CBS News: Republicans Lied About White House Benghazi E-mails
"We've seen the GOP given a pass for their bad behavior so often, it's really sad that just doing their jobs as journalists for once has to be the exception rather than the rule."
Friday, May 17, 2013
Republicans Fall Quiet In Face Of Obama Deficit Success
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GOP Sources Altered Benghazi E-Mails To Suggest A Cover-Up, Reporter Confirms
GOP Sources Altered Benghazi E-Mails To Suggest A Cover-Up, Reporter Confirms: Since September, Republicans have claimed the Obama administration covered up the truth about the attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya by altering the talking points Susan Rice used on the Sunday morning talk shows. To bolster the story, Republicans misquoted or significantly embellished the emails officials used to draft Rice’s remarks, the CBS [...]/p
Republicans Completely Ignore Shrinking Deficits
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House Republicans Draft Ransom Notes on the Debt Limit
www.politicususa.com/house-republicans-draft-ransom-notes-debt-limit.html
"House Republicans are struggling to draft their ransom note because the Congressional Budget Office brought them more bad news this week. It seems the deficit, the Holy Grail about which they really don’t care except as leverage to shred the social safety net, is at a five-year low. And that doesn’t look to be just a short-term dip"
"House Republicans are struggling to draft their ransom note because the Congressional Budget Office brought them more bad news this week. It seems the deficit, the Holy Grail about which they really don’t care except as leverage to shred the social safety net, is at a five-year low. And that doesn’t look to be just a short-term dip"
CBS: Republicans were source of inaccurate Benghazi emails
www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/17/1209759/-CBS-Republicans-were-source-of-inaccurate-Benghazi-emails
"The reality is that even if the Republicans transcript of the emails had been accurate, it wouldn't have been a smoking gun to prove their claim that Benghazi is a bona fide scandal. Ironically, now that we know Republicans fabricated the emails, there actually is a scandal worth pursuing: the story of how Republicans dishonestly exploited a national security tragedy to score political points."
"The reality is that even if the Republicans transcript of the emails had been accurate, it wouldn't have been a smoking gun to prove their claim that Benghazi is a bona fide scandal. Ironically, now that we know Republicans fabricated the emails, there actually is a scandal worth pursuing: the story of how Republicans dishonestly exploited a national security tragedy to score political points."
Reeking of Desperation, John Boehner Claims Obama Witch Hunt is All About Jobs
www.politicususa.com/asked-hes-worried-scandal-backlash-boehner-claims-jobs.html
"The fact that Boehner said this on the day when the House is wasting taxpayer money on yet another fake ObamaCare repeal vote didn’t stop the Speaker from trying to sell his stumble as a huge success. But really, what choice does he have? His party is looking almost criminal with the leaked edited emails and the televised “hearings” from which actual experts are blackballed. So Boehner talked about what he wants the public to hear him talk about — jobs! But he can’t get his House to actually legislate on a real jobs bill — you know, one that will actually create jobs."
"The fact that Boehner said this on the day when the House is wasting taxpayer money on yet another fake ObamaCare repeal vote didn’t stop the Speaker from trying to sell his stumble as a huge success. But really, what choice does he have? His party is looking almost criminal with the leaked edited emails and the televised “hearings” from which actual experts are blackballed. So Boehner talked about what he wants the public to hear him talk about — jobs! But he can’t get his House to actually legislate on a real jobs bill — you know, one that will actually create jobs."
OBAMA SCANDALS: Why Is The Media So Gleeful About Them?
www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/16/obama-scandals/
"The Founding Fathers must be rolling in their graves at what the free press has become."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/16/obama-scandals/#ixzz2TYc1CHIj
"The Founding Fathers must be rolling in their graves at what the free press has become."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/16/obama-scandals/#ixzz2TYc1CHIj
Thursday, May 16, 2013
How The Full Benghazi Emails Undermine The GOP’s Cover-Up Claims
How The Full Benghazi Emails Undermine The GOP’s Cover-Up Claims: On Wednesday, just days after Congress held hearings claiming that the Obama administration misled the public in the aftermath of the Sep. 11, 2012 attack on an American consulate in Benghazi, Libya, the White House released 100 pages of emails that seem to undermine GOP claims that the White House orchestrated a “cover-up.” The e-mails [...]/p
ABC Admits That They Never Read Benghazi Emails That They Smeared Obama With
www.politicususa.com/abc-admits-read-benghazi-emails-smeared-obama-2.html
"ABC News and Karl lied in their original story. They made claims that were not true in order to hype their exclusive. It was not only misleading of ABC News to present the story in this way, but it was also irresponsible and wrong."
"ABC News and Karl lied in their original story. They made claims that were not true in order to hype their exclusive. It was not only misleading of ABC News to present the story in this way, but it was also irresponsible and wrong."
Fox Outrage Machine Gets Desperate To Resuscitate Benghazi "Scandal"
www.mediamatters.org/blog/2013/05/16/fox-outrage-machine-gets-desperate-to-resuscita/194105
"The Roger Ailes scandal machine, watching its Benghazi witch hunt crumble all around it, is now trying to stoke outrage that President Obama downplayed the tragedy in Benghazi and insulted the survivors by calling it an "incident" during his May 16 comments to the press."
"The Roger Ailes scandal machine, watching its Benghazi witch hunt crumble all around it, is now trying to stoke outrage that President Obama downplayed the tragedy in Benghazi and insulted the survivors by calling it an "incident" during his May 16 comments to the press."
