TomCat

A Republican Gun Control Solution

Posted by TomCat at 4:51 am Politics

Feb 062013

Now that the American people have at long last been shocked into demanding reasonable firearms reform, Republicans have been twisting in the wind, with scheme after scheme to prevent it, each one more absurd than the last. I thought it could not get any worse, but I was wrong.

Last night, David Barton appeared on Glenn Beck’s television program to discuss the "real issues" regarding gun control and the Second Amendment. After an opening segment in which Beck claimed that Obamacare will force people to give up their guns and lead to Nazi-like euthanasia programs, the two got down to business with Barton explaining that the NRA was founded in order to protect freed slaves from lynchings and that there never used to be school shootings in the 1800s because all of the kids carried guns to school…

Inserted from <Right Wing Watch>

Here’s the video.

Now I have no doubt that someone will want to accuse me of taking an absurd wing-nut and calling him a Republican. Not so fast. David Barton is the former chairman of the Republican Party of Texas.

Open Thread–2/6/2013

Posted by TomCat at 4:51 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 062013

Yesterday I was pleased that I could return to full time blogging. I’m current with replies. It looks like I’ll be OK to keep going.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 5:19 (average 6:10). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: When’s The Last Time You Saw A Super Bowl Commercial About Something This Controversial?

I wonder how many Republicans turned off the game after seeing this.

From Reuters: Owners and makers of assault-style weapons would face civil liability under a package of measures unveiled on Tuesday by top lawmakers in Colorado, a state shaken by some of the deadliest shootings in U.S. history.

The bills, introduced by Democrats who control the state legislature, could push Colorado to the forefront of a national gun control debate reignited by several mass shootings last year, including massacres of schoolchildren in Newtown, Connecticut, and moviegoers in suburban Denver.

I think that, depending on the specifics, this could be an excellent idea. Concurrent with the right to own a gun, there is a responsibility to care for it in a manner that prevents irresponsible use.

From Gallup: At least two-thirds of Americans favor each of five specific measures designed to address immigration issues — ranging from 68% who would vote for increased government spending on security measures and enforcement at U.S. borders, to 85% who would vote for a requirement that employers verify the immigration status of all new hires. More than seven in 10 would vote for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants now living in this country.

Click through. Note that the least popular of the five is the only one that Republicans support.

Cartoon:

6Cartoon

Recovery Demands More and Better Jobs

Posted by TomCat at 3:19 am Politics

Feb 052013

Right now the US economy is stuck in a vicious circle. Potential employers are not expanding production, so they are not hiring, because demand for their products and services is low. Demand for their products and services is low, because so many people are unemployed, and far too many of those that are do not make enough to support their families, let alone consume additional goods and services. So many people are unemployed and underemployed, because potential employers are not expanding production, so they are not hiring. Recovery demands more and better jobs.

In President Obama’s first term, the fiscal stimulus and the auto-industry rescue of 2009 created and preserved millions of jobs. But the stimulus ended years ago, replaced with temporary measures that have been insufficient to propel the economy forward. Health care reform in 2010 was a major step in the effort to support the middle class, but its broad effects will be felt only in the years and decades to come.

In recent years, the administration and Congress have been consumed with deficit reduction, which is antithetical to job creation because it curbs government spending when the economy is weak. Unless Mr. Obama can shift policy away from premature austerity and toward ways to bolster demand and foster investment, job growth will remain sluggish and unemployment high.

What has been missing for years is a forceful labor agenda — one that calls for more jobs, but also has as its goal rising wages coupled with robust hiring.

