unvarnished truth. What a country we have!

State Department's Environmental Report Lends Support To Keystone XL Approval

State Department's Environmental Report Lends Support To Keystone XL Approval



The State Department released a new environmental analysis of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline on Friday that increases the likelihood that the Obama administration will approve the project. 



The report, which is the final version of the department's environmental impact statement, found that the pipeline will not significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions -- the biggest issue for the environmental groups that want to see the pipeline rejected.

With Review in Hand, Obama Must Now Reject Dirty Pipeline: Groups | Common Dreams

With Review in Hand, Obama Must Now Reject Dirty Pipeline: Groups | Common Dreams



McKibben: “The State Department has given Obama all the room he needs to do what he promised in both campaigns: to take serious steps against global warming."

GOP Quietly Alters Its Obamacare Alternative To Scrap Huge Tax Hike

GOP Quietly Alters Its Obamacare Alternative To Scrap Huge Tax Hike



It appears that the Senate Republicans who put forward their own alternative to Obamacare have quietly refined their proposal, undoing what would have been a significant tax increase on most Americans.

Connecting the Dots for a Better World | Common Dreams

Connecting the Dots for a Better World | Common Dreams



The 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
this past summer produced some brilliant commentary about the legacy of
Martin Luther King Jr. One of the sharpest of these was a short essay
that Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,
posted to her Facebook page. We want to quote at length from this essay
because we think that it holds valuable—even essential—lessons for
those of us working to defend and improve public schools.

Daily Kos: Facebook: Libelous Anti-Semitic Hate Speech "doesn't violate our Community Standards"

Daily Kos: Facebook: Libelous Anti-Semitic Hate Speech "doesn't violate our Community Standards"



The page in question calls itself "Jewish Ritual Murder" and engages in horrific anti-Semitism.

Daily Kos: Sean Hannity proposes 'adopt-a-woman birth control program'

Daily Kos: Sean Hannity proposes 'adopt-a-woman birth control program'



If you look at insurance and think "this means I am paying for birth control pills for that lady over there" and do not continue on to think "and if that lady doesn't get her pills and gets pregnant I will be paying for her prenatal care and delivery and also I am paying for boner pills for that guy and cancer treatment for that child," you're really missing how insurance works. I'm pretty sure Sean Hannity actually understands how this works. But he's counting on his listeners not understanding, and he's in the business of making sure they stay ignorant and misinformed.

Daily Kos: Tom Perkins, world's worst person. Literally

Daily Kos: Tom Perkins, world's worst person. Literally



How did someone this awful fly under the radar for so long? 



It all started with his hyperventilating on the pages of the Wall Street Journal

Daily Kos: Christie Collapse Complete - Lunatic Fringe Takes Over

Daily Kos: Christie Collapse Complete - Lunatic Fringe Takes Over



A brand new poll shows Christie's favorably ratings have fallen a jaw-dropping 27 points in 40 days. A dive quick enough to blow out your ear drums. Just last month, Christie enjoyed a positive +12 national approval rating (43% to 31%). Today, PPP finds his ratings at the bottom of Hudson River, with a negative -15 rating (31% to 46%). OUCH!

Is Fast-Track Trade Promotion Authority for the TPP Dead? | Alternet

Is Fast-Track Trade Promotion Authority for the TPP Dead? | Alternet



It looks like Obama's super-secret trade deal is no longer inevitable at all, thanks to a movement of movements.

Deluded Billionaire Fails to Learn His Money Can't Turn His Gay Daughter Straight | Alternet

Deluded Billionaire Fails to Learn His Money Can't Turn His Gay Daughter Straight | Alternet



IYEEEEE!

Thursday, January 30, 2014

The 1 Percent’s Frothing Paranoia: Why Billionaires Keep Whining About Non-Existent Persecution | Alternet

The 1 Percent’s Frothing Paranoia: Why Billionaires Keep Whining About Non-Existent Persecution | Alternet



The combination of the financial crash and the election of Barack Obama made a generation of billionaires lose their minds.

Grandmother Barred from 312 Miles of Pennsylvania for Peacefully Protesting Fracking | Alternet

Grandmother Barred from 312 Miles of Pennsylvania for Peacefully Protesting Fracking | Alternet



The ban represents one of the most extreme measures taken by the oil and gas industry to date against protesters.

Mitch McConnell Thinks You’re Stupid

Mitch McConnell Thinks You’re Stupid



Shouldn't the political press weigh in when someone makes an absurd demand? On Sunday, Sen. Mitch McConnell did exactly that.

CHART: Crude Oil Rail Shipments Up 8,358% Since 2006

CHART: Crude Oil Rail Shipments Up 8,358% Since 2006



Shipments of crude oil by rail have exploded by more than 8,300 percent
since 2006, effectively creating a new industry where one previously
didn't exist while regulators scramble to figure out what they should do
about it.




Republicans Brace For Surrender On The Debt Ceiling

Republicans Brace For Surrender On The Debt Ceiling



Republicans are looking for ways to defuse the fight they've threatened
to pick over the debt ceiling, having concluded that they're likely
destined for defeat

Republican Alternative To Obamacare: Pay More, Get Less, Put The Insurance Companies Back In Charge | The National Memo

Republican Alternative To Obamacare: Pay More, Get Less, Put The Insurance Companies Back In Charge | The National Memo



If you want to pay more, get less, and put the insurance companies back in charge, then this is the health care plan for you.  

Daily Kos: Paul Krugman: President Obama is "is turning out to be a little bit of FDR, after all."

Daily Kos: Paul Krugman: President Obama is "is turning out to be a little bit of FDR, after all."

Daily Kos: Did Speaker Boehner just issue an impeachment threat over executive orders?

Daily Kos: Did Speaker Boehner just issue an impeachment threat over executive orders?



President Obama, understanding that the Republican House of Representatives has essentially abdicated its responsibility to govern, has signaled his intention to use executive authority to actually accomplish things on behalf of the American people, such as a minimum wage increase for federal contractors. Speaker Boehner, meanwhile, has apparently realized that once you've obstructed everything and shut down the government, you have no leverage left of the ordinary variety. So it sounds like he's threatening impeachment instead

Daily Kos: GOP Congressman has Benghazi Meltdown on Maddow (Video)

Daily Kos: GOP Congressman has Benghazi Meltdown on Maddow (Video)



God I love Rachel. I just wish we had Keith back too!

Scary New Surveillance State Idea: Government Tracking Students from Preschool to Workforce | Alternet

Scary New Surveillance State Idea: Government Tracking Students from Preschool to Workforce | Alternet



The proposal would give six different state agencies the ability to share data collected on students.

More Damning Signs of Chris Christie's Corruption | Alternet

More Damning Signs of Chris Christie's Corruption | Alternet



NJ Gov's brother Todd Christie buys and sells property conveniently located near the site of a state-planned major renovation.



Gosh! A corrupt and arrogant politician in New Jersey! Whodathunkit?

Companies Are Vying for the Late-Night Stoner Market Using Subliminal Advertising | Alternet

Companies Are Vying for the Late-Night Stoner Market Using Subliminal Advertising | Alternet



We're seeing more and more commercials aimed at turning the marijuana munchies into big business.



And if Big Business is involved, this battle is over. It's all just noise from now till full legalization.

Why 'Moby Dick' Explains the American Empire | Alternet

Why 'Moby Dick' Explains the American Empire | Alternet



There is no crevice on earth where useful raw material can hide, no jungle forbidden enough to keep out the oil rigs.

Why Libertarians Play the Clowns in the Circus Show Called the Republican Party | Alternet

Why Libertarians Play the Clowns in the Circus Show Called the Republican Party | Alternet



When it comes to explaining complex political dynamics, the media tends to adopt simple narratives rather than sophisticated commentary. This has been particularly evident when examining coverage of the Republican Party’s ongoing civil war. 



The battle for the heart and soul of the GOP is more than social conservatives parrying with establishment Republicans. It is a pantomime that has many actors performing on a number of stages, but with only one clown: libertarians.