Heavily Doctored Email Was Source Of Benghazi Cover-Up ‘Evidence’
www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/14/email-benghazi-cover-up-evidence/
"The Republican investigation seems to be self-defeating. The more they expose Benghazi’s “controversy” to the public, the more silly they look. Every new bit of evidence shows there was no scandal or cover-up."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/14/email-benghazi-cover-up-evidence/#ixzz2TW4kgPwl
"The Republican investigation seems to be self-defeating. The more they expose Benghazi’s “controversy” to the public, the more silly they look. Every new bit of evidence shows there was no scandal or cover-up."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/14/email-benghazi-cover-up-evidence/#ixzz2TW4kgPwl
CNN Destroys Benghazi Cover Up Conspiracy With A Single E-Mail
"Before we get to the actual e-mail text, let’s look at how just two media sources spun the leaked information on the Ben Rhodes’ e-mail."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/15/no-cover-up-cnn-obtains-actual-white-house-e-mail-on-benghazi-leaks/#ixzz2TW2QmN00
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/15/no-cover-up-cnn-obtains-actual-white-house-e-mail-on-benghazi-leaks/#ixzz2TW2QmN00
PERRspectives: Republicans May Abort Debt Ceiling Hike, U.S. Economic Recovery
PERRspectives: Republicans May Abort Debt Ceiling Hike, U.S. Economic Recovery
"You read that right. Just days after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office slashed its 2013 deficit forecast by $200 billion and projected the deficit as a percentage of GDP would fall to 2.1 percent by 2015 (below the Simpson-Bowles target of 2.5 percent), Republicans are adding new items to their ransom note."
"You read that right. Just days after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office slashed its 2013 deficit forecast by $200 billion and projected the deficit as a percentage of GDP would fall to 2.1 percent by 2015 (below the Simpson-Bowles target of 2.5 percent), Republicans are adding new items to their ransom note."
English-Only Group With Nativist Ties Launches Misleading Ads
English-Only Group With Nativist Ties Launches Misleading Ads: One week after Heritage released its report co-authored by the widely-discredited Jason Richwine — whose doctoral thesis proclaims that Hispanics have lower genetic IQ dispositions than their white counterparts — an immigration restrictionist group with ties to the John Tanton Foundation joined the anti-immigration fray. On Tuesday, ProEnglish released a new ad that criticizes Sen. [...]/p
Instead of Attacking The IRS, Republicans Should be Praising Them for Doing Their Jobs
www.politicususa.com/attacking-irs-republicans-praising-jobs.html
"The real scandal is not that the IRS did its job, it is that groups like Rove’s GPS Crossroads and Koch brother’s Americans for Prosperity put millions into the 2012 presidential and congressional races without disclosing their donors because they pretended they were charities. In fact, in the run up to the 2012 elections, many conservative organizations, nominally 501(c)(4)s, were explicitly political in their work and a group like Americans for Prosperity funded by the Koch brothers was instrumental in assisting Republicans to maintain their majority in the House of Representatives.
In fact, one application that garnered scrutiny was Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS that purported to be the largest social-welfare nonprofit involved in the 2012 election, and despite promising the IRS there would be very limited effort to influence the election, Rove’s “social welfare” group spent well in excess of $70 million from anonymous contributors. There can be little doubt conservatives were using the designation as social welfare charities to raise money, conceal donor’s names, and influence both the 2010 and 2012 elections."
"The real scandal is not that the IRS did its job, it is that groups like Rove’s GPS Crossroads and Koch brother’s Americans for Prosperity put millions into the 2012 presidential and congressional races without disclosing their donors because they pretended they were charities. In fact, in the run up to the 2012 elections, many conservative organizations, nominally 501(c)(4)s, were explicitly political in their work and a group like Americans for Prosperity funded by the Koch brothers was instrumental in assisting Republicans to maintain their majority in the House of Representatives.
In fact, one application that garnered scrutiny was Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS that purported to be the largest social-welfare nonprofit involved in the 2012 election, and despite promising the IRS there would be very limited effort to influence the election, Rove’s “social welfare” group spent well in excess of $70 million from anonymous contributors. There can be little doubt conservatives were using the designation as social welfare charities to raise money, conceal donor’s names, and influence both the 2010 and 2012 elections."
Another GOP Obama Scandal Falls Apart as It Is Revealed the IRS also Targeted Liberals
www.politicususa.com/gop-scandal-falls-irs-targeted-liberals-2012.html
"The real reason why Republicans are desperately trying to drum up a scandal here is because they don’t want the IRS forcing their dark money groups to pay taxes. The IRS is threatening their Citizens United fueled political slush fund, and Republicans want it to stop. Republicans are trying to bully the IRS into backing off."
"The real reason why Republicans are desperately trying to drum up a scandal here is because they don’t want the IRS forcing their dark money groups to pay taxes. The IRS is threatening their Citizens United fueled political slush fund, and Republicans want it to stop. Republicans are trying to bully the IRS into backing off."
Fellow Progressives: The IRS ‘Scandal’ Is a Crock and You Should Fight Back
www.politicususa.com/fellow-progressives-flee-so-called-irs-scandal-crock-fight.html
"Here’s the definition of a 501 (c) (3). See if Tea Party and Patriots meet it. It (the organization) must be operated for one of the purposes or missions specified in Section 501. That means it operates EXCLUSIVELY for a charitable purpose, which includes such activities as providing relief for the poor (HA!!!), defending civil rights (HA!!!) and advancing education, science or religion. What? Vouchers, destroying public schools, climate-deniers ($120 million of FR money has gone to sympathetic groups) and/or religious zealotry?
"Here’s the definition of a 501 (c) (3). See if Tea Party and Patriots meet it. It (the organization) must be operated for one of the purposes or missions specified in Section 501. That means it operates EXCLUSIVELY for a charitable purpose, which includes such activities as providing relief for the poor (HA!!!), defending civil rights (HA!!!) and advancing education, science or religion. What? Vouchers, destroying public schools, climate-deniers ($120 million of FR money has gone to sympathetic groups) and/or religious zealotry?
