www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/05/tobacco-dark-money-norquist-koch-brothers
"Reynolds doled out $175,000 to Americans for Tax Reform, conservative activist Grover Norquist's anti-tax group. The company also gave $50,000 to Americans for Prosperity, $45,000 to the US Chamber of Commerce, and $100,000 to the Partnership for Ohio's Future, an Ohio Chamber-backed group that supported restricting the worker bargaining rights."
Friday, May 31, 2013
After Obama Tears Him a New One, Boehner Lies About Raising Student Loan Rates
www.politicususa.com/obama-tears-one-boehner-lies-raising-student-loan-rates.html
"Boehner’s lies and spin can’t hide the fact that House Republicans keep digging their party in deeper by constantly putting their corporate masters ahead of people. The emptiness of the Republican Party was put on display. When confronted with the truth, all John Boehner could do is respond with lies."
"Boehner’s lies and spin can’t hide the fact that House Republicans keep digging their party in deeper by constantly putting their corporate masters ahead of people. The emptiness of the Republican Party was put on display. When confronted with the truth, all John Boehner could do is respond with lies."
The Latest Report On Medicare Shows The Program Is Getting Stronger
The Latest Report On Medicare Shows The Program Is Getting Stronger: The Medicare Trustees had great news for American seniors on Friday: the program’s solvency has been extended for two full years past what the trustees predicted in 2012. In their annual report, the trustees wrote that Medicare’s hospital insurance trust fund will be fully solvent through 2026. That’s over a decade longer than what the [...]/p
Chinese Meat Firm With Terrible Food Safety Record Buys The Largest Pork Producer In The U.S.
Chinese Meat Firm With Terrible Food Safety Record Buys The Largest Pork Producer In The U.S.: Two global meat giants with shady food safety histories are planning to merge in hopes of becoming the most powerful meat producer in the world. Smithfield Foods, the largest pork producer in the U.S., has been bought by China’s Shuanghui International Holdings Limited for $4.7 billion. If deal is cleared by Smithfield shareholders and the [...]/p
Conservative Activist Urges Republicans To Forget Hispanics, Work Harder At Courting Whites
www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/31/conservative-activist-urges-republicans-to-forget-hispanics-work-harder-at-courting-whites/
"The truth of the matter is that the GOP has moved ever further to the right since Reagan was in office. It doesn’t matter which side of the political spectrum you’re on; the further toward the fringe you go, the less appeal you will have to the general population."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/31/conservative-activist-urges-republicans-to-forget-hispanics-work-harder-at-courting-whites/#ixzz2UtcHPkF9
"The truth of the matter is that the GOP has moved ever further to the right since Reagan was in office. It doesn’t matter which side of the political spectrum you’re on; the further toward the fringe you go, the less appeal you will have to the general population."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/31/conservative-activist-urges-republicans-to-forget-hispanics-work-harder-at-courting-whites/#ixzz2UtcHPkF9
New Yorkers Rally For Campaign Finance Reform
New Yorkers Rally For Campaign Finance Reform: Hundreds of New Yorkers rallied in Albany on Wednesday to urge the New York Senate to enact campaign finance reform legislation, including public financing for state candidates. But while the State Assembly has already passed a reform bill, the Senate’s governing coalition has yet to bring forward a bill with less than a month left [...]/p
Radio Wingnuts Call for Armed 'Peaceful' Overthrow' Of U.S.
Radio Wingnuts Call for Armed 'Peaceful' Overthrow' Of U.S.
"The "Santilli" that he's talking to there is my old pal Pete Santilli, who made violent threats against Hillary Clinton just a couple of weeks ago and doubled down on them last week."
"The "Santilli" that he's talking to there is my old pal Pete Santilli, who made violent threats against Hillary Clinton just a couple of weeks ago and doubled down on them last week."
Connecticut Lawmakers Consider Bill That Could Undermine Paid Sick Leave
Connecticut Lawmakers Consider Bill That Could Undermine Paid Sick Leave: Connecticut made history two years ago when it became the first state in the country to guarantee its workers paid sick days. The bill requires service workers to earn an hour of sick leave for every forty hours worked. But now the state’s lawmakers are considering a bill that could undermine the initial legislation. S.B. [...]/p
Bankruptcy Ruling Leads To Cutting Pensions For Thousands
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How to Protest Corporate Power | Alternet
How to Protest Corporate Power | Alternet
"The broad movement for peace and social, economic and environmental justice is here and you should be part of it."
"The broad movement for peace and social, economic and environmental justice is here and you should be part of it."
How Tesla's Success Is Rewriting The Future For Electric Cars
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Coal Workers Lose Pensions As Execs At Bankrupt Company Get Bonuses
Coal Workers Lose Pensions As Execs At Bankrupt Company Get Bonuses: On Wednesday, a bankruptcy judge in St. Louis freed a bankrupt coal company from its contractual obligations to retired miners. Judge Kathy Suratt-States explained that Patriot Coal could not be held to its $1.3 billion in pension obligations because the laborers who incurred those obligations shared in the responsibility for the company’s failure: “There is [...]/p
Thanks To Obamacare, Young Adults And Hospitals Saved $147 Million In 2011 Alone
Thanks To Obamacare, Young Adults And Hospitals Saved $147 Million In 2011 Alone: An estimated 3.1 million young Americans who would have lacked health coverage gained access to it thanks to an Obamacare provision that allows adults up to age 26 to remain on their parents’ health insurance. A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine concludes that shift saved young people from paying — [...]/p
Disheartening Spate Of Threats Mar Political Discourse
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Obama To Call On Congress To Avoid Doubling Student Loan Interest Rates
Obama To Call On Congress To Avoid Doubling Student Loan Interest Rates: President Obama will today launch a campaign aimed at preventing interest rates on federal student loans from doubling at the start of July, gathering college students at the White House in an effort to challenge Congress to prevent the rate increase. The White House has already re-upped its “don’t double my rate” campaign, which helped [...]/p
Congress' Farm Bill Readies to Kick Poor Off Food Assistance | Common Dreams
Congress' Farm Bill Readies to Kick Poor Off Food Assistance | Common Dreams
"If the House GOP gets its way, the new Farm Bill passing through Congress will prove the perfect opportunity to make some of the nation's most poor and vulnerable even less secure."
