TomCat

Republicans on Parade–8/11/2013

Posted by TomCat at 12:57 am Politics

Aug 112013

RepublicansOnParade

Here is the eighteenth article in our Republicans on Parade series, featuring individuals who personify what the Republican Party has become. Today’s honoree is Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) for spreading an insane conspiracy theory regarding climate change, and for pandering to racial fear in support of that theory.

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), a senior member of the House Science Committee, used a portion of his time at a town hall this week to launch into a rant about global warming, which he described as a plot by liberals to “create global government to control our lives.”

The congressman prefaced his remarks by noting that he wanted to respond to comments from Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who said recently that ongoing wildfires in Southern California have been exacerbated by a dry season that is the result of climate change. Rohrabacher, speaking Thursday afternoon before the Newport Mesa Tea Party, then launched into a discussion about how the science of global warming has been promulgated by a cabal of scientists, liberal politicians and United Nation “global government” types. These forces, who would like to usurp American liberty, could even be from Nigeria, he warned…

…Rohrabacher also argued that government-funded scientists have received “so much money” for research that “they have used it to intimidate people who disagree with their attempt to frighten all of us into changing our lives and giving up our freedoms to make choices.” The conspiracy to destroy freedom is apparently very vast… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Nation>

Here’s the video:

Rohrabacker may well be the most dangerous of the Republicans on Parade to date. Unlike the norm, screaming rants, he comes across gentle and low key, but the content of his statement is every bit as hateful and racist as that of the most rabid Republican Klansman.

Open Thread–8/11/2013

Posted by TomCat at 12:56 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics, Religion

Aug 112013

As I write for tomorrow, day 58, it’s 82° at my desk. Instead of getting a thunderstorm, the sun just hit the breezeway, so my continued comfort depends on whether it stays out long enough to superheat the air trapped there. Yesterday a church group visited the building, including the Republican Mayor of a Portland suburb. He is a nice guy, and unlike most Republicans, he will listen. In discussing the applicability of the Old Testament to today. I think I frustrated him, as he told me it would be wrong for me to stone my noisy next door neighbor to death for mixing meat and dairy. He also said that, even if I move to his town, he will not allow me to own a Canadian, although the OT authorizes it. On the down side, I fell into the donut hole yesterday. Major ARGH!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:57 (average 5:06). To do it, click here.

Short Takes:

From TPM: These days it seems no gaffe will stay hidden for long.

The recording of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) campaign manager that surfaced Thursday — you know, the “holding my nose” one — is just one among a collection of taped gaffes that have taken off in recent years.

From George Allen’s “macaca” incident to Mitt Romney’s infamous 47 percent comment, here’s a recap of some taped gaffes that the politicians themselves probably never thought would go public…

Click through for four wonderful videos of Republicans caught with a foot as deeply embedded in their mouths, as their heads are embedded up their asses.

From MSNBC: Move the Olympics to Vancouver!

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Beam those Olympics elsewhere, Mr. Sulu! Everyone, please sign the petition, I did.

From Newstimes: The still-raw emotions created by the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and its aftermath, boiled over here Friday, as gun rights supporters poured into the local Starbucks, to the dismay of many.

The Church Hill Road store, normally open until 9:30 p.m. closed at 4:30 p.m. A sign posted on the front of the store said it did so "out of respect for Newtown and everything our community has been through.

For these hate-filled armed Republicans to pull an "open carry" event in Newtown demonstrates a total lack of respect for the suffering that town has undergone. Kudos to the local Starbucks there for kicking the bastards out!

Cartoon:

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Wow! Was putting them on camera a mistake or what. For a mind blowing experience, check out the 1924 election map.

How to Pass Immigration Reform

Posted by TomCat at 1:59 am Politics

Aug 102013

Obama and the Democratic Party have worked hard to pass immigration reform, even bending over backwards on some absurd border security pork. But the Republican leadership and base, have blocked it and tried to project blame onto Democrats, as always. Nevertheless, it might be possible to pass it, in spite of them.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) told Post Politics’ Ed O’Keefe in a newly released interview that the House has more than enough GOP votes — around 40 or 50 — to pass comprehensive immigration reform if it were brought to a vote.

But Gutierrez said Republicans who support the idea are staying deliberately quiet to avoid a backlash from conservative activists.