The Tea Party and the extremists “Patriot” groups are full-on, 100%, dipped in cement political organizations. Period! They laughingly use the term “issues” to somehow represent proof of their non-profit status.
A 501 (c) (4) must be operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare. The NRA is a 501 (c) (4). God knows, 30,000 gun-related deaths a year are the very definition of “social welfare.”
Let’s take a closer peek at this attack on the IRS thing. The timing is obvious. The likes of Mitch McConnell and his right-wing ilk are up for re-election in the Senate and House very soon in political time. That means they have to stack on as many “scandals” as they can conjure. Add the IRS to the list."
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Fox News Gives Karl Rove’s Crossroads Groups Millions In Free Airtime
Fox News Gives Karl Rove’s Crossroads Groups Millions In Free Airtime: Though Karl Rove receives a salary from Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp for his work as a Fox News Channel “political contributor,” his compensation doesn’t end there. The network frequently airs ads by his American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS political committees, as “news,” free of charge. A ThinkProgress review of Fox News Channel broadcasts over the [...]/p
New App Helps Consumers Avoid Koch Industries and Monsanto Products and Trace Corporate Ownership of Everything in Their Shopping Cart | Alternet
New App Helps Consumers Avoid Koch Industries and Monsanto Products and Trace Corporate Ownership of Everything in Their Shopping Cart | Alternet
"A new free app will help conscious consumers know whose pockets they are lining, and help them avoid supporting right-wing causes and truth-obscuring corporate conglomerates like Koch Industries and Monsanto."
"A new free app will help conscious consumers know whose pockets they are lining, and help them avoid supporting right-wing causes and truth-obscuring corporate conglomerates like Koch Industries and Monsanto."
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Hate in 140 Characters, Mapped
Hate in 140 Characters, Mapped
"If you've spent any time on Twitter, you've inevitably bumped up against someone who is hateful. If you tweet about politics on Twitter, racist and homophobic tweets are as common as falling leaves on an autumn day. They come from many different sources, as you've seen just from our Stupid Right-Wing Tweets feature.
"If you've spent any time on Twitter, you've inevitably bumped up against someone who is hateful. If you tweet about politics on Twitter, racist and homophobic tweets are as common as falling leaves on an autumn day. They come from many different sources, as you've seen just from our Stupid Right-Wing Tweets feature.
Geographically, though, they emanate from a concentrated area of the South and Midwest, as shown on the map above, as analyzed by FloatingSheep.org:"
PERRspectives: CBO Slashes 2013 Deficit Forecast to $624 Billion
PERRspectives: CBO Slashes 2013 Deficit Forecast to $624 Billion
"On January 7, 200--two weeks before Barack Obama took the oath of office--the Congressional Budget Office forecast the federal budget deficit for fiscal year 2009 at $1.2 trillion. Now, theCBO is projecting the deficit will be only $624 billion for FY 2013, $200 billion less than the nonpartisan budget scorekeeper estimated as recently as February.
"On January 7, 200--two weeks before Barack Obama took the oath of office--the Congressional Budget Office forecast the federal budget deficit for fiscal year 2009 at $1.2 trillion. Now, theCBO is projecting the deficit will be only $624 billion for FY 2013, $200 billion less than the nonpartisan budget scorekeeper estimated as recently as February.
For policymakers in Washington, the implications couldn't be clearer. For starters, the counterproductive Beltway fixation on immediate debt reduction, which economists have warned is slowing U.S. economic growth and costing millions of jobs, should be jettisoned ASAP. And to be sure, the Republicans' next round of debt ceiling hostage-taking should be condemned as the economic sabotage it is."
South Carolina Republican Wants to Draft All Males Over 17 in Large Militia | Alternet
South Carolina Republican Wants to Draft All Males Over 17 in Large Militia | Alternet
"A South Carolina legislator wants the state to have a large militia--so large, in fact, that every person over 17-years-old who can legally buy a gun would become a member if the bill passes."
"A South Carolina legislator wants the state to have a large militia--so large, in fact, that every person over 17-years-old who can legally buy a gun would become a member if the bill passes."
Monday, May 13, 2013
Hidden Power Grab Stops Communities From Deciding Their Own Futures | Alternet
Hidden Power Grab Stops Communities From Deciding Their Own Futures | Alternet
"again and again, Republican governors and legislatures are preempting and abolishing the authority of communities to protect the health and welfare of their communities."
"again and again, Republican governors and legislatures are preempting and abolishing the authority of communities to protect the health and welfare of their communities."
N. Carolina Leaders Protesting Tea Party Agenda Arrested
N. Carolina Leaders Protesting Tea Party Agenda Arrested
"Four months ago, Tea Party candidates took over the state government–both chambers of the General Assembly, as well as the governorship. Together, the newly elected office holders have been hellbent on eviscerating every social program they can get their hands on in the name of doing “the people’s business.” Among the proposals that have been introduced are a $200 million cut to state universities, shortening early voting, totally eliminating both Sunday voting and same-day voters’ registration, easing environmental restrictions on fracking, cutting benefits to the unemployed (already signed into law), refusing federal dollars for Medicaid expansion for the poor, and–oh, yeah–establishing an official state religion."
"Four months ago, Tea Party candidates took over the state government–both chambers of the General Assembly, as well as the governorship. Together, the newly elected office holders have been hellbent on eviscerating every social program they can get their hands on in the name of doing “the people’s business.” Among the proposals that have been introduced are a $200 million cut to state universities, shortening early voting, totally eliminating both Sunday voting and same-day voters’ registration, easing environmental restrictions on fracking, cutting benefits to the unemployed (already signed into law), refusing federal dollars for Medicaid expansion for the poor, and–oh, yeah–establishing an official state religion."