"If the House GOP gets its way, the new Farm Bill passing through Congress will prove the perfect opportunity to make some of the nation's most poor and vulnerable even less secure."
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Issa Brings Back 'Summer Of Subpoena'
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How Obamacare May Help Make Health Care Cheaper By Forcing Insurance Giants To Compete
How Obamacare May Help Make Health Care Cheaper By Forcing Insurance Giants To Compete: More than 120 insurance plans want Americans to be able to buy their products on Obamacare’s new insurance marketplaces, one of the key provisions of the health law that will take full effect in 2014. The Obama administration is heralding that news as more proof that the Affordable Care Act is already doing its part [...]/p
Republican Lies Thwart Attempts to Reach Democratic Ideal of Educated Citizenry
Republican Lies Thwart Attempts to Reach Democratic Ideal of Educated Citizenry
"Having an enlightened and educated citizenry is a great ideal to strive for in theory, but it can be very hard to achieve in practice.
"Having an enlightened and educated citizenry is a great ideal to strive for in theory, but it can be very hard to achieve in practice.
This is especially true when those that we are supposed to trust, like our elected officials in Washington, choose to lie to the American people over and over again, rather than face the facts.
And when it comes lying lawmakers, Republicans are the worst."
PERRspectives: CBO Study Shows Tax Breaks Favor the Rich
PERRspectives: CBO Study Shows Tax Breaks Favor the Rich
"Every year, tax expenditures--Uncle Sam's myriad credits, exclusion, loopholes and breaks--cost the U.S. Treasury over $1 trillion a year. To put that in perspective, that figure is greater than the cost of Medicare, Social Security and national defense. Much larger than this year's projected budget deficit of $642 billion, tax expenditures equal roughly 30 percent of federal spending. It's no wonder why Republicans are so fond of calling for closing loopholes while lowering rates to produce "revenue-neutral" tax reform.
"Every year, tax expenditures--Uncle Sam's myriad credits, exclusion, loopholes and breaks--cost the U.S. Treasury over $1 trillion a year. To put that in perspective, that figure is greater than the cost of Medicare, Social Security and national defense. Much larger than this year's projected budget deficit of $642 billion, tax expenditures equal roughly 30 percent of federal spending. It's no wonder why Republicans are so fond of calling for closing loopholes while lowering rates to produce "revenue-neutral" tax reform.
But a new study of the top 10 tax expenditures also show why GOP leaders including Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp refuse to name a single loophole they would close to achieve it. As the new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis shows, half the value of those $900 billion in tax breaks goes to the top quintile of American income earners."
Nearly Zero Percent Savings Interest Rates Are Forcing Seniors to Ration for Survival, While Wall Street Investors Are Making Record Profits
Nearly Zero Percent Savings Interest Rates Are Forcing Seniors to Ration for Survival, While Wall Street Investors Are Making Record Profits
"The continual cries of "austerity" by the wealthy integrally relate to this tale of two economies, because there is no austerity being imposed on the wealthy: it's like the 1920's all over again for them.
"The continual cries of "austerity" by the wealthy integrally relate to this tale of two economies, because there is no austerity being imposed on the wealthy: it's like the 1920's all over again for them.
However, seniors and the working class are being squeezed by cuts in benefits, pay, and the inability to earn interest of any meaningful size on money that they saved for retirement.For most Americans, they have been living in austerity for years now.
It's time to see some austerity imposed upon the 1 percent.
Far too many of the rest of us are already "austeritied" to rationing for survival."
REPORT: Corporate Profits Soar And Wages Fall Thanks To Declining Unionization
REPORT: Corporate Profits Soar And Wages Fall Thanks To Declining Unionization: Corporate profits have soared in recent decades, while wages for the average worker have not fared nearly as well. A new study sheds some light on why that is happening: declining unionization. While some economists have posited that this trend is thanks to a rise in computerization, which boosted productivity and reduced the need for [...]/p
Rick Perry Vetoes “Buy American” Bill Approved 145-0 by Texas House
www.forwardprogressives.com/rick-perry-vetoes-buy-american-bill/
"Passing the Senate by a vote of 23-7 and the House 145-0, the Texas legislature overwhelmingly passed a bill meant to give preference to American-made goods for purchase by the State of Texas when they are of equal cost and quality to foreign-made products.
"Passing the Senate by a vote of 23-7 and the House 145-0, the Texas legislature overwhelmingly passed a bill meant to give preference to American-made goods for purchase by the State of Texas when they are of equal cost and quality to foreign-made products.
In other words, if an American-made product and foreign-made product are of equal quality and cost, when the state is purchasing a good or service, the state would always give preference to the American-made product or service.
96% of Texas legislators supported the “Buy American” bill…
Economic policy is largely being driven by obstructionism, not economic advisers | Economic Policy Institute
Economic policy is largely being driven by obstructionism, not economic advisers | Economic Policy Institute
"the GOP has routinely and frequently obstructed economic recovery since 2009—much of which should inform any debate this summer regarding much needed reform of the Senate’s filibuster rules, as well as the inevitable political fight over the debt ceiling. Conservatives, particularly the Tea Party caucus, are to blame for exploiting every piece of leverage available (including thenation’s credit worthiness) to extract premature spending cuts, filibustering just about anything that would boost aggregate demand, watering down the Recovery Act, hamstringing monetary policy and demanding counterproductive legislative ‘pay fors’—stipulated to never, ever include revenue increases. The frequently espoused pox-on-both houses punditry is not just off-base, but is also somewhat complicit in this sad state of affairs."