“Some of them I’ve spoken to, and they say, ‘Love to do the activity with you, I want to be able to vote for it, I really don’t need to draw attention to myself at this point,’ but we can count on it,” Gutierrez said…

Inserted from <Washington Post>

The technique for passing it is called a discharge petition. Rachel Maddow explained how one works. Here’s the part of one of her stories that explained discharge petitions:

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

In short, if 218 Representatives sign a discharge petition, all the Democrats and just 17 Republicans, the bill comes to the floor no mater what the Plutocons and Corporacons, who want a cheap and complaint free undocumented workforce to enslave and exploit, have to say. If there are 50 willing to vote for it, Gutierrez should be able to get 17 to sign.

Open Thread–8/10/2012

Posted by TomCat at 1:59 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Aug 102013

Writing for tomorrow, day 57, it’s 86° at my desk and, if it stays cloudy, it may be no worse. Tomorrow and Sunday there is a 30% chance for rain. Oh Lord! Pleeeeeeeeease!!!! On a negative note, I just fell through the Donut Hole. 🙁

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:04 (average 5:46). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: While I share Prince’s frustration with the media, as a liberal, I’d like to go on record and state that the media isn’t focusing on issues I care about. They seem to be far more focused on entertainment and making money.

Don’t believe me?

If you know anyone who still believes in a "liberal media," here’s 15 things everyone would know if there really were a "liberal media"

Click through for a gut wrenching list list that will leave no doubt in your mind,

From Alternet: Laughable: Rumor of Tea Party Boycott of Ebony Magazine Spreads After Trayvon Martin Cover

Dang! How can Ebony Magazine survive if they lose the Hood and Sheet contingent of their supporters?!!? 😉

From CREDO: The Texas Taliban — also known as the right-wing majority on the Texas State Board of Education — wants to revise the state’s standards for science textbooks to require the addition of religious pseudoscience when teaching subjects like biology. And this isn’t just bad news for Texas schoolchildren, because the Texas standards will impact the textbooks used by millions of students nationwide.

The Texas State Board of Education recently invited a small group of people to review the biology textbooks that will be used for the next eight years, starting in 2014. But more than half of the reviewers are right-wing religious ideologues,1 some of whom are even skeptics of Darwin’s theory of evolution — considered one of the most reliably established facts in science, and a central tenet of biology.2

The ultimate goal of these sham textbook reviews — and Texas Board of Education curriculum reform — is to enshrine right-wing ideology into Texas textbooks. What’s worse, because of the scale of production of these textbooks, the dictates of the Texas State Board of Education will be included in textbooks used by millions of students in other states.

We can’t let them get away with replacing long-accepted scientific principles with religious pseudoscience and propaganda.3

Tell textbook publishers to stand up to the Texas Taliban and only publish books that are based on sound, peer-reviewed science scholarship. Click here to sign the petition automatically.

Please click through and sign, or risk today’s cartoon!

Cartoon:

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CREW: America’s 18 Worst Governors

Posted by TomCat at 1:33 am Plus, Politics

Aug 092013

CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics) has completed an extensive study to determine who are America’s eighteen worst governors. The collection they found should boggle the mind that many are in office instead of a prison cell. I’m sure you already guessed that seventeen out of the eighteen are Republicans, and the lone Democrat lives in a state, where nobody is allowed to run for office, without first showing proof of corruption. There is also a quiz to see if you have what it takes to be a Republican governor.

CREW’s second report on the nation’s worst governors includes 18 — six of whom are the worst of the lot, six others whose conduct raises serious questions about their leadership, and six others who engaged in some action suspect enough to suggest their decisions merit close scrutiny.

Download the report by right clicking here.

Some governors on the list essentially turned their authority and regulatory agendas over to special interests. Others abused their office in return for gifts and campaign contributions. Many appointed donors to key positions and gutted transparency measures. All failed to live up to the public trust.

Until publishing its first report on the nation’s worst governors in 2010, CREW primarily focused on the ethics of federal government officials. CREW chose to look at governors because their actions have a major impact on public welfare, but state ethics issues often escape attention.

Now, with Washington mired in partisan gridlock, much of the legislative action takes place at the state level. As a result, it is critical that governors’ conduct be beyond reproach… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <CREW>

Here’s the video:

Click Through for detailed analysis on each governor. Then take their quiz. I scored 0 from a Republican perspective. How did you do?

Correction (8/10): There were two Democrats not one. The Governor of KY is such a Koch-bought DINO that I forgot he isn't a Republican… officially, that is. Apologies.

Open Thread–8/9/2013

Posted by TomCat at 1:32 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Aug 092013

Writing for tomorrow, day 56, It’s 82° at my desk, so I used the morning to catch op on paperwork chores I neglected. At best, it’s a one day respite.