Disgraced Former Heritage Employee Says Author Of Racist Book Was His ‘Childhood Hero’
Disgraced Former Heritage Employee Says Author Of Racist Book Was His ‘Childhood Hero’: Jason Richwine, the former Heritage Foundation staffer who wrote a PhD dissertation claiming that “new Hispanic immigrants will have low-IQ children and grandchildren,” told the Washington Examiner’s Byron York that such quasi-eugenic ideas have fascinated him for a long time. Indeed, Richwine identified Charles Murray, co-author of the Bell Curve, as a “childhood hero.” Murray’s [...]/p
Top Conservative Publication Defends Linking Hispanics To Low IQ
Top Conservative Publication Defends Linking Hispanics To Low IQ: Last week, a coauthor of the Heritage Foundation’s shoddy immigration report, Jason Richwine, resigned after it emerged that his PhD dissertation argued that Latinos and blacks were genetically intellectual inferior to white people. Monday morning, the flagship conservative journal National Review published a piece arguing that Richwine’s work was legitimate academic inquiry and that Heritage [...]/p
Seven Outlandish Things The Heritage Foundation’s Remaining Employees Believe
Seven Outlandish Things The Heritage Foundation’s Remaining Employees Believe: Late in the day Friday, the Heritage Foundation announced that Jason Richwine, the co-author of their widely criticized immigration report, was no longer employed by the conservative think tank. Shortly after the immigration report was released, the Washington Post’s Dylan Matthews reported that Richwine’s PhD dissertation claimed that “new Hispanic immigrants will have low-IQ children [...]/p
Ayn Rand USA: In 20 Years Corporate Profits Are Up 4X and Their Taxes Have Fallen by 50% -- Meanwhile the Workers' Payroll Tax Has Doubled | Alternet
Ayn Rand USA: In 20 Years Corporate Profits Are Up 4X and Their Taxes Have Fallen by 50% -- Meanwhile the Workers' Payroll Tax Has Doubled | Alternet
"Ayn Rand's philosophy suggests that average working people are 'takers.' In reality, those in the best position to make money take all they can get, with no scruples about their working class victims, because taking, in the minds of the rich, serves as a model for success. The strategy involves tax avoidance, in numerous forms."
"Ayn Rand's philosophy suggests that average working people are 'takers.' In reality, those in the best position to make money take all they can get, with no scruples about their working class victims, because taking, in the minds of the rich, serves as a model for success. The strategy involves tax avoidance, in numerous forms."
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Now They Want to Take Away the 8-Hour Day and 40-Hour Week | Alternet
Now They Want to Take Away the 8-Hour Day and 40-Hour Week | Alternet
"Republicans are trying to pass an "alternative" to overtime pay. This is really about taking away the eight-hour workday and 40-hour workweek. Will weekends be next? What about an "alternative" to paying workers at all?"
"Republicans are trying to pass an "alternative" to overtime pay. This is really about taking away the eight-hour workday and 40-hour workweek. Will weekends be next? What about an "alternative" to paying workers at all?"
Friday, May 10, 2013
More Wingnut Welfare for Rush Limbaugh!
More Wingnut Welfare for Rush Limbaugh!
"They just don't make sponsors like they used to. Limbaugh only has two national advertisers who will spend money on ads. In local markets, nearly 3,000 advertisers have pulled their advertising from Limbaugh's show, which means it's wingnut welfare time"
"They just don't make sponsors like they used to. Limbaugh only has two national advertisers who will spend money on ads. In local markets, nearly 3,000 advertisers have pulled their advertising from Limbaugh's show, which means it's wingnut welfare time"
Racist Revealed At Republican Policy Group
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Dishonesty Of GOP Stall Tactic Exposed In Numbers
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Why Conservatives Love To Link Race And IQ
Why Conservatives Love To Link Race And IQ: For whatever reason, conservatives can’t get over their fascination with race and IQ. The recent revelation that a lead author of the Heritage Foundation’s immigration plan study had written his graduate dissertation at Harvard on the intellectual inferiority of Hispanic immigrants is merely the latest in a string of controversies, starting with the publication of [...]/p
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Formerly Fringe, Conspiracy Theorists Find Voice In Congressional GOP
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
7 Weirdest Conspiracy Theories Now Taken Seriously by GOP | Alternet
7 Weirdest Conspiracy Theories Now Taken Seriously by GOP | Alternet
"Right-wing fear peddlers are now advising elected representatives to initiate investigations and draft bills addressing non-existent threats."
"Right-wing fear peddlers are now advising elected representatives to initiate investigations and draft bills addressing non-existent threats."
Immigration Debate Exposes Racist Influence Within GOP
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Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Our Elections Really Are Rigged—by Gerrymandering and Districting Abuses | The Nation
Our Elections Really Are Rigged—by Gerrymandering and Districting Abuses | The Nation
"Partisan redistricting—not just classic gerrymandering but a variety of structural factors—assures that the vast majority of congressional districts in the vast majority of states produce predictable results. Even if the candidate of the dominant party is flawed, even if a challenger has financial advantages, FairVote executive director Rob Richie reminds us that “partisanship is the dominant factor in determining election outcomes"."
"Partisan redistricting—not just classic gerrymandering but a variety of structural factors—assures that the vast majority of congressional districts in the vast majority of states produce predictable results. Even if the candidate of the dominant party is flawed, even if a challenger has financial advantages, FairVote executive director Rob Richie reminds us that “partisanship is the dominant factor in determining election outcomes"."