Ex-GOP Guv: Republicans Think They Can Solve Their Problems By Putting A Woman On Camera

Ex-GOP Guv: Republicans Think They Can Solve Their Problems By Putting A Woman On Camera



A pair of female lawmakers provided two of the GOP's four responses to
the State of the Union address on Tuesday, something a former Republican
governor dismissed as a cosmetic solution to the party's problems with
women

Lindsey Graham Says 'The World Is Literally About To Blow Up'

Lindsey Graham Says 'The World Is Literally About To Blow Up'



After listening to President Obama lay out a foreign policy vision during the State of the Union address on Tuesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) walked away with a nightmarish vision. So, just how dire is the situation, senator? 



 “The world is literally about to blow up,” Graham said, as quoted by Roll Call.



Poor Lindsey.... he might have to hide in the ummm closet :)

GOP Congressman Is Not Sorry For Threatening Reporter, Says He Expects Respect

GOP Congressman Is Not Sorry For Threatening Reporter, Says He Expects Respect



Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) made no apologies for threatening a television reporter after the State of the Union address on Tuesday. 



 Far from it, in fact. Grimm said in a statement late Tuesday that he aggressively confronted NY1's Michael Scotto because he was "extremely annoyed" by the reporter's question.

Huckabee Corrected | The National Memo

Huckabee Corrected | The National Memo



Huckabee Corrected

WATCH: Rachel Maddow Still Won't Back Down From The Koch Brothers

WATCH: Rachel Maddow Still Won't Back Down From The Koch Brothers



MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow has made it her mission to expose the secretive ways that billionaires Charles and David Koch use their money and power to exact unprecedented influence in American elections. As a result, she gets lots of papers from lawyers representing the Kochs and Koch Industries.

POLL: Even George W. Bush Did Less Damage To GOP Than Ted Cruz | The National Memo

POLL: Even George W. Bush Did Less Damage To GOP Than Ted Cruz | The National Memo



The state of the union may be strong, but the state of the Republican party is a disaster:



February 2009 should have been the lowest possible point for the
Republican Party. President Obama had just become the 44th president of
the United States with the largest majorities in both houses of Congress
that any president had enjoyed in generations.

Republicans Only Oppose NSA When 'Big Brother' Isn't Them | The National Memo

Republicans Only Oppose NSA When 'Big Brother' Isn't Them | The National Memo



Why the same GOP that cheered warrantless wiretaps during the Bush administration now professes to fear a surveillance state:



Let’s cut to the chase: If Big Brother wants you, he’s got you, Act 215
telephone “metadata” notwithstanding. This disconcerting fact of modern
life has been true more or less since the invention of the camera, the
microphone and the tape recorder.

GOP Takes Three-Pronged Stab At Obama's Address, Each With Different Message | The National Memo

GOP Takes Three-Pronged Stab At Obama's Address, Each With Different Message | The National Memo



Assorted Republican responses to the State of the Union served as the latest reminder of the civil war raging within the party.



Republicans took multiple tries to deliver their reaction to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night.



In addition to the officially sanctioned Republican Party response by
Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and a Spanish-language version
by Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Tea Party Express faction
continued its practice of delivering a separate speech, this year by
Utah Senator Mike Lee.

Obama Tells Congress: Help The Poor, Or I Will | The National Memo

Obama Tells Congress: Help The Poor, Or I Will | The National Memo



President Barack Obama looked to revive his second term in a sweeping speech to the nation Tuesday, outlining an agenda that calls for creating jobs and addressing the widening gap between rich and poor.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Fight Back Against the Attacks on Women's Health | American Civil Liberties Union

Fight Back Against the Attacks on Women's Health | American Civil Liberties Union



My Fox News Nightmare: How I Tortured Myself with The Propaganda of Ignorance | Alternet

My Fox News Nightmare: How I Tortured Myself with The Propaganda of Ignorance | Alternet



"I'm a card-carrying member of the ACLU, so here's what happened when I watched 3 hours of Fox every day for a month."

School Allegedly Told Buddhist Student His Faith Is 'Stupid' & He Should Convert Or Switch Schools | ThinkProgress

School Allegedly Told Buddhist Student His Faith Is 'Stupid' & He Should Convert Or Switch Schools | ThinkProgress



A Louisiana teacher who taught her sixth grade class that evolution is “impossible” and that the bible is “100 percent true” ridiculed a Buddhist student during class and announced that those who don’t believe in god are “stupid,” according to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana.



Well.... SOMEONE here is stupid, but I don't think it's the student!

6 Ways Extreme Income Inequality Is Making Your Life Worse | ThinkProgress

6 Ways Extreme Income Inequality Is Making Your Life Worse | ThinkProgress



President Barack Obama will focus on what he has described as “the defining challenge of our time” during the State of the Union address on Tuesday: the nation’s growing gap between the rich and poor. What economists saw as a temporary aberration in the early 1970s — the first time since the end of World War II when the incomes of lower- and middle-income Americans failed to keep pace with those of the rich — has in the intervening 40 years become a full-blown crisis.

Scientists Know More About Marijuana as a Medicine Than Many FDA Approved Pharmaceuticals | Alternet

Scientists Know More About Marijuana as a Medicine Than Many FDA Approved Pharmaceuticals | Alternet



Opponents of legalizing cannabis for medicinal purposes are fond of arguing that the plant must be subjected to the same standards of clinical study and FDA review as conventional medicines. What they fail to mention is that cannabis and its active components have already been subjected to a greater degree of scientific scrutiny than many FDA-approved pharmaceuticals.

Bill Moyers on the Dark Money Assault on Democracy and How Racism Stills Drives Our Politics | Alternet

Bill Moyers on the Dark Money Assault on Democracy and How Racism Stills Drives Our Politics | Alternet



Moyers, "We should know who’s buying our government."

The Dangers of Obama Aiming Too Low on Inequality Issues in the State of the Union | Alternet

The Dangers of Obama Aiming Too Low on Inequality Issues in the State of the Union | Alternet



Pushing for a higher minimum wage is the starting line.

5 Reasons (Some Of) The 1 Percent Is So Upset At President Obama | The National Memo

5 Reasons (Some Of) The 1 Percent Is So Upset At President Obama | The National Memo



America's super-rich whiners actually do have some cause to be angry
with the White House (if they don't care about anyone but themselves). 

Forget The Conventional Wisdom: What The Numbers Really Say About President Obama | The National Memo

Forget The Conventional Wisdom: What The Numbers Really Say About President Obama | The National Memo



Forget the conventional wisdom: President Obama enters 2014 with political momentum on his side.

Folk Legend, Activist Pete Seeger Is Dead At 94

Folk Legend, Activist Pete Seeger Is Dead At 94



The banjo-picking troubadour who sang for migrant workers, college
students and star-struck presidents in a career that introduced
generations of Americans to their folk music heritage died Monday at the
age of 94.

New GOP Plan Makes Everything They Hate About Obamacare Even Worse

New GOP Plan Makes Everything They Hate About Obamacare Even Worse



The new GOP alternative to Obamacare, proposed Monday by three
Republican senators, is a bit baffling. Because the bill seems to based
on another fundamental disruption of the individual insurance market --
and on top of that, it could upend the employer insurance universe,
through which most Americans receive health coverage, forcing many to
either pay more or lose their coverage

Obama's State Of The Union Theme: Time To Move Past Reagan's Vision

Obama's State Of The Union Theme: Time To Move Past Reagan's Vision



Twenty-five years after the Ronald Reagan era ended, Democrats are anxious to move past his conservative vision that is premised on the evils of government. The mentality has continued to permeate the national debate even as Republicans have lost four out of the last six presidential elections, aided by a Democratic Party that has admittedly ceded it too much ideological ground.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Daily Kos: In quest to 'redefine the news' CNN lays off more than 40 journalists

Daily Kos: In quest to 'redefine the news' CNN lays off more than 40 journalists



The Guardian UK 

CNN has laid off more than 40 senior journalists as part of a reorganisation of its business by the company's president, Jeff Zucker, reports the Financial Times.