Mr. Obama can take an important step in that direction by placing his next labor secretary at the center of his economic team. The first-term labor secretary, Hilda Solis, was largely sidelined, a reflection of the administration’s focus on the recovery of Wall Street, not Main Street. Some of the names that have been floated for the job — including Jennifer Granholm, the former governor of Michigan — show that Mr. Obama is seeking someone of high stature, but any secretary’s ability to be a transformative force will depend on the president’s support… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

Photo credit: A Taxing Matter

Note the differences between recoveries from the great Republican Depression, and the Republican Recession. So fall all the income growth has gone to the super-rich while the rest of us are losing. That is why me need programs similar to those instituted by Roosevelt in the 1930s to get people working, give them money to spend, thus creating demand for more products and services to provide potential employers the incentive to increase production. That will, in turn, increase tax revenue for the government to eliminate the deficit.

Eight Republicans Vote Support for Violence Against Women

Posted by TomCat at 3:17 am Politics

Feb 052013

Nothing should be more clearly non-partisan than protecting women from violence. Opposing such a basic sentiment could not be more overtly shameful. Nevertheless, that is exactly what eight Republican Senators have done.

Eight Senators on Monday voted not to consider the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, a bill that protects victims of domestic violence. The Senators who voted against moving to debate on the bill were: Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), Tim Scott (R-SC), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Rand Paul (R-KY), Pat Roberts (R-KS), and James Risch (R-ID).

VAWA’s reauthorization has been caught up in partisan gridlock over added provisions that would protect undocumented immigrants, as well as LGBT and Native American victims of domestic violence. Congress failed to reauthorize the bill by the end of 2012, and the Senate is now considering the same legislation again, in its new legislative session… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Think Progress>

Photo credit: YWCA

These Republicans claim to object, because the bill includes protection for undocumented immigrants, LGBT, and Native American women.

Frankly, that’s absurd. If a woman happens to be undocumented, lesbian, or Native American, does that make violence against her OK? Hell. no! Nevertheless, in support of their own racism and bigotry, these Republicans would deny protection to all women.

Open Thread–2/5/2013

Posted by TomCat at 3:16 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 052013

Here we go. Today I have three articles and will distribute links. I’m current with replies. Tomorrow I hope to do the same.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:56 (average 5:56). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: 40 Years Later And Women Are Still Battling For This Personal Right

5-40years500

If Republicans have their way, women’s right to vote may be next to go.

From The Daily Caller: Former congressman and libertarian icon Ron Paul tweeted a startling reaction to the death of SEAL sniper Chris Kyle on Monday:

Chris Kyle’s death seems to confirm that “he who lives by the sword dies by the sword.” Treating PTSD at a firing range doesn’t make sense

— Ron Paul (@RonPaul) February 4, 2013

He’s still just as full of hate as ever.

From MSNBC: Republican Super Bowl InsaniTEA

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

After all, it it wasn’t the black guy’s fault, they wouldn’t call it a blackout. Scheeeeesch!!

Cartoon:

5Cartoon

The Pro-Fraud Party

Posted by TomCat at 6:26 am Politics

Feb 042013

A prime function of government is to collectively do those things, which we cannot do as well and/or as efficiently as individuals. One such area is defense, so defending us from foreign aggression is universally acknowledged as a legitimate government role. However, we need note that our elected and appointed officials take oaths to protect us from enemies foreign and domestic, so it it is also a legitimate government role to defend us from domestic aggression in the form of corporate criminal fraud. Sadly, Paul Krugman points out that one party is on the side of the corporate criminals.

Like many advocates of financial reform, I was a bit disappointed in the bill that finally emerged. Dodd-Frank gave regulators the power to rein in many financial excesses; but it was and is less clear that future regulators will use that power. As history shows, the financial industry’s wealth and influence can all too easily turn those who are supposed to serve as watchdogs into lap dogs instead.

There was, however, one piece of the reform that was a shining example of how to do it right: the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a stand-alone agency with its own funding, charged with protecting consumers against financial fraud and abuse. And sure enough, Senate Republicans are going all out in an attempt to kill that bureau…

…How can they do that, when the reform is already law and Democrats hold a Senate majority? Here as elsewhere, they’re turning to extortion — threatening to filibuster the appointment of Richard Cordray, the bureau’s acting head, and thereby leave the bureau unable to function. Mr. Cordray, whose work has drawn praise even from the bankers, is clearly not the issue. Instead, it’s an open attempt to use raw obstructionism to overturn the law.