Major Anti-Immigrant Organizations Have Ties To Racist Pseudoscience
Major Anti-Immigrant Organizations Have Ties To Racist Pseudoscience: The newest study meant to discredit immigration reform was revealed on Wednesday to be co-authored by a man who believes that Latinos have inherently lower IQs and therefore should not be allowed to be United States citizens. Eugenics — the idea that a race of people is somehow genetically inferior to another — has been [...]/p
PERRspectives: New House GOP Debt Ceiling Blackmail Demand? No Deficit Reduction!
PERRspectives: New House GOP Debt Ceiling Blackmail Demand? No Deficit Reduction!
"The latest GOP extortion couldn't come at a worse time. After all, the federal budget sequester which began in March is already slowing economic growth and costing American jobs. Meanwhile, the CBO and analysts like Goldman Sachs have forecast that Uncle Sam's rapidly shrinking annual budget deficits will soon put U.S. national debt levels on a sustainable path. (That reality even prompted House Speaker John Boehner and Budget Committee Chairman to admit that "we have no immediate debt crisis.") Now, two years after the GOP's first debt limit blackmail hammered consumer confidence and job growth, Republicans are preparing a new ransom note."
"The latest GOP extortion couldn't come at a worse time. After all, the federal budget sequester which began in March is already slowing economic growth and costing American jobs. Meanwhile, the CBO and analysts like Goldman Sachs have forecast that Uncle Sam's rapidly shrinking annual budget deficits will soon put U.S. national debt levels on a sustainable path. (That reality even prompted House Speaker John Boehner and Budget Committee Chairman to admit that "we have no immediate debt crisis.") Now, two years after the GOP's first debt limit blackmail hammered consumer confidence and job growth, Republicans are preparing a new ransom note."
Corporate Cowards Divert Shareholder Funds into “Dark Money” | Common Dreams
Corporate Cowards Divert Shareholder Funds into “Dark Money” | Common Dreams
"Why do corporations need a middleman? Because the ads are so partisan and vicious that they would appall and anger millions of customers, employees and shareholders of the corporation. So, rather than besmirch their own names, the corporate powers have meekly retreated behind the skirt of Republican political outfits like the Chamber."
"Why do corporations need a middleman? Because the ads are so partisan and vicious that they would appall and anger millions of customers, employees and shareholders of the corporation. So, rather than besmirch their own names, the corporate powers have meekly retreated behind the skirt of Republican political outfits like the Chamber."
10 Reasons Austerity Is a Crock | Alternet
10 Reasons Austerity Is a Crock | Alternet
"When we allow our economy to operate below full employment (as now), we are sacrificing trillions of dollars in lost output and income each year. We can never go back and recover it. It is gone forever. You’ve seen the debt clock? Here’s the lost output clock."
"When we allow our economy to operate below full employment (as now), we are sacrificing trillions of dollars in lost output and income each year. We can never go back and recover it. It is gone forever. You’ve seen the debt clock? Here’s the lost output clock."
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Adultery, Lying OK With SC Voters, Sanford Elected
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Mark Sanford Wins South Carolina Special Election
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Ho Hum. Another Right-Wing Terrorist, Another Media Yawn
Ho Hum. Another Right-Wing Terrorist, Another Media Yawn
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced on Monday that it had arrested a Minnesota man for plotting a “localized terror attack"."
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced on Monday that it had arrested a Minnesota man for plotting a “localized terror attack"."
Now They Want to Take Away the 8-Hour Day and 40-Hour Week
Now They Want to Take Away the 8-Hour Day and 40-Hour Week
"Republicans are trying to pass an "alternative" to overtime pay. This is really about taking away the eight-hour workday and 40-hour workweek. Will weekends be next? What about an "alternative" to paying workers at all?
"Republicans are trying to pass an "alternative" to overtime pay. This is really about taking away the eight-hour workday and 40-hour workweek. Will weekends be next? What about an "alternative" to paying workers at all?
House Republicans are pushing a bill that takes away extra pay for overtime, substituting "comp" time instead."
On Day Stock Market Sets New Record, Conservative Group Floats Impeaching Obama For ‘Wrecking The Stock Market’
On Day Stock Market Sets New Record, Conservative Group Floats Impeaching Obama For ‘Wrecking The Stock Market’: Today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 15,056, an all-time record. For one conservative group, this can only mean one thing: it’s time to impeach President Obama. That was the message Capitol Hill Daily, a conservative publication based out of Baltimore, sent to Citizen United’s listserv today. They accused President Obama of “wreck[ing] the [...]/p
Republican Senate Nominee Funded Primarily By Wealthy Investors
Republican Senate Nominee Funded Primarily By Wealthy Investors: Gabriel Gomez, the Republican nominee to fill John Kerry’s open Senate seat in Massachusetts, often invokes his background in the private sector as a private equity investor. Perhaps as a result, his campaign has raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from other venture capitalists, investors, and bankers — people likely to [...]/p
Fox News Covers For White Christian Terrorists
Fox News Covers For White Christian Terrorists
"The truth is that Fox has given this story about Buford Rogers little attention. And worse, they have almost completely ignored the fact that this alleged terrorist is a white member of right-wing militia groups. Fox has even avoided using a picture of Rogers, which would have made his ethnicity apparent."
"The truth is that Fox has given this story about Buford Rogers little attention. And worse, they have almost completely ignored the fact that this alleged terrorist is a white member of right-wing militia groups. Fox has even avoided using a picture of Rogers, which would have made his ethnicity apparent."
ALEC's Latest "Transparency" Move: Asserting Immunity From Freedom of Information Laws
ALEC's Latest "Transparency" Move: Asserting Immunity From Freedom of Information Laws
"ALEC legislators cannot have it both ways. They cannot use public money to attend ALEC meetings -- as the Republican-led South Dakota legislature recently approved -- or claim that accepting corporate-funded flights and hotel rooms for ALEC travel are part of their legitimate work responsibilities, then conspire with ALEC to hide documents and information from their constituents that should be accessible under freedom of information laws."