Daily Kos: Christie tied to scandalous private prison company and its former vice president Bill Palatucci

Daily Kos: Christie tied to scandalous private prison company and its former vice president Bill Palatucci



CC not having a great month :)

Daily Kos: Houston Mayor Annise Parker's Response to GOP Critics of Her Marriage: "Get over it."

Daily Kos: Houston Mayor Annise Parker's Response to GOP Critics of Her Marriage: "Get over it."



I love this. As you may remember from Richard Lyons' diary on the subject, openly lesbian Houston Mayor Annise Parker recently traveled to California with her partner of twenty-three years to get married.

Daily Kos: Fox News polling questions are hilarious

Daily Kos: Fox News polling questions are hilarious



No, Fox News is not a legitimate polling organization, just as they are not a legitimate news organization. I think we long ago settled that question.

Daily Kos: You won't believe why MSNBC cut away from this interview

Daily Kos: You won't believe why MSNBC cut away from this interview



Yes you will :)

Sexist Attacks on Wendy Davis Reach a Low When She's Called a Negligent Mother | Alternet

Sexist Attacks on Wendy Davis Reach a Low When She's Called a Negligent Mother | Alternet



Characterizations such as "bad mother" and "gold-digger" are often used to undermine female political candidates.

The Republican Plot to Kill Democracy: Why It Wants To Neutralize the Vote | Alternet

The Republican Plot to Kill Democracy: Why It Wants To Neutralize the Vote | Alternet



Bipartisan reforms to our embarrassing voting system have been proposed. Here's what's holding up their passage.

Why Aren't We Having a Middle Class Revolt? | Alternet

Why Aren't We Having a Middle Class Revolt? | Alternet



Our incomes are declining, the ranks of the poor are swelling, and almost all the new wealth goes to the wealthiest. So why aren't Americans rebelling against the system?

Mitch McConnell: It Would Be 'Irresponsible' To Pass A Clean Debt Ceiling Increase

Mitch McConnell: It Would Be 'Irresponsible' To Pass A Clean Debt Ceiling Increase



Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Sunday that it
would be "irresponsible" to raise the debt ceiling without trying to
attach amendments to it.




Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," McConnell said that to pass a "clean"
increase on the limit, as President Barack Obama wants, would be wrong
because it would not reduce the national debt.

Why the Wealthy Tend to Think They're Better Than Everybody Else | Alternet

Why the Wealthy Tend to Think They're Better Than Everybody Else | Alternet



Many arrive at essentialist explanations of their affluence — that it’s due to their better genes, that they have a temperament that’s built for success, that they’re just the kind of people.

Confessions of a Former Libertarian: My Personal, Psychological and Intellectual Epiphany | Alternet

Confessions of a Former Libertarian: My Personal, Psychological and Intellectual Epiphany | Alternet:



"I was a Buddhist concerned with world suffering — and I could no longer reconcile my humanity with my ideology..."

Why Does Hating Other Religions Seem Fundamental to a Religion? | Alternet

Why Does Hating Other Religions Seem Fundamental to a Religion? | Alternet



There are some 10,000 different religions, and followers of each are convinced that they possess the one truth.

On Race, Conservatives Are Silent | The National Memo

On Race, Conservatives Are Silent | The National Memo

The right has always been on the wrong side of history concerning race -- and their problem is getting worse. 

Florida Man's Very Own Backyard Gun Range Is Perfectly Legal

Florida Man's Very Own Backyard Gun Range Is Perfectly Legal



God love Florida. It makes Texas look sane.

GOP Candidates Suddenly Find Love For Obamacare's Medicaid Expansion

GOP Candidates Suddenly Find Love For Obamacare's Medicaid Expansion



The conventional wisdom is that Republicans running in 2014 will be campaigning against Obamacare, attempting to recreate the 2010 magic that saw them make massive gains in Congress and state governments, holding themselves in stark contract to Democrats who are responsible for what the GOP sees as a fatally flawed law...

Why Are Christian Fundamentalist Parents Allowed to Deny Their Kids Basic Literacy? | Alternet

Why Are Christian Fundamentalist Parents Allowed to Deny Their Kids Basic Literacy? | Alternet



By failing to educate their kids, these parents potentially squander a child’s entire lifetime of future earnings and achievements.

Why Are Christian Fundamentalist Parents Allowed to Deny Their Kids Basic Literacy? | Alternet

Why Are Christian Fundamentalist Parents Allowed to Deny Their Kids Basic Literacy? | Alternet



By failing to educate their kids, these parents potentially squander a child’s entire lifetime of future earnings and achievements.

10 Most Absurd Right-Wing Lunacies This Week: Pity the 1% Edition | Alternet

10 Most Absurd Right-Wing Lunacies This Week: Pity the 1% Edition | Alternet



A super-wealthy venture capitalist complains that the 1 percent are being treated like the Nazis treated Jews. And more!

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Daily Kos: The McDonnell indictment is as sordid as you think it was

Daily Kos: The McDonnell indictment is as sordid as you think it was



The indictment of the McDonnell power(less) couple is great reading, as far as legal documents go. But hey, you're busy! And while the toplines are simple enough ("they're corrupt as fuck")...

First Things First: Why the United States Need a Pro-Democracy Movement | Common Dreams

First Things First: Why the United States Need a Pro-Democracy Movement | Common Dreams



Until we fix our democracy problem, it's hard to fix any problem.

Will Obamacare’s Medicaid Expansion Continue? | The National Memo

Will Obamacare’s Medicaid Expansion Continue? | The National Memo



A deep dive into top Republican candidates' 2014 platforms offers a revealing look at the health care debate's future.

Regardless Of Cold Winters, Global Warming Is Fact | The National Memo

Regardless Of Cold Winters, Global Warming Is Fact | The National Memo



Someone tell the Tea Party that climate change is a grave threat to society -- even when it happens to be cold outside

House Republicans Make Their Regularly Scheduled Threat To Destroy The Global Economy | The National Memo

House Republicans Make Their Regularly Scheduled Threat To Destroy The Global Economy | The National Memo



Blind to history (and apparently to looming midterms,) the GOP is preparing yet another debt ceiling crisis. 

How Christian Tribalism Empowers Hardliners Against the Wishes of Most Americans | Alternet

How Christian Tribalism Empowers Hardliners Against the Wishes of Most Americans | Alternet



In-group loyalty gives right-wing radicals a scary amount of influence.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Florida Man Claims Self-Defense After Hopping A Fence To Shoot, Kill 21-Year-Old In A Hoodie | ThinkProgress

Florida Man Claims Self-Defense After Hopping A Fence To Shoot, Kill 21-Year-Old In A Hoodie | ThinkProgress



On Thursday, an Orlando man shot and killed a 21-year-old who was fleeing his yard. He didn’t appear to be stealing anything, according to witness accounts. He didn’t appear to be threatening anybody.

The Fukushima Secrecy Syndrome – From Japan to America | Common Dreams

The Fukushima Secrecy Syndrome – From Japan to America | Common Dreams



Last month, the ruling Japanese coalition parties quickly rammed through Parliament a state secrets law. We Americans better take notice. 



Under its provisions the government alone decides what are state secrets and any civil servants who divulge any “secrets” can be jailed for up to 10 years. Journalists caught in the web of this vaguely defined law can be jailed for up to 5 years.

Is 137% Outside the 4% MOE?

Asshole of the Day


JPMorgan Chase's Jamie Dimon Gets a Raise After Bank Paid $20 Billion in Fines for Breaking Laws | Alternet

JPMorgan Chase's Jamie Dimon Gets a Raise After Bank Paid $20 Billion in Fines for Breaking Laws | Alternet



In 2013, JP Morgan Chase paid billions in fines, but bank's chief is still living large.

Priceless! Jon Stewart Ridicules the Richest of the Rich for Pretending to be Concerned About Economic Inequality | Alternet

Priceless! Jon Stewart Ridicules the Richest of the Rich for Pretending to be Concerned About Economic Inequality | Alternet



At the Davos World Economic Forum, billionaires discuss inequality over champagne and cigars.