"the GOP has routinely and frequently obstructed economic recovery since 2009—much of which should inform any debate this summer regarding much needed reform of the Senate’s filibuster rules, as well as the inevitable political fight over the debt ceiling. Conservatives, particularly the Tea Party caucus, are to blame for exploiting every piece of leverage available (including thenation’s credit worthiness) to extract premature spending cuts, filibustering just about anything that would boost aggregate demand, watering down the Recovery Act, hamstringing monetary policy and demanding counterproductive legislative ‘pay fors’—stipulated to never, ever include revenue increases. The frequently espoused pox-on-both houses punditry is not just off-base, but is also somewhat complicit in this sad state of affairs."
Illegal Monsanto Wheat Contamination Found On Oregon Farm
Illegal Monsanto Wheat Contamination Found On Oregon Farm: Genetically modified wheat that was never approved for sale has inexplicably turned up in a field in Oregon. A farmer found the crop when it survived a dousing of Roundup weedkiller. When he took it to a lab to be tested, the wheat was revealed to be an illegal strain, genetically modified to resist pesticides [...]/p
Senate Republicans Want to Destroy the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Elizabeth Warren Created
Senate Republicans Want to Destroy the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Elizabeth Warren Created
"Count the ways that the GOP in Congress is still trying to destroy the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). There are so many that you would need a calculator."
"Count the ways that the GOP in Congress is still trying to destroy the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). There are so many that you would need a calculator."
How The American Tax Code Helps The Rich The Most
How The American Tax Code Helps The Rich The Most: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which is tasked with analyzing the economic and budgetary effects of government policy, just issued a new report on the various tax expenditures in the United States’s tax code. These are provisions that allow taxpayers to shield some income from taxation or pay lower rates, and they come in various [...]/p
"They're not rational": 80-Year-Old Educator Speaks About Her Arrest in “Moral Monday Protests” Against Extreme Right-Wing Agenda in North Carolina | Alternet
"They're not rational": 80-Year-Old Educator Speaks About Her Arrest in “Moral Monday Protests” Against Extreme Right-Wing Agenda in North Carolina | Alternet
"A senior citizen endures an ordeal to protect equality and quality in the public school system."
"A senior citizen endures an ordeal to protect equality and quality in the public school system."
Workers Strike In Seventh City As Congressional Progressives Launch Campaign To Boost Wages
Workers Strike In Seventh City As Congressional Progressives Launch Campaign To Boost Wages: Fast food workers in Seattle walked off the job Wednesday night, making it the seventh city home to striking workers in the last eight weeks. Workers were expected to strike at fast food chains McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, and others during the one-day strike, just as workers in other cities have since the original [...]/p
Want the American Dream? Get Rich Parents or Move to Canada | Alternet
Want the American Dream? Get Rich Parents or Move to Canada | Alternet
"The culprit is the growing role of inherited advantage, as affluent families make investments that give their children a leg up. Combined with the 2008 economic meltdown and budget cuts in public investments that foster opportunity, we are witnessing accelerating advantages for the wealthy and compounding disadvantages for everyone else."
"The culprit is the growing role of inherited advantage, as affluent families make investments that give their children a leg up. Combined with the 2008 economic meltdown and budget cuts in public investments that foster opportunity, we are witnessing accelerating advantages for the wealthy and compounding disadvantages for everyone else."
North Carolina GOP Seeks Even More Regressive State Tax Burden Than Current Law
North Carolina GOP Seeks Even More Regressive State Tax Burden Than Current Law: North Carolina lawmakers are seeking to shift much of the state’s tax burden off its wealthiest citizens and most profitable businesses and onto its low- and middle-income residents. After initially proposing to eliminate the state’s income tax outright, Republicans are instead introducing a flat income tax rate across all earning levels. The proposal unveiled Thursday [...]/p
Don't Blame the IRS For Doing Their Job
Don't Blame the IRS For Doing Their Job
"That's really the bottom line here. Billionaires used these organizations to hide their massive contributions to election-buying. The only difference between a PAC and a c4 organization as they were used is that the c4 didn't have to disclose donors, which served them quite well and sent many of us on a lot of treasure hunts to try and find out who was behind those ugly ads in many states. The IRS was right to question them and right to carve them out for higher scrutiny."
"That's really the bottom line here. Billionaires used these organizations to hide their massive contributions to election-buying. The only difference between a PAC and a c4 organization as they were used is that the c4 didn't have to disclose donors, which served them quite well and sent many of us on a lot of treasure hunts to try and find out who was behind those ugly ads in many states. The IRS was right to question them and right to carve them out for higher scrutiny."
Budget Cuts Reduce Economic Growth In First Quarter Of 2013
Budget Cuts Reduce Economic Growth In First Quarter Of 2013: Economic growth slowed slightly in the first three months of the year thanks in large part to the government’s spending cuts, according to first quarter GDP numbers. As Reuters reports, “The U.S. economy expanded at a 2.4 percent annual rate during the period, down a tenth of a point from an initial estimate, according to [...]/p
Tea Party Conference Call Features Threat To Assassinate U.S. Senator Because She Supports Immigration Reform
Tea Party Conference Call Features Threat To Assassinate U.S. Senator Because She Supports Immigration Reform: In a Tea Party-sponsored conference call held on Wednesday night, a participant called for the assassination of Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) over her support for immigration reform. Prominent conservative policymakers Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL)’s communications director Stephen Miller and Heritage Foundation research fellow Robert Rector also joined the call, hosted by the conservative Eagle Forum [...]/p
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
School Bus Driver Fired For Facebook Rant over 'Free' Lunches
School Bus Driver Fired For Facebook Rant over 'Free' Lunches
" it does seem shameful that his constitutional right to free speech was abridged in this manner. The moral: stay the hell off Facebook and other social media if you want to keep your job.
" it does seem shameful that his constitutional right to free speech was abridged in this manner. The moral: stay the hell off Facebook and other social media if you want to keep your job.