"ALEC legislators cannot have it both ways. They cannot use public money to attend ALEC meetings -- as the Republican-led South Dakota legislature recently approved -- or claim that accepting corporate-funded flights and hotel rooms for ALEC travel are part of their legitimate work responsibilities, then conspire with ALEC to hide documents and information from their constituents that should be accessible under freedom of information laws."
Reid Blasts Cruz As ‘Schoolyard Bully’ For Blocking Budget Negotiations GOP Demanded
Reid Blasts Cruz As ‘Schoolyard Bully’ For Blocking Budget Negotiations GOP Demanded: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) slammed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) for being a “schoolyard bully” on the Senate floor Monday, after Cruz blocked an effort to move forward on budget negotiations Republicans in the House and Senate have demanded for the past four years. The GOP, which spent those years blaming Senate Democrats [...]/p
Your Retirement for a Bottle of Champagne: How Wall Street Fraudsters Ripped You Off, Again | Alternet
Your Retirement for a Bottle of Champagne: How Wall Street Fraudsters Ripped You Off, Again | Alternet
"To recap: Bank hustlers manipulated the world’s most important set of benchmark interest rates and thereby impacted the prices of upward of $500 trillion worth of financial instruments. The LIBOR scam devastated state and municipal budgets, squeezed pension yields and ripped off bank shareholders. In a case of jaw-dropping fraud, greedy traders rigged up the benchmark so that they could cash in on bets on derivatives, while banks submitted fake numbers to make themselves look financially healthier. One Barclays official was fond of fudging numbers in exchange for champagne. “Dude…I owe you big time!” gushed a trader in an email to Barclays’ Mr. Fix-It. “Come over one day after work and I'm opening a bottle of Bollinger."
"To recap: Bank hustlers manipulated the world’s most important set of benchmark interest rates and thereby impacted the prices of upward of $500 trillion worth of financial instruments. The LIBOR scam devastated state and municipal budgets, squeezed pension yields and ripped off bank shareholders. In a case of jaw-dropping fraud, greedy traders rigged up the benchmark so that they could cash in on bets on derivatives, while banks submitted fake numbers to make themselves look financially healthier. One Barclays official was fond of fudging numbers in exchange for champagne. “Dude…I owe you big time!” gushed a trader in an email to Barclays’ Mr. Fix-It. “Come over one day after work and I'm opening a bottle of Bollinger."
That’s right. A bottle of bubbly for a scam that screwed your grandma on her retirement savings."
Monday, May 6, 2013
Florida Legislature Tells Poor People to F*ck Off and Die
Florida Legislature Tells Poor People to F*ck Off and Die
"As I predicted awhile back, Kochheads in Florida have managed to step between poor people and health care by yanking puppet strings in the Florida legislature to block Rick Scott's proposed Medicaid expansion. See how that works? Rick Scott looks magnanimous because AFP and the Florida legislature gave him cover to pretend like Medicaid would be expanded."
"As I predicted awhile back, Kochheads in Florida have managed to step between poor people and health care by yanking puppet strings in the Florida legislature to block Rick Scott's proposed Medicaid expansion. See how that works? Rick Scott looks magnanimous because AFP and the Florida legislature gave him cover to pretend like Medicaid would be expanded."
How Taxes Fund the Outrageous Pay of "Fix the Debt" CEOs Pushing Austerity on the Rest of Us | Alternet
How Taxes Fund the Outrageous Pay of "Fix the Debt" CEOs Pushing Austerity on the Rest of Us | Alternet
"This scheme deserves the admiration of con artists everywhere."
"This scheme deserves the admiration of con artists everywhere."
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Hypocrites With Fat Wallets: CEOs Want It All
Hypocrites With Fat Wallets: CEOs Want It All
"America’s top corporate executives love lecturing the rest of us about ‘fiscal responsibility.’ They want us to expect less from government. But they expect more, and a new report shows how they’re getting it."
"America’s top corporate executives love lecturing the rest of us about ‘fiscal responsibility.’ They want us to expect less from government. But they expect more, and a new report shows how they’re getting it."
How the Rich Benefited From the Recovery (While Most of Us Got Nothing) - Truthdig
How the Rich Benefited From the Recovery (While Most of Us Got Nothing) - Truthdig
"The richest Americans made trillions during the so-called economic recovery from 2009 to 2011, while most everyone else’s net worth dropped, according to a recent Pew Research Social & Demographic Trends analysis of newly released Census Bureau data."
"The richest Americans made trillions during the so-called economic recovery from 2009 to 2011, while most everyone else’s net worth dropped, according to a recent Pew Research Social & Demographic Trends analysis of newly released Census Bureau data."
Ted Cruz Mocks His GOP Colleagues, Calls Newtown Families 'Props' and Takes Credit for Blocking Background Checks | Right Wing Watch
Ted Cruz Mocks His GOP Colleagues, Calls Newtown Families 'Props' and Takes Credit for Blocking Background Checks | Right Wing Watch
"Cruz also echoed his close ally Senator Rand Paul by calling the Newtown families “political props” and took credit for blocking background checks legislation (which is supported by over 90% of Americans)."
"Cruz also echoed his close ally Senator Rand Paul by calling the Newtown families “political props” and took credit for blocking background checks legislation (which is supported by over 90% of Americans)."
Inside the Collapsing Media Empire of Deceased GOP Sleaze-Peddler Andrew Breitbart | Alternet
Inside the Collapsing Media Empire of Deceased GOP Sleaze-Peddler Andrew Breitbart | Alternet
"In the year after Breitbart's death, his heirs have produced a string of grotesque episodes that have embarrassed even their own impossible-to-shame allies on the right."