GOP Bill Bans EPA Regulations - Liberals Unite | Liberals Unite

GOP Bill Bans EPA Regulations - Liberals Unite | Liberals Unite



On December 18, 2013, Rand Paul (R-KY) with co-sponsor Mitch McConnell (R-KY) introduced the S.1852 Economic Freedom Zones Act of 2013. The bill touted as a “Jobs bill” and “anti-poverty measure” is nothing more than an extreme anti-environmental bill to exempt polluters from EPA regulations, minimum wage and benefit requirements, and exempts them from paying tax in low poverty regions. It is a free-for-all for big corps and developers to take advantage of the most vulnerable and poison our communities.

Ailes' Biographer Says Fox News Empire is Crumbling | Alternet

Ailes' Biographer Says Fox News Empire is Crumbling | Alternet



Violence, paranoia, bigotry, and sexual harassment reign at "America's Newsroom," author Gabriel Sherman explains.

Robert Reich: David Brooks is Dead Wrong About Inequality | Alternet

Robert Reich: David Brooks is Dead Wrong About Inequality | Alternet



The former labor secretary totally dismantles conservative pundit's ridiculous recent column.

Is This the Golden Age of Journalism for Readers? | Alternet

Is This the Golden Age of Journalism for Readers? | Alternet



There's so much choice out there.

Watch: The Mainstream Media Worries Christie's Public Perception Will Change from "Tough-Talking Pragmatist" to "Bully" | Alternet

Watch: The Mainstream Media Worries Christie's Public Perception Will Change from "Tough-Talking Pragmatist" to "Bully" | Alternet



It's the kind of reporting that prioritizes image management over reality.

Robert Menendez Under FBI Investigation For Ties To Fugitive Businessmen: Report

Robert Menendez Under FBI Investigation For Ties To Fugitive Businessmen: Report



Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) is the subject of a federal criminal investigation for his dealings with two Florida businessmen who are fugitives from Ecuador, WNBC reported Thursday.



NJ has always been an equal opportunity state. Pols of both parties have a long history of being dirty and connected to the darker side of the ummm business community :)

Obama's First State Of The Union Marked A Turning Point, One His Old Advisers Now Regret

Obama's First State Of The Union Marked A Turning Point, One His Old Advisers Now Regret



For all of the intrigue and attention that surrounds them, presidential State of the Union addresses are often oversold affairs. Yes, there have been memorable moments along the way. The era of big government was declared over by Bill Clinton; the axis of evil was identified by George W. Bush; a war on poverty was launched by Lyndon Johnson.

Eric Cantor's Excellent Davos Adventure: No Money For Unemployment Benefits, But Plenty For Congressmen Going To Alps

Eric Cantor's Excellent Davos Adventure: No Money For Unemployment Benefits, But Plenty For Congressmen Going To Alps



Fresh from Washington, where he played a leading role in preventing the extension of emergency unemployment benefits for Americans mired in joblessness, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor appeared to be enjoying one of the perks of his own employment: a sumptuous breakfast in this ski resort in the Swiss Alps, where he was attending the World Economic Forum.

Chris Matthews Spews Clueless Attack on Obama for Pointing Out the Truth About Marijuana | Alternet

Chris Matthews Spews Clueless Attack on Obama for Pointing Out the Truth About Marijuana | Alternet



Pot is not nearly as dangerous as alcohol, and the President is right to agree with that fact.

Banks Launder Billions in Illegal Cartel Money While Snubbing Legal Marijuana Businesses | Alternet

Banks Launder Billions in Illegal Cartel Money While Snubbing Legal Marijuana Businesses | Alternet



The hypocrisy of the role that banks play in the drug trade is disgraceful.

Tuition-Free Public College Education Is Possible -- Demand It. | Alternet

Tuition-Free Public College Education Is Possible -- Demand It. | Alternet



What if instead of giving a block federal money to some students, the entire tuition of any student who wanted to go to a public college was paid for?

This Is the Week Where the World's Billionaires Gather in Davos and Pretend They're Saviors of the World | Alternet

This Is the Week Where the World's Billionaires Gather in Davos and Pretend They're Saviors of the World | Alternet



Masters of the Universe are flocking to tell it on the mountain this week.

A Rand Paul Presidential Campaign Would Teach Americans Just How Vicious and Anti-Social the Libertarian Agenda Is | Alternet

A Rand Paul Presidential Campaign Would Teach Americans Just How Vicious and Anti-Social the Libertarian Agenda Is | Alternet



Not such a cozy guy.

5 Shady Ways Big Pharma May Be Influencing Your Doctor | Alternet

5 Shady Ways Big Pharma May Be Influencing Your Doctor | Alternet



Pharma can entice doctors to prescribe its expensive patent drugs, even when they are dangerous.

Inside the Obscene Lifestyles of the New Global Super-Rich | Alternet

Inside the Obscene Lifestyles of the New Global Super-Rich | Alternet



Meet the oligarch next door.

U.S. Attorney Subpoenas Christie Campaign, GOP State Committee | The National Memo

U.S. Attorney Subpoenas Christie Campaign, GOP State Committee | The National Memo



Things just went from bad to worse for Governor Christie. 

And Another Anti-Obamacare Talking Point Is Destroyed | The National Memo

And Another Anti-Obamacare Talking Point Is Destroyed | The National Memo



See the new data that completely obliterates the right's favorite talking point.

This Week In Crazy: Gay Rights Cause Tornadoes, And The Rest Of The Worst Of The Right | The National Memo

This Week In Crazy: Gay Rights Cause Tornadoes, And The Rest Of The Worst Of The Right | The National Memo



Gay rights are causing tornados, Ted Nugent picks a new leader for the GOP, and the rest of the worst of the right.  



You know you love it! :)

To Roger Stone, Bridgegate ‘Cover-Up’ Is Another Watergate — And He Would Know | The National Memo

To Roger Stone, Bridgegate ‘Cover-Up’ Is Another Watergate — And He Would Know | The National Memo



The legendary Nixon trickster says Christie and his crew are behaving just like his old gang -- and will pay the price. 

Conservative Author Dinesh D'Souza Charged With Campaign Finance Fraud

Conservative Author Dinesh D'Souza Charged With Campaign Finance Fraud



Conservative author Dinesh D'Souza has been indicted on federal
charges of violating campaign finance laws, the the U.S attorney in
Manhattan announced on Thursday.




Couldn't happen to a more deserving schmuck!

What The Huck? A Brief History Of GOPers Saying Crazy Things About Women

What The Huck? A Brief History Of GOPers Saying Crazy Things About Women



Mike Huckabee turned heads Thursday with a bizarre remark from right field about women and their "libidos."

2014 Could Be A Bad Year For Tea Party Senate Candidates

2014 Could Be A Bad Year For Tea Party Senate Candidates



One of the craziest potential match-ups in the Republican Senate primaries this year promised to be Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) -- but early momentum for Stockman quickly fizzled.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Daily Kos: Texas may be about to carry out an execution that violates international law

Daily Kos: Texas may be about to carry out an execution that violates international law



Texas may be about to carry out an execution despite being told in no uncertain terms that it would violate international law. Later tonight, the state is due to execute a Mexican man convicted of a 1994 murder--even though when he was arrested, police didn't tell him that he had the right to contact diplomats from his own country.



Update to this: They killed him yesterday.

Daily Kos: Elizabeth Warren Goes All Foreign Policy on Iran Sanctions Bill

Daily Kos: Elizabeth Warren Goes All Foreign Policy on Iran Sanctions Bill



Elizabeth Warren – an unyielding progressive on economic issues – does not often make headlines in the foreign policy department. However, today she made waves by coming out strongly against the Iran sanctions bill which threatens to derail President Obama's diplomatic progress.

Daily Kos: Now that you know 85 people own more than half the world, here's what to do about it

Daily Kos: Now that you know 85 people own more than half the world, here's what to do about it



The media has done a great job covering the 85 people who own more than half the world statistic from the Oxfam report entitled: Working for the Few: Political Capture and Economic Inequality. Media examples here, here, and here. 



What I didn't realize until I read the report was that it has an excellent set of recommendations on how to improve the situation.

Daily Kos: Rep. Steve Pearce: 'The wife is to voluntarily submit ...'