Parents at Haralson County don't want to see someone who is actually speaking up for their kids to go, so there's a Change.org petition to reinstate Cook."
Ohio School District Considers Teaching Beck's Cuckoo Conspiracies
Ohio School District Considers Teaching Beck's Cuckoo Conspiracies
"After electing Tea Party representatives to school boards and city councils across the nation, the move is on to push these whacko theories into the mainstream, and in the case of at least one Ohio school district, they're succeeding."
"After electing Tea Party representatives to school boards and city councils across the nation, the move is on to push these whacko theories into the mainstream, and in the case of at least one Ohio school district, they're succeeding."
War on Democracy in Wisconsin: Bill Would Enact Voter ID, End Disclosure, Limit Early Voting, Expand Lobbyist Influence
War on Democracy in Wisconsin: Bill Would Enact Voter ID, End Disclosure, Limit Early Voting, Expand Lobbyist Influence
"A Wisconsin legislator has managed to bundle nearly all of the excesses associated with dirty elections into a single bill that good government advocates are describing as a "sweeping assault on democracy:" the legislation would try reinstating restrictive voter ID requirements, make it easier for donors to secretly influence elections, expand lobbyist influence, restrict early voting, and make it harder to register, among other measures."
"A Wisconsin legislator has managed to bundle nearly all of the excesses associated with dirty elections into a single bill that good government advocates are describing as a "sweeping assault on democracy:" the legislation would try reinstating restrictive voter ID requirements, make it easier for donors to secretly influence elections, expand lobbyist influence, restrict early voting, and make it harder to register, among other measures."
Leader of Armed March On Washington Calls For ‘Revolutionary Army’ To Topple Government
Leader of Armed March On Washington Calls For ‘Revolutionary Army’ To Topple Government: Thousands of people signed up to attend an armed march on Washington over the course of the last month. But now, the leader of the march is setting his sights much higher than a single demonstration — he wants his armed followers to help overthrow the American government. About a month ago, a gun activist [...]/p
50 Million Americans Are Going Hungry As Congress Considers Gutting Food Stamps
50 Million Americans Are Going Hungry As Congress Considers Gutting Food Stamps: As Congress debates exactly how many billions of dollars to cut from the government’s main food assistance program for low-income Americans, a new report finds that the existing safety net has failed millions of people who must constantly worry about how to feed themselves and their families. According to the International Human Rights Clinic of [...]/p
Top US Brand of Children's Vitamins Contains Aspartame, GMOs, & Other Hazardous Chemicals
Top US Brand of Children's Vitamins Contains Aspartame, GMOs, & Other Hazardous Chemicals
"Kids vitamins are supposed to be healthy, right? Well then, what's going on with Flintstones Vitamins, which proudly claims to be "Pediatricians' #1 Choice"? Produced by the global pharmaceutical corporation Bayer, this wildly success brand features a shocking list of unhealthy ingredients"
"Kids vitamins are supposed to be healthy, right? Well then, what's going on with Flintstones Vitamins, which proudly claims to be "Pediatricians' #1 Choice"? Produced by the global pharmaceutical corporation Bayer, this wildly success brand features a shocking list of unhealthy ingredients"
The Republican Party Ignores Reality According To Former Reagan Adviser
www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/29/nates-reality-based-community-article/
"Ultimately, Bruce Bartlett has come to understand the fundamental flaw in conservative thinking. It is insular, only able to exist properly when divorced from reality. While one can be conservative, one cannot be ruled by conservatism. This demand for a reality bubble has resulted in Republican anti-science legislation geared to replace reality with their own brand of fantasy. No conservative thought can survive except in isolation, and if in isolation then it is unable to react to the realities of the moment. The modern Republican Party, and conservative movement can be summed up as a collective of putting their fingers in their ears and pretending not to hear what people are telling them."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/29/nates-reality-based-community-article/#ixzz2UiAG8V00
"Ultimately, Bruce Bartlett has come to understand the fundamental flaw in conservative thinking. It is insular, only able to exist properly when divorced from reality. While one can be conservative, one cannot be ruled by conservatism. This demand for a reality bubble has resulted in Republican anti-science legislation geared to replace reality with their own brand of fantasy. No conservative thought can survive except in isolation, and if in isolation then it is unable to react to the realities of the moment. The modern Republican Party, and conservative movement can be summed up as a collective of putting their fingers in their ears and pretending not to hear what people are telling them."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/29/nates-reality-based-community-article/#ixzz2UiAG8V00
Bye Bye Bachmann: Reliving Ten of the Tea Party Darling's Craziest Gaffes | Alternet
Bye Bye Bachmann: Reliving Ten of the Tea Party Darling's Craziest Gaffes | Alternet
"Minnesota far-right Republican Rep. Michelle Bachmann has declared she will not run for a fifth term in 2014, and is making the dubious claim that her decision has nothing to do with that ongoing ethics probe into her campaign fund-raising in the 2012 race, or her falling poll numbers. No, she is a newfound convert to term limits.
"Minnesota far-right Republican Rep. Michelle Bachmann has declared she will not run for a fifth term in 2014, and is making the dubious claim that her decision has nothing to do with that ongoing ethics probe into her campaign fund-raising in the 2012 race, or her falling poll numbers. No, she is a newfound convert to term limits.
Right. This is about as believable as some of the gaffes, misstatements, anti-science positions, conspiracy theories, not to mention wobbly grasp of both American history and world geography, she displayed on her ill-fated quest for the 2012 Republican nomination. She even managed to make Texas Governor Rick Perry look both sane and slightly enlightened."
Democrats Are Three Times More Likely To Tell Truth Than GOP, Study Reveals
www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/29/republicans-lie-three-times-more-than-democrats/
"At this moment, Republicans have noses that even Pinocchio would be ashamed of, but they’re not only liars, they’re hypocrites too.
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/29/republicans-lie-three-times-more-than-democrats/#ixzz2UhBcdYW4
"At this moment, Republicans have noses that even Pinocchio would be ashamed of, but they’re not only liars, they’re hypocrites too.