Update: The respite didn’t even last a day. 🙁

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:24 (average 5:35). To do it. click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From NT Times: Gov. Rick Scott of Florida, newly empowered by the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in June that struck down the heart of the Voting Rights Act, has ordered state officials to resume a fiercely contested effort to remove noncitizens from voting rolls.

The program, which was put in place before the 2012 election, became mired in lawsuits and relentless criticism from opponents who viewed it as harassment and worse — a partisan attack by a Republican governor on Hispanic and Democratic voters.

I bet I’m not the only one, who is not surprised by Scott’s racist response to the Dred Scott Jr. decision from the fascist five Injustices of SCROTUS.

From MSNBC: Rachel Maddow on Iowa Caucuses

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I’d like to see all primaries held in four successive weeks according to a rotating schedule so no state gets special benefits over others, and to shorten campaign season, with one exception. For the first forty years, Iowa should be last.

From Think Progress: …The very premise of a debate is for candidates to answer tough questions about where they stand on key issues that matter to the constituents they will be tasked with representing. For decades, those debates have been in the form of moderated conversations amongst the candidates, distributed on news networks and overseen by objective journalists. But after suffering two presidential defeats, the Republican Party has had enough: instead, they only want people who are interested in electing Republicans to be the ones asking the questions.

If that’s what Priebus wants, they should choose me to moderate their debates. I’m VERY interested in the future of the Republican Party and their candidates. 😈

Cartoon:

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Republicans on Parade-8/8/2013

Posted by TomCat at 2:32 am Politics, Religion

Aug 082013

RepublicansOnParade3

Here is the seventeenth article in our Republicans on Parade series, featuring individuals who personify what the Republican Party has become. Today’s honoree is Bryan Fischer, American Family Association Director of Issues Analysis and host of Focal Point Radio show, for subscribing to insane conspiracy theories. He is also known for Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian hatred of Muslims. Please do not confuse this with authentic Christianity that practices coexistence with other beliefs.

Earlier this year, the anti-Muslim right seized upon an entirely unverified claim by disgraced former FBI agent John Guandolo that John Brennan, the Director of the CIA, had secretly converted to Islam as part of a Saudi Arabian "counterintelligence operation against him to recruit him."

There was absolutely no evidence to support the assertion other than Guandolo’s say so, but that didn’t matter as it immediately became a widely believed "fact" among people like Bryan Fischer who, to this day, continues to openly repeat it as if were verifiable and true.

On his radio broadcast this afternoon, Fischer cited another totally untrustworthy story [Propaganda delinked]claiming that President Obama would be meeting with high-ranking Muslim Brotherhood officials, which then prompted him to boldly declare that "John Brennan is a Muslim…

Inserted from <Right Wing Watch>

Photo Credit: SodaHead

Here’s the video:

Now, before Republicans claim that is is not one of them, let’s see which candidates he had as guests on his radio show: Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty. He also blackmailed Romney’s campaign into firing Richard Grenell, because Fischer hates gays too.

Open Thread–8/8/2013

Posted by TomCat at 2:31 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Aug 082013

Writing for tomorrow, day 55, climate change is still kicking my butt.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:19 (average 4:55). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: More threats from the continuing criminal enterprise that is the Republican Party. Now Reince Priebus, head of the Party, is demanding that CNN and NBC cancel movies and mini-series about Hillary Clinton OR ….. He’ll hold his breath? No something worse. He’ll pull the ratings juggernauts of the Republican presidential primary debates in 2016.

Isn’t it ironic that the Citizens United decision stemmed from a case demanding the right to air and advertise a negative movie about Hillary. What hypocrites!

From The New Yorker: Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com, told reporters today that his reported purchase of the Washington Post was a “gigantic mix-up,” explaining that he had clicked on the newspaper by mistake.

“I guess I was just kind of browsing through their website and not paying close attention to what I was doing,” he said. “No way did I intend to buy anything.”

Mr. Bezos said he had been oblivious to his online shopping error until earlier today, when he saw an unusual charge for two hundred and fifty million dollars on his American Express statement.

As much as $250 million sounds, it’s tiny to Bezos. I’m reserving my opinion to see what he does, but thank God it wasn’t Murdoch of the Koch Brothers!

From MSNBC: Bought Bitch Mitch’s hired criminal

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

It comes as no surprise that Jesse Benton is a criminal. How could he not be, since he managed the campaign of that hateful, racist misanthrope, Ron Paul? It also comes as no surprise that he is now working for the candidate named after political corruption, Bought Bitch Mitch.

Cartoon:

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