Daily Kos: Rep. Steve Pearce: 'The wife is to voluntarily submit ...'



And this, children, is why the word "rebranding" has become a comedy catchphrase throughout the political land. 



A Republican member of Congress says in a recently released book that a wife is to "voluntarily submit" to her husband, but that it doesn't make her inferior to him.

School Shootings Are Happening Every Other Day So Far in 2014 | Alternet

School Shootings Are Happening Every Other Day So Far in 2014 | Alternet



If this is the new normal, it's horrifying.

Aging White Radicals: The Real Reason the Republicans Are Completely Stuck | Alternet

Aging White Radicals: The Real Reason the Republicans Are Completely Stuck | Alternet



The right continues to exhibit a complete inability to evolve or moderate.

Veteran Gay Conservative Activist Leaves GOP—Calls Party 'Hopelessly Out of Touch' | Alternet

Veteran Gay Conservative Activist Leaves GOP—Calls Party 'Hopelessly Out of Touch' | Alternet



Gay political activist and longtime Republican, Jimmy LaSalvia, did not merely leave the GOP last week. He loudly denounced his former party for its "culture of intolerance" and predicted it will never "win another Presidential election."

WH Report's Shocking Stat: 7% of College Men Admit to Attempting Rape, Most of Them Multiple Times | Alternet

WH Report's Shocking Stat: 7% of College Men Admit to Attempting Rape, Most of Them Multiple Times | Alternet



A White House report released Wednesday brings to light to a shocking statistic: 7 percent of college men admit they have attempted rape, 63 percent of those have been involved in multiple assaults, averaging 6 each. And those are the ones that admit it.

Huckabee: Dems think women can’t control their libido

Huckabee: Dems think women can’t control their libido



Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (R) said Thursday that Republicans need to take a more combative attitude toward winning the votes of women, by emphasizing that women aren't weaklings in need of help from the government.

Federal Appeals Court Ruling Could Change The Game On Gay Rights | ThinkProgress

Federal Appeals Court Ruling Could Change The Game On Gay Rights | ThinkProgress



When the U.S. Supreme Court made history in June by striking down the Defense of Marriage Act, the substantive holding was immediately clear: the discriminatory federal law “demeans the couple, whose moral and sexual choices the Constitution protects, and whose relationship the State has sought to dignify.” What was not exactly clear was what, if any, sort of legal standards the justices set for future courts. A federal appeals court ruling issued Tuesday finds the justices set a new, heightened standard for justifying discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

How The Media Is Helping Conservatives Kill Roe v. Wade | Blog | Media Matters for America

How The Media Is Helping Conservatives Kill Roe v. Wade | Blog | Media Matters for America



If you are a woman, you no longer have the same rights you had 41 years ago.

Indiana GOP Leader Moves Failing Marriage Equality Ban To More Conservative Committee (UPDATE)

Indiana GOP Leader Moves Failing Marriage Equality Ban To More Conservative Committee (UPDATE)



With a proposed state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage on life support, Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma (R) suddenly gave it new life Tuesday, moving the legislation from the skeptical committee that was reviewing it to a friendlier, more conservative panel that is likely to vote it through to the full chamber.

A New Gilded Age Threatens The State Of Our Union

A New Gilded Age Threatens The State Of Our Union



The numbers are shocking -- assuming that we still have the capacity for shock -- and they will form the backdrop for President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday. 



The president will declare himself a foe of “income inequality,” with good reason: As a nation, we have climbed out of the deep hole of the Great Recession, but we have not done so as a whole people. 



For the first time since precise recordkeeping began a century ago, 10 percent of Americans take in more than half the country’s income.

U.S. Likely To Hit Debt Ceiling Sooner Than Believed

U.S. Likely To Hit Debt Ceiling Sooner Than Believed



The country's next fiscal crisis will come sooner than advertised. 



 Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on Wednesday sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) warning that the country would likely exhaust the extraordinary measures used to stay beneath the debt limit by late February. In a previous letter to Boehner, Lew had projected the deadline might not be hit until early March.

Ukraine Ultimatum Nears End As Threat Of More Violence Looms

Ukraine Ultimatum Nears End As Threat Of More Violence Looms



Protesters in Ukraine's capital extinguished burning barricades
shielding them from the police on Thursday, enforcing a tenuous peace as
an ultimatum issued by the opposition to the president was set to
expire with no sign of compromise.

Why Wendy Davis Terrifies The GOP | The National Memo

Why Wendy Davis Terrifies The GOP | The National Memo



Overheated, overreaching attempts to destroy the Texas Democrat are no accident. 

Christie On Two Levels | The National Memo

Christie On Two Levels | The National Memo



No matter what he does on the road to 2016, New Jersey's governor will continue to be be defined by his scandals. 

Ted Nugent makes new shocking comments about President Obama - Ruthless Politics | Ruthless Politics

Ted Nugent makes new shocking comments about President Obama - Ruthless Politics | Ruthless Politics



Ted Nugent appeared at SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade) when he was asked to describe the gun debate in America. In typical fashion Nugent rambled for over 8 minutes about what he believes to be his ‘god given’ gifts, and how his music may be the best in the history of the world. After that humble disclosure Nugent went on a tirade about President Barack Obama: 



I have obviously failed to galvanize and prod if not shame enough Americans to be ever vigilant not to let a Chicago communist-raised, communist-educated, communist-nurtured subhuman mongrel like the ACORN community organizer gangster Barack Hussein Obama to weasel his way into the top office of authority in the United States of America.

Police Assault Teen So Violently During Search That His Testicles Burst | Alternet

Police Assault Teen So Violently During Search That His Testicles Burst | Alternet



A female officer grabbed a teen's genitals during a pat-down search and pulled, causing a testicle to rupture.

Have We Forgotten How to Sleep Right? Why Napping Could Save Your Health | Alternet

Have We Forgotten How to Sleep Right? Why Napping Could Save Your Health | Alternet



The desire to 'lean in' at work must, occasionally, be superseded by the need to keel over. A nap isn't always bad.

Seniors Paying $7,125 a Month to be Neglected? What Happened When Wall Street Got Involved in Assisted Living | Alternet

Seniors Paying $7,125 a Month to be Neglected? What Happened When Wall Street Got Involved in Assisted Living | Alternet



The horrors of some assisted living facilities.

11 Jobs Where an Honest Day's Work Earns You Poverty | Alternet

11 Jobs Where an Honest Day's Work Earns You Poverty | Alternet



The current minimum wage is a maximum shame on America.

Poll Shows Most Republicans Think People Are Poor Because They Don't Work Hard Enough

Poll Shows Most Republicans Think People Are Poor Because They Don't Work Hard Enough



Whether you're rich or poor, Republicans believe that's on you. 



Findings released Thursday by Pew showed that most Republicans think rich people are largely responsible for their socioeconomic status. They also feel the same way about poor people.

GOP House Candidate Says God Created Autism, Dementia And Tornadoes To Punish Gays

GOP House Candidate Says God Created Autism, Dementia And Tornadoes To Punish Gays



A congressional candidate in Illinois believes God has unleashed debilitating disorders and destructive natural disasters because he is so upset with the growing support for gay rights.

The Heritage Foundation Might Be Shedding Some Of Its Crazy Soon

The Heritage Foundation Might Be Shedding Some Of Its Crazy Soon



2013 hasn't exactly been a banner year for the Heritage Foundation, Washington's most well-known and influential conservative think tank.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Why Do Some Americans Speak So Confidently When They Have No Clue What They're Talking About? | Alternet

Why Do Some Americans Speak So Confidently When They Have No Clue What They're Talking About? | Alternet



Harvard calls "leadership" speaking with conviction when you don't even believe it.

The Eight Juiciest Revelations From The Bob McDonnell Indictment

The Eight Juiciest Revelations From The Bob McDonnell Indictment



Earlier this month, Bob McDonnell became former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. On Tuesday, he became indicted former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.

Why Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hates Roe v. Wade

Why Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hates Roe v. Wade



Close observers of the legal war over abortion are familiar with the story: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the leader of the Supreme Court's liberal wing, is a passionate critic of Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that turned 41 on Wednesday. 