In their effort to smear and obstruct President Obama at every turn, Republicans have told lie after lie to advance their agenda. And a new study proves it, Salon reports.
A new study conducted by the Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University shows that Republicans lie three times more to the American people than Democrats do."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/29/republicans-lie-three-times-more-than-democrats/#ixzz2UhBcdYW4
Both Sides Don’t Do It: Study Finds Republicans Lie Three Times More Than Democrats
www.politicususa.com/sides-it-study-finds-republicans-lie-times-democrats.html
"A new study from the nonpartisan Center For Media Affairs has concluded that since the beginning of President Obama’s second term, Republicans have lied three times more often than Democrats.
"A new study from the nonpartisan Center For Media Affairs has concluded that since the beginning of President Obama’s second term, Republicans have lied three times more often than Democrats.
The Center For Media Affairs (CFMA) at George Mason University found that PolitiFact rated Republican claims as false three times more often than Democratic claims. Not only do Republicans lie more often, but Democrats are more truthful. By a 2 to 1 margin"
Radical Kleptocrats Anxious to Stop Disclosure of Corporate Money in Elections | Common Dreams
Radical Kleptocrats Anxious to Stop Disclosure of Corporate Money in Elections | Common Dreams
"These kleptocrats are the real radicals. It's time to stop them, not only by disclosing their thievery, but ultimately by outlawing it — and retuning elections to the people. To join the effort, contact Public Citizen: www.citizen.org."
"These kleptocrats are the real radicals. It's time to stop them, not only by disclosing their thievery, but ultimately by outlawing it — and retuning elections to the people. To join the effort, contact Public Citizen: www.citizen.org."
The 8 Most Outlandish Moments Of Michele Bachmann’s Time In Congress
The 8 Most Outlandish Moments Of Michele Bachmann’s Time In Congress: Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) announced late Tuesday night, in a recorded video spot, that she will not be seeking reelection in 2014. Bachmann, a Tea Party standard-bearer, has been under Congressional investigation for misuse of funds during her failed 2012 presidential bid, but insisted in her video, “This decision was not impacted in any way [...]/p
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Obama's Judicial Nominees May Spotlight Obstructionism
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Engineering Empire: An Introduction to the Intellectuals and Institutions of American Imperialism
Engineering Empire: An Introduction to the Intellectuals and Institutions of American Imperialism
"Educating yourself about empire can be a challenging endeavor, especially since so much of the educational system is dedicated to avoiding the topic or justifying the actions of imperialism in the modern era."
"Educating yourself about empire can be a challenging endeavor, especially since so much of the educational system is dedicated to avoiding the topic or justifying the actions of imperialism in the modern era."
GOP's Lurch Right Leaves Party Moderates Behind
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Shell Admits Real Reason Coast Guard Had To Rescue Its Arctic Drilling Rig: Failed Tax Avoidance Scheme
Shell Admits Real Reason Coast Guard Had To Rescue Its Arctic Drilling Rig: Failed Tax Avoidance Scheme: The main reason an offshore oil rig ran aground off the coast of Alaska late last year was because oil company Royal Dutch Shell was trying to depart state waters to avoid paying millions in taxes. Sean Churchfield, operations manager for Royal Dutch Shell in Alaska, testified to the Coast Guard over the weekend that [...]/p
Shell Admits Tax Avoidance Played Role In Rig Accident
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The Bank Bailout Cost US Taxpayers Nothing? Think Again | Common Dreams
The Bank Bailout Cost US Taxpayers Nothing? Think Again | Common Dreams
"The bailout cost us plenty, and continues to do so. Sadly, it is the gift that keeps on giving to the very banks that drove our economy over a cliff – and took trillions in housing wealth, retirement funds and millions of jobs with it."
"The bailout cost us plenty, and continues to do so. Sadly, it is the gift that keeps on giving to the very banks that drove our economy over a cliff – and took trillions in housing wealth, retirement funds and millions of jobs with it."
The U.S. Ranks Ninth-To-Last In Work-Life Balance
The U.S. Ranks Ninth-To-Last In Work-Life Balance: The United States ranks toward the bottom among developed countries when it comes to work-life balance, according to the updated Better Life Index from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). While the country tops the charts for income and housing, other important economic indicators, its worst ranking is in work-life balance. It clocks [...]/p
Think Fracking Is Bad? Wait Until You Hear About 'Acid Jobs' | Common Dreams
Think Fracking Is Bad? Wait Until You Hear About 'Acid Jobs' | Common Dreams
"'Acid jobs,' a highly toxic method of fossil fuel extraction, have gone vastly unregulated by lawmakers, particularly in California where the method is commonly used.
An 'acid job' is a process whereby companies pump chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid into an already built gas and oil well to "melt rocks" and objects that are obstructing oil flow."
"'Acid jobs,' a highly toxic method of fossil fuel extraction, have gone vastly unregulated by lawmakers, particularly in California where the method is commonly used.
An 'acid job' is a process whereby companies pump chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid into an already built gas and oil well to "melt rocks" and objects that are obstructing oil flow."
March Against Monsanto Over 2M Strong. Blackwater Ops Watching?
March Against Monsanto Over 2M Strong. Blackwater Ops Watching?
"Most corn, soybean and cotton crops grown in the United States today have been genetically modified. But critics say genetically modified organisms can lead to serious health conditions and harm the environment."
"Most corn, soybean and cotton crops grown in the United States today have been genetically modified. But critics say genetically modified organisms can lead to serious health conditions and harm the environment."
Local Charities Speak Out On GOP’s Effort To Slash Food Stamps
Local Charities Speak Out On GOP’s Effort To Slash Food Stamps: One of New Jersey’s largest food banks is eyeing congressional efforts to cut two million Americans from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) with concern. While proponents of the cuts often argue that food banks and other charitable food distribution operations will step into the breach as government shrinks its [...]/p
Source of Anti-Government Extremism
Source of Anti-Government Extremism
"something extreme has surfaced in modern American politics: an ideological hatred of government. From the Tea Party to libertarianism, there is a “principled” rejection – at least rhetorically – of almost everything that government does (outside of national security), and those views are no longer simply “fringe.” By and large, they have been embraced by the national Republican Party."