"In the year after Breitbart's death, his heirs have produced a string of grotesque episodes that have embarrassed even their own impossible-to-shame allies on the right."
Cavuto Paints Restaurant Chain CEO and Tea Party Leader as 'Small Business Owner'
Cavuto Paints Restaurant Chain CEO and Tea Party Leader as 'Small Business Owner'
"Someone needs to tell Mr. Tharp that a big chunk of his profits is being paid for by the government he despises. Someone should also point out that someone looking to expand their business into China and a large chunk of Texas should think twice about filing a federal lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act and whining on national television about how he will cut employees' hours before he will provide insurance coverage for his employees.
"Someone needs to tell Mr. Tharp that a big chunk of his profits is being paid for by the government he despises. Someone should also point out that someone looking to expand their business into China and a large chunk of Texas should think twice about filing a federal lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act and whining on national television about how he will cut employees' hours before he will provide insurance coverage for his employees.
People like this honestly make me sick and they might make you sick too. He's all about pimping himself as a disadvantaged small business to get the fat government contracts but doesn't give enough of a damn about his employees to provide health insurance?"
Saturday, May 4, 2013
The Rich Have Gained $5.6 Trillion in the 'Recovery,' While the Rest of Us Have Lost $669 Billion | Alternet
The Rich Have Gained $5.6 Trillion in the 'Recovery,' While the Rest of Us Have Lost $669 Billion | Alternet
"Oh, are we getting ripped off. And now we've got the data to prove it. From 2009 to 2011, the richest 8 million families (the top 7%) on average saw their wealth rise from $1.7 million to $2.5 million each. Meanwhile the rest of us -- the bottom 93% (that's 111 million families) -- suffered on average a decline of $6,000 each.
"Oh, are we getting ripped off. And now we've got the data to prove it. From 2009 to 2011, the richest 8 million families (the top 7%) on average saw their wealth rise from $1.7 million to $2.5 million each. Meanwhile the rest of us -- the bottom 93% (that's 111 million families) -- suffered on average a decline of $6,000 each.
Do the math and you'll discover that the top 7% gained a whopping $5.6 trillion in net worth (assets minus liabilities) while the rest of lost $669 billion. Their wealth went up by 28% while ours went down by 4 percent. It's as if the entire economic recovery is going into the pockets of the rich. And that's no accident. Here's why."
The Tea Party and the Muslim Brotherhood: Twins Separated at Birth
The Tea Party and the Muslim Brotherhood: Twins Separated at Birth
"If one were to look at the Muslim Brotherhood and the Tea Party and see two contemporary social movements that are very different, one must look again: They are twins who were separated at birth. How so? Their contempt for the democratic process, for one, their explicit and overt attempt to undermine any form of a democratic welfare state if they do not explicitly benefit from it, for another. Then there is their inability to establish a democratic dialogue given their vocal distaste for any expression of bipartisan cooperation."
"If one were to look at the Muslim Brotherhood and the Tea Party and see two contemporary social movements that are very different, one must look again: They are twins who were separated at birth. How so? Their contempt for the democratic process, for one, their explicit and overt attempt to undermine any form of a democratic welfare state if they do not explicitly benefit from it, for another. Then there is their inability to establish a democratic dialogue given their vocal distaste for any expression of bipartisan cooperation."
Friday, May 3, 2013
Move Over, Koch Brothers: A Bigger, Darker Rightwing Funder Is Out to Destroy Public Education | Common Dreams
Move Over, Koch Brothers: A Bigger, Darker Rightwing Funder Is Out to Destroy Public Education | Common Dreams
"The Bradley Foundation, headed by Governor Scott Walker's campaign co-chair Michael Grebe, has underwritten a massive, pro-privatization propaganda campaign, including "a systematic and relentless campaign to turn public opinion against the public school system"."
"The Bradley Foundation, headed by Governor Scott Walker's campaign co-chair Michael Grebe, has underwritten a massive, pro-privatization propaganda campaign, including "a systematic and relentless campaign to turn public opinion against the public school system"."
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Big Oil Profits—and Tax Breaks—Remain High Despite Sequestration Cuts
Big Oil Profits—and Tax Breaks—Remain High Despite Sequestration Cuts: Despite the severe budget cuts facing many middle-class programs, the five biggest oil companies continue to rake in tens of billions of dollars in profits, while still receiving unnecessary and wasteful tax breaks. Middle-class families have gotten some relief at the pump this spring due to declining gasoline prices. AAA reported that U.S. drivers paid [...]/p
Wheels Come Off Virginia Governorship In Face Of Scandal
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Exposed: How Murdoch, Bill Gates and Big Corporations are Data Mining our Schools
Exposed: How Murdoch, Bill Gates and Big Corporations are Data Mining our Schools
"Starting next year, those scores, along with students' personal information – race, economic background, report cards, discipline records and personal addresses – will be stored in a database designed by Wireless Generation, a subsidiary of media mogul Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.
"Starting next year, those scores, along with students' personal information – race, economic background, report cards, discipline records and personal addresses – will be stored in a database designed by Wireless Generation, a subsidiary of media mogul Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.
That's right, Rupert Murdoch can read your child's report card anytime he likes and he knows where your kid is sleeping."
Kochs Form New Dark Money Group To Hide Political Activities From Public | Alternet
Kochs Form New Dark Money Group To Hide Political Activities From Public | Alternet
"The right-wing network funded by the billionaire industrialist Koch brothers is being revamped after the 2012 elections, starting with a new nonprofit called the "Association for American Innovation" that will act as a hub for funneling undisclosed spending towards the Kochs' political projects."