It's not that she opposes the holding that recognizes a right to an abortion. It's that she opposes the logic of the 1973 court's majority opinion and the constitutional basis under which seven justices arrived at their conclusion.

Republicans Seek To Sabotage Obamacare With Higher Premiums

Republicans Seek To Sabotage Obamacare With Higher Premiums



Conservative wonks and Republican lawmakers are coalescing around a new strategy to sabotage Obamacare by repealing a temporary piece of the law designed to hold down premiums in the event of major market disruptions.

Daily Kos: The two charts that objectively prove Democrats aren't even slightly hurt by becoming more liberal

Daily Kos: The two charts that objectively prove Democrats aren't even slightly hurt by becoming more liberal

Daily Kos: Florida Republican calls for hanging President Obama

Daily Kos: Florida Republican calls for hanging President Obama



You know you've crossed the line when Florida Republicans think you've crossed the line.



You also know they all agree, they're just mad cuz he said it in public :)

Communities Resist as Tar Sands Flow Through KXL South | Common Dreams

Communities Resist as Tar Sands Flow Through KXL South | Common Dreams



South
Sacrificing the health of the people and planet, 590,000 additional barrels of oil will now flow to refineries on the Gulf

Russia Hacked Hundreds Of Western, Asian Companies For Economic Espionage: Security Firm

Russia Hacked Hundreds Of Western, Asian Companies For Economic Espionage: Security Firm

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. cybersecurity firm says it has gathered evidence that the Russian government spied on hundreds of American, European and Asian companies, the first time Moscow has been linked to cyber attacks for alleged economic - rather than political - gains.

Mother Nature can improve your business - Postcards

Mother Nature can improve your business - Postcards



"How much management do people need?" Mulligan asked. "Maybe not as much as we thought."

Republican Party To Vote For Repeal Of Anti-Tax Dodging Law

Republican Party To Vote For Repeal Of Anti-Tax Dodging Law



The Republican Party is expected to approve a resolution this week, calling for repeal of an Obama administration law that is designed to crack down on offshore tax dodging.

Why Colorado and Washington Were Wise to Legalize Pot | Entrepreneur.com

Why Colorado and Washington Were Wise to Legalize Pot | Entrepreneur.com



Like water finding a path, entrepreneurs will always figure out a way to respond to business opportunities. That's why other states should follow the example of Colorado and Washington and legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Harnessing the power of entrepreneurs is much more productive than fighting it.

Daily Kos: Walmart: America's real 'Welfare Queen'

Daily Kos: Walmart: America's real 'Welfare Queen'



Walmart, one of the richest corporations in the world, refuses to pay its employees a livable wage or provide any form of decent healthcare, increasing reliance on government assistance, and the need for a social safety net.

Daily Kos: What Happens when Poor People get Cash? An Empirical Study.

Daily Kos: What Happens when Poor People get Cash? An Empirical Study.



"Professors Costello and Akee continue to think that cash made the difference, and THAT has social and political implications, because if it DOES, withholding cash that not only helps poor families but also saves society money isn't exactly rational policy. It torpedoes the ideas that if you're poor or if you're sick, you did something to make yourself deserve that."

Ailes' Biographer Says Fox News Empire is Crumbling | Alternet

Ailes' Biographer Says Fox News Empire is Crumbling | Alternet



Violence, paranoia, bigotry, and sexual harassment reign at "America's Newsroom," author Gabriel Sherman explains.

4 Ways Martin Luther King Was More Radical Than You Thought | Alternet

4 Ways Martin Luther King Was More Radical Than You Thought | Alternet



The slain civil rights leader was a critic of capitalism, the Vietnam War, and championed reproductive rights.

Sarah Palin Plays ‘The Race Card’ On Martin Luther King Day | The National Memo

Sarah Palin Plays ‘The Race Card’ On Martin Luther King Day | The National Memo



The former governor won't take one day off from slamming the first African-American president.

Daily Kos: Most of you have no idea what Martin Luther King actually did

Daily Kos: Most of you have no idea what Martin Luther King actually did

Daily Kos: Christie Scandal has GOP "On the Brink of Panic"

Daily Kos: Christie Scandal has GOP "On the Brink of Panic"

Daily Kos: Most of you have no idea what Martin Luther King actually did

Daily Kos: Most of you have no idea what Martin Luther King actually did



This will be a very short diary. It will not contain any links or any
scholarly references. It is about a very narrow topic, from a very
personal, subjective perspective. 

The Global Elite: Rigging the Rules That Fuel Inequality | Common Dreams

The Global Elite: Rigging the Rules That Fuel Inequality | Common Dreams



New report from Oxfam states that 85 of the world's richest people own the wealth of half of the world’s population.

Putin's Shocking New Anti-Gay Smear | Alternet

Putin's Shocking New Anti-Gay Smear | Alternet



The strongman says that Russia should be “cleansed” of gays because of the need for population growth.

Alaskan Copper Mine Could Destroy the World's Largest Wild Salmon Run, Says EPA | Alternet

Alaskan Copper Mine Could Destroy the World's Largest Wild Salmon Run, Says EPA | Alternet



The Pebble Mine project would obliterate up to 94 miles of streams and threaten the area's fishing industry.

Conservatives Aghast at the Idea of Addressing Racial Discrimination in Schools | Alternet

Conservatives Aghast at the Idea of Addressing Racial Discrimination in Schools | Alternet



The National Review Online suggests the Obama Administration's enforcement of the Civil Rights Act to be their "most foolhardy idea yet."

Republican Senate Candidate Suggests Teachers Should be Able to Carry Machine Guns in School | Alternet

Republican Senate Candidate Suggests Teachers Should be Able to Carry Machine Guns in School | Alternet



South Carolina legislator claims that the Second Amendment clearly allows for rapid-fire weapons in the classroom.

It's Time to Remember Martin Luther King, The Radical | Alternet

It's Time to Remember Martin Luther King, The Radical | Alternet



As the nation rediscovers poverty, it’s time to replace the safe, airbrushed icon with the revolutionary he was.

How Ted Cruz Helped Fund Obamacare | The National Memo

How Ted Cruz Helped Fund Obamacare | The National Memo



Bad news for the turbulent Texan: Nobody is afraid of the Tea Party anymore. 

Year Six Of Hope And Change | The National Memo

Year Six Of Hope And Change | The National Memo



WIll Barack Obama ever be able to transcend petty politics and fulfill the promise of his presidency? 

4 Money Grabs Show a Few Rich People Are the Ones Getting Wealthier in America | Alternet

4 Money Grabs Show a Few Rich People Are the Ones Getting Wealthier in America | Alternet



Only people who already have money can increase their wealth. Conclusion: The system is broken.

8 Habits of Intolerant People | Alternet

8 Habits of Intolerant People | Alternet



A psychotherapist makes some observations about people who are quick to anger, resentful and intolerant of others.

Thievery: How Congress Keeps Stealing From Our Retirement Benefits and Social Safety Net | Alternet

Thievery: How Congress Keeps Stealing From Our Retirement Benefits and Social Safety Net | Alternet



Military pensions, unemployment, disability and Social Security are all targets.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Rising Tide of Public Outrage on the Verge of Stopping a Shady Corporate Deal in Washington | Alternet

Rising Tide of Public Outrage on the Verge of Stopping a Shady Corporate Deal in Washington | Alternet

Turn up the heat: election years are a terrible time to pass anything controversial and the Trans-Pacific Partnership is becoming politically toxic.

10 of the Nuttiest, Nastiest Right-Wing Statements This Week—Pot Freak-Out Edition | Alternet

10 of the Nuttiest, Nastiest Right-Wing Statements This Week—Pot Freak-Out Edition | Alternet

Dumbasses on parade! Enjoy!

Daily Kos: Wife-rapists find their dream candidate

Daily Kos: Wife-rapists find their dream candidate

I know it's still early and we shouldn't get our impeccably cynical hopes up, but Republicans may have found their new E.W. Jackson. And yes, Virginia, he's from Virginia. For those of you who haven't heard of him yet, we present Republican state Sen. "Dick" Black, who wants to be Virginia's newest member of Congress because, well, gawd only knows.