"something extreme has surfaced in modern American politics: an ideological hatred of government. From the Tea Party to libertarianism, there is a “principled” rejection – at least rhetorically – of almost everything that government does (outside of national security), and those views are no longer simply “fringe.” By and large, they have been embraced by the national Republican Party."
Monday, May 27, 2013
Republicans Have A Bridge To Sell You
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U.S. Groundwater Consumption Accelerating | Alternet
U.S. Groundwater Consumption Accelerating | Alternet
"Aquifers across the United States are being drawn down at an increasing pace, finds a new study released today by the U.S. Geological Survey."
"Aquifers across the United States are being drawn down at an increasing pace, finds a new study released today by the U.S. Geological Survey."
PERRspectives: Red States Rejecting Obamacare Medicaid Expansion Need It Most
PERRspectives: Red States Rejecting Obamacare Medicaid Expansion Need It Most
"the defining irony of the never-ending debate over Obamacare is this: health care is worst in those states where Republicans poll best. The map of the states with the worst health care systems largely mirrors GOP strongholds in the Electoral College. Red state residents are generally the unhealthiest and more likely than their blue state cousins to be uninsured."
"the defining irony of the never-ending debate over Obamacare is this: health care is worst in those states where Republicans poll best. The map of the states with the worst health care systems largely mirrors GOP strongholds in the Electoral College. Red state residents are generally the unhealthiest and more likely than their blue state cousins to be uninsured."
Texas Will Deny Health Coverage To 1.5 Million Low-Income Residents
Texas Will Deny Health Coverage To 1.5 Million Low-Income Residents: 1.5 million low-income Texans may go without health care coverage after lawmakers in the state voted against expanding Medicaid using $100 billion in federal funds offered under President Obama’s health care law. The decision comes almost a year after the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government cannot require states to enroll more Medicaid beneficiaries. [...]/p
The New Farm Bill is an Economic Disaster | Common Dreams
The New Farm Bill is an Economic Disaster | Common Dreams
"The US Congress, its approval rating still near all-time lows, is reinforcing its own record of stupefyingly short-sighted lawmaking with what may be the most harmful piece of economic legislation in America in years: the $1tn 2013 farm bill."
"The US Congress, its approval rating still near all-time lows, is reinforcing its own record of stupefyingly short-sighted lawmaking with what may be the most harmful piece of economic legislation in America in years: the $1tn 2013 farm bill."
Ohio School District May Add Glenn Beck Conspiracy Theories To Curriculum
Ohio School District May Add Glenn Beck Conspiracy Theories To Curriculum: The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio is challenging an Ohio school district for considering a “controversial issues policy” that would require teachers to encourage discussions about creationism and conservative conspiracy theories about U.N. Agenda 21. Springboro Community City School District’s new curriculum — part of an effort to help students think critically and learn [...]/p
Protests Grow In NC Against Hard Right Turn
Protests Grow In NC Against Hard Right Turn
"A century and a half after the Civil War ended, the GOP-dominated North Carolina legislature is finishing the destruction Gen. Sherman’s troops never got to visit upon Raleigh, NC."
"A century and a half after the Civil War ended, the GOP-dominated North Carolina legislature is finishing the destruction Gen. Sherman’s troops never got to visit upon Raleigh, NC."
How Many Rotting Apples Do Our Hedges Hide?
How Many Rotting Apples Do Our Hedges Hide?
"High-profile prosecutions only hint at the crime and ethical misbehavior rampant in America’s most rewarding high-finance suites."
"High-profile prosecutions only hint at the crime and ethical misbehavior rampant in America’s most rewarding high-finance suites."
5 Controversial Cases Where Supreme Court Is Poised to Roll Back Civil Rights | Alternet
5 Controversial Cases Where Supreme Court Is Poised to Roll Back Civil Rights | Alternet
"Let’s go through a half-dozen cases where the high court majority, justices appointed by Republican presidents, is likely to stop or slow down the social evolution that began in the 1950s civil rights movement and also grant corporate America and the police more power over the genes in our bodies."
"Let’s go through a half-dozen cases where the high court majority, justices appointed by Republican presidents, is likely to stop or slow down the social evolution that began in the 1950s civil rights movement and also grant corporate America and the police more power over the genes in our bodies."
The Real Numbers: Half of America in Poverty -- and It's Creeping toward 75% | Alternet
The Real Numbers: Half of America in Poverty -- and It's Creeping toward 75% | Alternet
"The Census Bureau has reported that one out of six Americans lives in poverty. A shocking figure. But it's actually much, much worse."
"The Census Bureau has reported that one out of six Americans lives in poverty. A shocking figure. But it's actually much, much worse."
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Bob Dole On GOP: 'Closed For Repairs'
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So Much For Fiscal Hawks – Republicans Now Costing You Tens Of Millions To Save A Few Million
www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/25/so-much-for-fiscal-hawks-republicans-now-costing-you-tens-of-millions-to-save-a-few-million/
"Now, instead of the $7 million in renovations and upgrades, the cost to replace the collapsed bridge will run $15 million and take up to a year. The collapse will cost an estimated $47 million in reduced productivity and trade. With the current average tax revenue from this total for trade and productivity in dealing with trade to Canada to be around 22%, the result is that this bridge collapse will cost the federal government $10 million in revenue for the period of repair, which when added to the $15 million pricetag means that we are looking at a total impact of $25 million. All in order to save $7 million."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/25/so-much-for-fiscal-hawks-republicans-now-costing-you-tens-of-millions-to-save-a-few-million/#ixzz2URcv65NH
"Now, instead of the $7 million in renovations and upgrades, the cost to replace the collapsed bridge will run $15 million and take up to a year. The collapse will cost an estimated $47 million in reduced productivity and trade. With the current average tax revenue from this total for trade and productivity in dealing with trade to Canada to be around 22%, the result is that this bridge collapse will cost the federal government $10 million in revenue for the period of repair, which when added to the $15 million pricetag means that we are looking at a total impact of $25 million. All in order to save $7 million."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/25/so-much-for-fiscal-hawks-republicans-now-costing-you-tens-of-millions-to-save-a-few-million/#ixzz2URcv65NH
US Failure To Maintain Infrastructure Betrays National Legacy
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Bob Dole Trashes The Republican Party on Fox News
www.politicususa.com/bob-dole-trashes-republican-party-fox-news.html
"The far right has chased all of the mainstream conservatives out of their party, and the rest of us are paying for their folly by suffering through a completely dysfunctional congress that is incapable of passing meaningful legislation.