"The right-wing network funded by the billionaire industrialist Koch brothers is being revamped after the 2012 elections, starting with a new nonprofit called the "Association for American Innovation" that will act as a hub for funneling undisclosed spending towards the Kochs' political projects."
New Hampshire Legislator Claims Boston Bombing Was An Inside Job Because Victim Looked Calm
New Hampshire Legislator Claims Boston Bombing Was An Inside Job Because Victim Looked Calm: Several days after suggesting the Boston Bombing was perpetrated by the U.S. government, New Hampshire State Rep. Stella Tremblay (R-NH) doubled down on the claim Tuesday. In an interview on the radio show of anti-government conspiracy theorist Pete Santilli, Tremblay opined that since photos of a victim who lost his legs did not appear to [...]/p
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
'Devout Christian' Army Officer and His Wife Charged With Horrific Child Abuse
'Devout Christian' Army Officer and His Wife Charged With Horrific Child Abuse
"Federal authorities have charged an Army major and his wife with abusing their adopted and foster children through beatings, breaking their bones, failing to get them medical help, depriving them of drinking water and training their biological kids to take part in the mistreatment."
"Federal authorities have charged an Army major and his wife with abusing their adopted and foster children through beatings, breaking their bones, failing to get them medical help, depriving them of drinking water and training their biological kids to take part in the mistreatment."
ALEC Covering Tracks in Advance of Oklahoma Meeting
ALEC Covering Tracks in Advance of Oklahoma Meeting
"Despite ALEC trying to spin itself as a "transparent" organization, ALEC records have miraculously been disappearing from legislative offices and the organization is engaged in a box drop dodge to avoid disclosure. But while ALEC legislators are meeting behind closed doors with corporate lobbyists, citizens will be rallying in the streets raising awareness about how ALEC’s agenda favors large corporations at the expense of average Americans."
"Despite ALEC trying to spin itself as a "transparent" organization, ALEC records have miraculously been disappearing from legislative offices and the organization is engaged in a box drop dodge to avoid disclosure. But while ALEC legislators are meeting behind closed doors with corporate lobbyists, citizens will be rallying in the streets raising awareness about how ALEC’s agenda favors large corporations at the expense of average Americans."
May 1 News: North Carolina Legislators Still Trying To Gut Clean Energy Laws
May 1 News: North Carolina Legislators Still Trying To Gut Clean Energy Laws: The North Carolina bill trying to repeal the state’s successful clean energy standard that died in the sponsor’s committee is back from the dead. [News & Observer] Meet the bill with nine lives – and twice as many votes cast against it. Lawmakers on Wednesday could once again attempt to end a state renewables policy [...]/p
Budget Cuts Devastate Meals On Wheels: Enrollment Slashed, Services Cancelled | Alternet
Budget Cuts Devastate Meals On Wheels: Enrollment Slashed, Services Cancelled | Alternet
"One such service that may be cut is transporting seniors to the community center, as Meals on Wheels takes precedence. Without it, elderly clients “will go without food,” she said. “This will impact their health. It will impact their quality of life"."
"One such service that may be cut is transporting seniors to the community center, as Meals on Wheels takes precedence. Without it, elderly clients “will go without food,” she said. “This will impact their health. It will impact their quality of life"."
Rand Paul Rewrites Himself And His Father
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Five Conspiracy Theories 2016 Hopeful Ted Cruz Actually Believes
Five Conspiracy Theories 2016 Hopeful Ted Cruz Actually Believes: This morning, the National Review broke the news that tea party Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is considering a presidential run, a scoop that should surprise no one who’s paid attention to his short Senate career. As Jonathan Bernstein explains, Cruz has spent his few months in the Senate alienating his colleagues by constantly trying to [...]/p
North Carolina Turning Into A Right-Wing Dystopia
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Dangerous targets: Why setting a specific deficit reduction target would worsen the economic and fiscal situation | Economic Policy Institute
Dangerous targets: Why setting a specific deficit reduction target would worsen the economic and fiscal situation | Economic Policy Institute
"In the near term, we should at least stop harming the economic recovery through fiscal contraction; more concretely, the sequester should be repealed, even if no offsets can be found. In the long term we should preserve public investment and concentrate efforts on the real driver of deficits: too-fast growth of per capita health costs driven by our private health care system."
"In the near term, we should at least stop harming the economic recovery through fiscal contraction; more concretely, the sequester should be repealed, even if no offsets can be found. In the long term we should preserve public investment and concentrate efforts on the real driver of deficits: too-fast growth of per capita health costs driven by our private health care system."
Conspiracy Theories Reach The Halls Of Congress
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Texas Republicans Once Again Reveal They Don't Want Black and Brown Voters | Alternet
Texas Republicans Once Again Reveal They Don't Want Black and Brown Voters | Alternet
"Republican state and legislative leaders in Texas have taken redistricting far beyond a loud, ugly fight between Republicans and Democrats. They have turned it into an attack on racial fairness that involves the U.S. Department of Justice, two federal district courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.
"Republican state and legislative leaders in Texas have taken redistricting far beyond a loud, ugly fight between Republicans and Democrats. They have turned it into an attack on racial fairness that involves the U.S. Department of Justice, two federal district courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Eight months ago, a three-judge federal court — including two judges appointed by Republican presidents — said it straight up, unanimously ruling on the redistricting maps submitted by Attorney General Greg Abbott that were passed by the GOP-led Legislature and signed by Gov. Rick Perry in 2011.
The judges said that the Texas maps were designed to discriminate — that the maps showed “more evidence of discriminatory intent than we have space, or need to address here"."
Top GOP Congressman Takes Wall Streeters On Ski Vacation
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