Black opposed making spousal rape a crime, citing the impossibility of convicting a husband accused of raping his wife "when they're living together, sleeping in the same bed, she's in a nightie, and so forth." [...] 

Daily Kos: Imposing more sanctions on Iran would not just trash nuclear talks, it would hurt Iranian reformers

Daily Kos: Imposing more sanctions on Iran would not just trash nuclear talks, it would hurt Iranian reformers

President Obama won't, but perhaps should, make the 16 Democratic senators who have signed up to pass more economic sanctions on Iran sit on the floor when the Democratic caucus gets together with him at the White House Wednesday evening.

Daily Kos: Pope Francis fires all but one Cardinal Running Vatican Bank

Daily Kos: Pope Francis fires all but one Cardinal Running Vatican Bank

At least they're not still money-laundering for the Mob. Right?

Tell the FCC: Save the open Internet! - Common Cause

Tell the FCC: Save the open Internet! - Common Cause

Tell the FCC: Save the Open Internet! This is important, folks. Life and death for the internet as we know it.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

This Week In Crazy: Demons Are In Your Weed, And The Rest Of The Worst Of The Right | The National Memo

This Week In Crazy: Demons Are In Your Weed, And The Rest Of The Worst Of The Right | The National Memo

A couple of 'regulars' and some new faces made this a fun week in the raucous right.

Willful Blindness Worsens Inequality | The National Memo

Willful Blindness Worsens Inequality | The National Memo

The rich really are getting richer, while the vast majority is getting poorer. All you have to do is look at the official government data to know this.

Sadly, though, most of our nationally prominent journalists, especially David Brooks of The New York Times and PBS, do not know this because they neglect to do a basic journalistic task. It’s called reporting.

Straightforward? Not The Best Description Of Chris Christie — Or His Pal Karl Rove | The National Memo

Straightforward? Not The Best Description Of Chris Christie — Or His Pal Karl Rove | The National Memo

Why is Rove defending New Jersey's embattled governor? He created Christie -- who may be his last chance for relevance in the Republican (Tea) Party. 

Obama's NSA 'Reforms' Are Little More Than a PR Attempt to Mollify the Public | Common Dreams

Obama's NSA 'Reforms' Are Little More Than a PR Attempt to Mollify the Public | Common Dreams

Obama is draping the banner of change over the NSA status quo. Bulk surveillance that caused such outrage will remain in place

Glenn Greenwald weighs in.

Six US Merchants Are Being Hacked By Target-Style Attacks - Business Insider

Six US Merchants Are Being Hacked By Target-Style Attacks - Business Insider

BOSTON (Reuters) - The cyber security firm IntelCrawler said on Friday it has uncovered at least six ongoing attacks at merchants across the United States whose credit card processing systems are infected with the same type of malicious software

It Is Expensive to Be Poor - Barbara Ehrenreich - The Atlantic

It Is Expensive to Be Poor - Barbara Ehrenreich - The Atlantic

Minimum-wage jobs are physically demanding, have unpredictable schedules, and pay so meagerly that workers can't save up enough to move on.

Terrible news for Obamacare haters: The law is not going to collapse - Salon.com

Terrible news for Obamacare haters: The law is not going to collapse - Salon.com

Conservatives spin Obamacare numbers — but they’ve already lost. The sabotage campaign is now wholly gratuitous

Polar Vortex is Coming Back - Even As the Right-Wing Continues to Deny Climate Change | Alternet

Polar Vortex is Coming Back - Even As the Right-Wing Continues to Deny Climate Change | Alternet

Days after GOP appoints a climate skeptic to head senate environmental subcommittee, meteorologists announce that extreme polar vortex headed back over United States.

Company Responsible for Major Chemical Spill Is a Great Candidate for the Corporate Death Penalty | Alternet

Company Responsible for Major Chemical Spill Is a Great Candidate for the Corporate Death Penalty | Alternet

Freedom Industries should face some serious accountability.

We really do need to exercise a corporate death penalty. IMHO, we need to use it profligately for a year or two to get their attention. Hopefully, after that, the mere threat of it will keep people in line. A little oppressive perhaps, but effective.

Obamacare Couldn't Stop Drug Company From Charging $13,700 for a Drug that Costs $300 | Alternet

Obamacare Couldn't Stop Drug Company From Charging $13,700 for a Drug that Costs $300 | Alternet

Obamacare did nothing to control the price of healthcare, journalist Steven Brill told Jon Stewart.

It's not good, but it's something we can fix in phase 2 :)

Nine Things You Need to Know About the NSA Phone Data Collection Overhaul | Alternet

Nine Things You Need to Know About the NSA Phone Data Collection Overhaul | Alternet

The government will still hold onto telephone data, but agencies will be compelled to obtain permission from a secret court before tapping into it.

Busted! 10 Myths That Reveal Just How Dangerous the NSA Really Is | Alternet

Busted! 10 Myths That Reveal Just How Dangerous the NSA Really Is | Alternet

"If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear," and so on... It’s time to face these government slogans and lies, directly.

The Real Reason Evangelical Christians Are Trying to Thwart Women's Right to Birth Control | Alternet

The Real Reason Evangelical Christians Are Trying to Thwart Women's Right to Birth Control | Alternet

Behind the Evangelical movement's surprising turn against contraception.

Net Neutrality Is on Life Support But Maybe We Can Save It | Alternet

Net Neutrality Is on Life Support But Maybe We Can Save It | Alternet

The FCC needs to step in and do its job.

Thwarted: Israel Lobby's Bid to Scuttle Iran Deal Goes Down In Flames | Alternet

Thwarted: Israel Lobby's Bid to Scuttle Iran Deal Goes Down In Flames | Alternet

Legislation imposing more sanctions on Iran has stalled in the U.S. Senate.

The 'Freedom' Bush Left to Iraqis, 10 Years Later: A Bloodbath Civil War | Alternet

The 'Freedom' Bush Left to Iraqis, 10 Years Later: A Bloodbath Civil War | Alternet

The war on terror was just an excuse; the neo-cons wanted to topple Saddam Hussein all along.

Why Cory Booker Is Trying to Deep-Six Obama's Historic Efforts at Peacemaking with Iran | Alternet

Why Cory Booker Is Trying to Deep-Six Obama's Historic Efforts at Peacemaking with Iran | Alternet

The newly minted New Jersey senator has joined forces with the country’s most reactionary forces in foreign policy.

How The U.S. Could Deport Justin Bieber | ThinkProgress

How The U.S. Could Deport Justin Bieber | ThinkProgress

Canadian pop star Justin Bieber may soon face felony charges for allegedly egging his neighbor’s mansion. On the small chance that Bieber is convicted, he could face possible deportation because of a 1996 federal immigration law that makes felony convictions a deportable offense.

Politico Celebrates Washington's Imaginary Victory Over Wall Street

Politico Celebrates Washington's Imaginary Victory Over Wall Street

We did it, America! Our broke, dysfunctional government has somehow pulled itself together long enough to soundly defeat powerful, wealthy Wall Street, turning the financial industry into a squeaking little gerbil. At least, that is what finance wants you to think.

Friday, January 17, 2014

The Right-Wing Fringe's New Nutty Plot to Undermine Our Democracy | Alternet

The Right-Wing Fringe's New Nutty Plot to Undermine Our Democracy | Alternet

I listened in to a recent conference call with conservative activists. What's their latest scheme?

Noah Took a Baby Dinosaur on the Ark? 5 Extremist Christian "Science" Teachings | Alternet

Noah Took a Baby Dinosaur on the Ark? 5 Extremist Christian "Science" Teachings | Alternet

The Christian curriculum that says its students should not have any knowledge of anything contrary to the Bible.

If you have friends who are fundamental whackjobs that believe this sort of shit, smack them repeatedly in the head. It will either knock some sense into them or kill them, either of which can be considered a 'win'

8 Phony GOP Solutions for Poverty That Will Only Bring More Economic Pain | Alternet

8 Phony GOP Solutions for Poverty That Will Only Bring More Economic Pain | Alternet

The GOP is trying to rebrand itself as "compassionate" toward the poor. So what are its big ideas?