"The far right has chased all of the mainstream conservatives out of their party, and the rest of us are paying for their folly by suffering through a completely dysfunctional congress that is incapable of passing meaningful legislation.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
How Did Major Hedge Fund Earn 30% Returns for 20 Years Straight? Lots of Cheating | Alternet
How Did Major Hedge Fund Earn 30% Returns for 20 Years Straight? Lots of Cheating | Alternet
"There are 8,000 hedge funds, and they are up to their eyeballs in unethical behavior."
"There are 8,000 hedge funds, and they are up to their eyeballs in unethical behavior."
Friday, May 24, 2013
American Society Of Civil Engineers Infrastructure Report Card 2013
http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/a/#p/home
"Every 4 years, the American Society of Civil Engineers releases a Report Card for America’s Infrastructure that depicts the condition and performance of the nation’s infrastructure in the familiar form of a school report card by assigning letter grades to each type of infrastructure."
"Every 4 years, the American Society of Civil Engineers releases a Report Card for America’s Infrastructure that depicts the condition and performance of the nation’s infrastructure in the familiar form of a school report card by assigning letter grades to each type of infrastructure."
10 Crazy Things the Right Did This Week | Alternet
10 Crazy Things the Right Did This Week | Alternet
"It's been another week of the insane, inane, and outright offensive."
"It's been another week of the insane, inane, and outright offensive."
VA GOP Treasurer: 'I'm Not A Big Fan Of Contraception'
VA GOP Treasurer: 'I'm Not A Big Fan Of Contraception'
"You have to see this. Bob Fitzsimmonds is the treasurer of the Republican Party of Virginia who served as Ken Cuccinelli's legislative aide in the Senate, and is a close adviser to the man who very well may be Virginia's next governor"
"You have to see this. Bob Fitzsimmonds is the treasurer of the Republican Party of Virginia who served as Ken Cuccinelli's legislative aide in the Senate, and is a close adviser to the man who very well may be Virginia's next governor"
Offshore Drilling In Virginia Would Threaten Coastal Economy, Environment, And Naval Operations
Offshore Drilling In Virginia Would Threaten Coastal Economy, Environment, And Naval Operations: Yesterday Terry McAuliffe, Virginia’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate, revealed newfound support for oil and gas exploration off the Commonwealth’s coast. The Washington Post reported that he now backs legislation sponsored by Virginia’s Democratic U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine that would open offshore areas to oil and gas exploration. Offshore oil drilling is viewed by [...]/p
77 Percent of Los Angeles Voters Call For Overturning Citizens United
77 Percent of Los Angeles Voters Call For Overturning Citizens United: Three-plus years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s corporate money in politics decision in Citizens United v. FEC, the movement to overturn some of its central holdings has not abated. On Tuesday, Los Angeles passed a ballot measure to endorse state and federal amendments overturning the decision, with an overwhelming 76.6 percent in favor of the [...]/p
Man Who Paid His Mortgage Early Facing Foreclosure
Man Who Paid His Mortgage Early Facing Foreclosure: Etienne Syldor, an Orlando resident who works as a bus driver at Walt Disney World, says that Wells Fargo has started foreclosing on his house. This is despite the fact that he not only made his payments on time, but even overpaid on them. As local station WFTV reported, “Last year, Wells Fargo offered him [...]/p
Congressman Quotes Jesus in Bid to Gut Food Stamps | Common Dreams
Congressman Quotes Jesus in Bid to Gut Food Stamps | Common Dreams
"While Fincher cites chapter and verse to prove that it is immoral for out of work folks to mooch off government largesse, he fails to mention that his own fingers have been observed in the public till. But not for the sake of a measly loaf of bread or carton of milk, mind you. No, the good congressman is one of Tennessee's largest-ever recipients of farm subsidy payments-- otherwise known as "Big Ag's Food Stamp program."
"While Fincher cites chapter and verse to prove that it is immoral for out of work folks to mooch off government largesse, he fails to mention that his own fingers have been observed in the public till. But not for the sake of a measly loaf of bread or carton of milk, mind you. No, the good congressman is one of Tennessee's largest-ever recipients of farm subsidy payments-- otherwise known as "Big Ag's Food Stamp program."
How much exactly has the Tennessee legislator received from hard working American taxpayers? Together with his father and brother, who farm over 2500 acres for cotton in five counties, roughly 8.9 million dollars in cotton subsidies over the last 10 years, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Rep. Fincher, who is the second largest recipient of farm subsidies in the United States Congress-- and that is saying a lot-- wants to increase federal crop insurance by a whopping 9 billion dollars over the next 10 years. The congressman has not said how much more he would personally reap if these additional federal subsidies are enacted."
How California Is Debunking The GOP’s Obamacare Talking Points
How California Is Debunking The GOP’s Obamacare Talking Points: On Thursday, California officials revealed insurance companies’ opening bids for the state’s Obamacare marketplace in 2014. The numbers are great for consumers — and terrible for right-wing fear mongering over the health law. Covered California, the agency tasked with constructing and maintaining the Golden State’s insurance marketplace, announced in a press release that rates submitted [...]/p
After the Cuts Hit Them, 68% of Republicans Disapprove of Sequester
www.politicususa.com/68-republicans-damaged-sequester-disapprove.html
"It’s all “reckless spending” and “don’t tread on me!” until Republicans feel the hits of spending cuts. Suddenly, they strongly disapprove of the spending cuts championed by their party. This is also odd, because we’ve been told for years that they are the makers and this is “their” money. If that’s true, how did government cuts impact them by a larger percentage than Democrats?
"It’s all “reckless spending” and “don’t tread on me!” until Republicans feel the hits of spending cuts. Suddenly, they strongly disapprove of the spending cuts championed by their party. This is also odd, because we’ve been told for years that they are the makers and this is “their” money. If that’s true, how did government cuts impact them by a larger percentage than Democrats?
They protest spending, but now they’re upset that they got their way."
See How Citigroup Wrote a Bill So It Could Get a Bailout
www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/05/citigroup-hr-992-wall-street-swaps-regulatory-improvement-act
"On Friday, the New York Times reported on the front page that Citigroup drafted most of a House bill that would allow banks to engage in risky trades backed by a potential taxpayer-funded bailout."
"On Friday, the New York Times reported on the front page that Citigroup drafted most of a House bill that would allow banks to engage in risky trades backed by a potential taxpayer-funded bailout."
Tesla Motors Pays Back Energy Department Loan 9 Years Early
Tesla Motors Pays Back Energy Department Loan 9 Years Early: Electric automaker Tesla Motors just announced that it has paid back the nearly half a billion dollars the Department of Energy lent it in 2010. According to a company press release, today’s wire transfer of $451.8 million dollars follows two other payments in the last year and a half. U.S. taxpayers could see a $12 [...]/p
Why Champions Of Climate Legislation Must Also Be Champions Of Job Creation
Why Champions Of Climate Legislation Must Also Be Champions Of Job Creation: It’s probably fair, if crude, to talk about national societies as having “moods,” or going through particular psychological states — especially in economic depressions, when they become more fearful and less willing to take risks. The United States has spent the last few years mired in the worst economic slump since the Great Depression, and [...]/p
Over a Million Signatures in Support for Sen. Warren's Student Loan Bill | Common Dreams
Over a Million Signatures in Support for Sen. Warren's Student Loan Bill | Common Dreams
"Senator Elizabeth Warren's (D-Mass.) call to lower student loan interest rates to the same "discounted rates" given to big banks has received an "outpouring of support" as organizations and institutions of higher education are lining up to endorse the measure."
"Senator Elizabeth Warren's (D-Mass.) call to lower student loan interest rates to the same "discounted rates" given to big banks has received an "outpouring of support" as organizations and institutions of higher education are lining up to endorse the measure."
Collapse: Does Washington Bridge Expose the Crumbling of a Nation? | Common Dreams
Collapse: Does Washington Bridge Expose the Crumbling of a Nation? | Common Dreams
"As the nation continues to follow the slash and burn economic policies of the austerity hawks in Washington, will a dramatic bridge collapse in Washington state renew talk of America's eroding infrastructure?"
"As the nation continues to follow the slash and burn economic policies of the austerity hawks in Washington, will a dramatic bridge collapse in Washington state renew talk of America's eroding infrastructure?"
Meet The People Who Are Subverting Wall Street Reform
Meet The People Who Are Subverting Wall Street Reform: Three years after Congress passed sweeping reforms of Wall Street, the industry has successfully widened a variety of cracks in the Dodd-Frank law. But credit for the industry’s success at watering down the landmark legislation doesn’t just go to well-heeled lobbyists – regulators and lawmakers are helping. The New York Times’s Dealbook blog reports this [...]/p
5 Most Horrifying Things About Monsanto -- Why You Should Join the Global Movement and Protest on Saturday | Alternet
5 Most Horrifying Things About Monsanto -- Why You Should Join the Global Movement and Protest on Saturday | Alternet
"What started as one mother’s call to action on a Facebook page has become a movement with more than 400 demonstrations scheduled in 50 countries and 250 cities around the globe. The events are organized online via an open Google Document, where people can find the protest nearest them. The March Against Monsanto Facebook page has received more than 105,000 “likes.” It has reached more than 10,000,000 people in the last week according to its website, which averages over 40,000 visitors per day."
"What started as one mother’s call to action on a Facebook page has become a movement with more than 400 demonstrations scheduled in 50 countries and 250 cities around the globe. The events are organized online via an open Google Document, where people can find the protest nearest them. The March Against Monsanto Facebook page has received more than 105,000 “likes.” It has reached more than 10,000,000 people in the last week according to its website, which averages over 40,000 visitors per day."
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Rubio Misleads On Debt Ceiling In Floor Speech Blocking Budget Process
Rubio Misleads On Debt Ceiling In Floor Speech Blocking Budget Process: In a floor speech Wednesday, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) falsely claimed that the debt ceiling is critical to saving future generations from inheriting a crippling national debt. Rubio, who is widely expected to seek his party’s presidential nomination in 2016, insisted that the Senate forbid its budget conferees from including an increase to the debt [...]/p
The Biggest Criminal Enterprise in History | Common Dreams
The Biggest Criminal Enterprise in History | Common Dreams
"In the case of the terrarists -- and here I’m referring in particular to the men who run what may be the most profitable corporations on the planet, giant energy companies like ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BP, and Shell -- you’re the one who’s going to pay, especially your children and grandchildren. You can take one thing for granted: not a single terrarist will ever go to jail, and yet they certainly knew what they were doing."
"In the case of the terrarists -- and here I’m referring in particular to the men who run what may be the most profitable corporations on the planet, giant energy companies like ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BP, and Shell -- you’re the one who’s going to pay, especially your children and grandchildren. You can take one thing for granted: not a single terrarist will ever go to jail, and yet they certainly knew what they were doing."