How Screwing Your Workers Gets You Rated as Top 100 Places to Work | Alternet

How Screwing Your Workers Gets You Rated as Top 100 Places to Work | Alternet

Darden Restaurants, which owns chains like Red Lobster, bought its way into a sleazy rankings list.

Source: Obama To Call For End To NSA Control Of Phone Data

Source: Obama To Call For End To NSA Control Of Phone Data

President Barack Obama on Friday will call for ending the government's control of phone data from millions of Americans, a senior administration official said. The move marks a significant change to the National Security Agency's controversial bulk phone record collection program.

Ratings Plummet For 'Duck Dynasty' Season Premiere After Star's Gay-Bashing Interview

Ratings Plummet For 'Duck Dynasty' Season Premiere After Star's Gay-Bashing Interview

It turns out that a national controversy sparked by racist and homophobic remarks doesn't necessarily result in a ratings boost for a television show.

Enter The Alligator: Christie's Bridge Lawyer Has A 'Merciless' Reputation

Enter The Alligator: Christie's Bridge Lawyer Has A 'Merciless' Reputation

Some attorneys might balk at being compared to an alligator. But the high-powered crisis lawyer hired by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's (R) office to deal with the bridge scandal has no such qualms. The bio on his law firm's website boasts of the analogy.

What Can Republicans Do If Obamacare Isn’t A Disaster? | The National Memo

What Can Republicans Do If Obamacare Isn’t A Disaster? | The National Memo

As the 2014 midterms draw nearer, the Republican Party has developed a simple, Costanza-esque plan for the election season: Nothing.

The theory, which is reportedly being pushed by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) over the objections of some House members, goes as follows: As the rollout of the Affordable Care Act continues, Republicans should fade to the background and watch it “collapse under its own weight,” as Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) is prone to saying. That will allow Republicans to eliminate any distractions as they relentlessly hammer Democrats over the law’s failures, on the way to maintaining their House majority and winning the net six seats needed to take control of the Senate.

Why Democrats Should Run On The Social Safety Net | The National Memo

Why Democrats Should Run On The Social Safety Net | The National Memo

 Talks in the Senate to extend emergency unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed collapsed on Tuesday, dooming the chance for the bill to be brought to the floor for a vote. As a result, emergency unemployment benefits created during the financial crisis to assist millions of Americans remain restricted.

Playing to their base -- and exposing Republican obduracy -- could pay major dividends for Democrats in November.  

6 States That Will Swing The Senate In 2014 | The National Memo

6 States That Will Swing The Senate In 2014 | The National Memo

With less than a year to go until the 2014 midterm elections, Republicans are feeling bullish about their chances of winning a majority in the U.S. Senate. The GOP needs to gain a net of six seats in order to claim the majority, and with 21 Democratic seats in play — including seven in states that Mitt Romney won in the 2012 presidential election — there are ample opportunities for Republicans to grow their caucus.

See the battlegrounds that will determine whether Mitch McConnell becomes majority leader. 

Decaying And Underemployed, America Needs A Politics Of Reconstruction | The National Memo

Decaying And Underemployed, America Needs A Politics Of Reconstruction | The National Memo

Considering how incessantly all politicians blather about jobs and how badly we need them, it is remarkable how little most of them actually do to increase employment. Much of what they’ve done in Washington over the past few years has achieved precisely the opposite, in fact – which leaves voters understandably cynical about government’s capacity to address an ongoing economic calamity.

Ignore the Washington termites. We can afford to save the great physical legacy we inherited and our jobless as well. 

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Members of Congress Introduce a New Fix for the Voting Rights Act | The Nation

Members of Congress Introduce a New Fix for the Voting Rights Act | The Nation

Today Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and John Conyers (D-MI) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced legislation to strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision last June invalidating a critical section of the VRA. The legislation, known as “The Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014,” represents the first attempt by a bipartisan group in Congress to reinstate the vital protections of the VRA that the Supreme Court took away.

'A Goldmine to Exploit': NSA Vacuuming Up Millions of Text Messages Daily | Common Dreams

'A Goldmine to Exploit': NSA Vacuuming Up Millions of Text Messages Daily | Common Dreams

The Guardian and Channel 4 News report on the newest revelation of NSA's vast surveillance

This Is How Little Time Television News Devotes To Climate Change

This Is How Little Time Television News Devotes To Climate Change

Climate change got more coverage on broadcast news in 2013 than in the previous few years, but the issue still didn't get nearly as much attention as it did in 2009, Media Matters found in a new analysis.

Shep Smith Bashes Net Neutrality Opponent: 'You Sound Like A Corporate Shill'

Shep Smith Bashes Net Neutrality Opponent: 'You Sound Like A Corporate Shill'

"You sound like a corporate shill!" Shep Smith told his guest during a segment on net neutrality.

Wow! Who knew Shep would ever get one right? Must have hit the right balance on his meds that day :)
(That, or Rupert doesn't (yet) own a piece of the net?)

Daily Kos: Robert Reich: Fear Is Why Poor States Vote Against Their Economic Interest

Daily Kos: Robert Reich: Fear Is Why Poor States Vote Against Their Economic Interest

Last week, there was a massive toxic spill in West Virginia leading to undrinkable water for hundreds of thousands of West Virginans and pictures of the disgustingly polluted water like the one above.

For years many Democrats have wondered why poor and middle class Americans vote for Republicans, especially in our country's poorest states like West Virginia. Is it some twisted ideology? Something to do with race or religion? It could be all of those things, but oddly enough, jobs could also be a factor. Or more specifically, the fear of losing those jobs. In a Facebook post today, Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich explains

Daily Kos: Milwaukee "New Hustler Academy" Voucher School Closes in the Dead of Night (Updated)

Daily Kos: Milwaukee "New Hustler Academy" Voucher School Closes in the Dead of Night (Updated)

I'll say it one more time, in case anyone missed the first 3,298,873 times I said it: Voucher schools are bad on so many levels they need to be outlawed. They do not perform as promised, often under-performing the 'failing' public schools they are designed to replace... er I mean, supplement. If some one comes to your city/town/neighborhood promoting a voucher-financed Charter school, tar and feather them and run them out of town (lighting the tar on fire is optional, but recommended for night actions!)

Daily Kos: The Koch Boys set their sights on Pennsylvania to Break Labor & Democrats

Daily Kos: The Koch Boys set their sights on Pennsylvania to Break Labor & Democrats

Word has just leaked out of the State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa that the Koch Boys are talking to severely wounded Republican Governor Corbett to move legislation this winter and spring to outlaw union dues deduction for all state and local public employees.

It is the same kind of legislation Scott Walker passed in Wisconsin and Kasich tried to pass in Ohio.

If such legislation passed in Pennsylvania, it would effectively destroy public employee unionism in this state.

That would then open the door for an omnibus assault on all unions in this labor state.

Daily Kos: Rush Limbaugh: If Christie was a true conservative, whether he lied 'wouldn't matter'

Daily Kos: Rush Limbaugh: If Christie was a true conservative, whether he lied 'wouldn't matter'

That Rush Limbaugh thinks this way really isn't news, but it's a perfect description of the ideology-over-substance obsession that has turned conservatism into a movement with no actual ideology at all.

Daily Kos: Leaked documents show how Walmart trains managers to squash worker organizing

Daily Kos: Leaked documents show how Walmart trains managers to squash worker organizing

Constant vigilance is one of Walmart's major strategies against worker organization, and store managers are the front-line defense. Managers are trained intensively on how to recognize and respond to signs that workers might join together to fight Walmart's lousy wages and working conditions—and now Occupy Wall Street has posted leaked documents showing just how managers are trained.

Daily Kos: Rush Limbaugh Finally Admits He's Full of $#!t

Daily Kos: Rush Limbaugh Finally Admits He's Full of $#!t:

 On Monday's program, right wing talk show host Rush Limbaugh finally admitted what the rest of us have suspected for a long time.

He is utterly and completely full of shit.