What Republicans are demanding, basically, is that the protection bureau lose its independence. They want its actions subjected to a veto by other, bank-centered financial regulators, ensuring that consumers will once again be neglected, and they also want to take away its guaranteed funding, opening it to interest-group pressure. These changes would make the agency more or less worthless — but that, of course, is the point… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

Photo credit: The Examiner

At this particular moment I’d like to wring the neck (figuratively, of course) of the Nevada Leg-hound, Harry Reid, who had the votes for authentic filibuster reform, but chose to hump Republican legs instead. I told you we would have cause to regret that decision in very short order, and here it is. Because of Reid’s sedition, and because Republicans govern exclusively for the benefit of millionaires, billionaires and corporate criminals, our protection from criminal Banksters will be less than it should be. All we can do at this point is to keep putting Cordray’s name forward to keep Republicans on Front Street as the pro-fraud party.

Open Thread–2/4/2013

Posted by TomCat at 6:25 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 042013

Yesterday I had a bad air day, with severe coughing and bronchial congestion. The Super Bowl cut into my sleep time. so I overslept. I don’t want to push myself too hard, although I do have an extra article for you. I’m current with replies. I plan to go back to posting our articles on other sites tomorrow instead of today.

Church of the Ellipsoid Orb:

Congratulations to the Baltimore Ravens for out-meditating the San Francisco 49ers 34-31. Their achievement is particularly noteworthy, because they were considered the weakest team to make the playoffs, and were the underdogs in every game they played. To get to the AFC championship, they had to defeat the best team in football. Then to get to the Super Bowl, they had to defeat the second best team in football. By consistently playing above the capabilities their record reflects, they have earned high praise.

Now the great mourning has begun, because the mighty orb has gone dark. Except for a brief glimmer in April for the Selection of Future Acolytes, we will have none of it’s divine light until late Summer, if we are indeed blessed with it’s return. Now is the time for wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:32 (average 4:31). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: FLASHBACK: What The NRA Sounded Like Back When It Was Sane

4NRAsane500

Back then, the NRA represented gun owners, and their intent was to promote the best interests of responsible shooters. Today the NRA represents corporate criminals, and their intent is to represent the most profit for irresponsible manufacturers, regardless of how many innocents die to sate their greed. By their strong NRA support, Republicans demonstrate, once again, that they certainly are the pro-death party.

From NY Times: President Obama said in a televised interview on Sunday that he could foresee a budget deal in Congress that did not include further increases in tax rates but instead focused on eliminating loopholes and deductions.

Although I think that rates are still too low on those making over $1 million per year, I can support reform limited to eliminating loopholes, such as allowing Vulture Capitalists to have their income taxed at the lower capital gains rate and the many tax credits lavished on Big Oil.

From Crooks and Liars: Millionaire Pundit Laura Ingraham Doesn’t Like Paying Americans a Living Wage

Callahan is spot on. We have a demand problem. Producers have no incentive to hire, as long as consumers don’t have the money to pay for those products. Smith’s statement that union membership is low, because unions don’t work, is pure propaganda. Union membership is low, because Republicans have outsourced so many union jobs, and because Republicans have legislated away union rights. Note that. at the end of the segment, Ingraham thanked the goose-stepper, but not the Democrat. After all, this is the Republican Ministry of Propaganda.

Cartoon: We’re trying something a little different today to demonstrate how ethnic bias can literally distort our world view. The first image is a Mercator Projection of the world map, the map with which we are all most familiar.

4Cartoon

Note how the area north of the equator takes up 2/3 of the map, making nations in the northern hemisphere appear larger, and therefore, more important.

The second image is a Peters Projection of the world map.

4bCartoon

It divides the area equally between the northern and southern hemisphere, thus showing the sizes of different features more accurately with respect to each other. It changes your perspective, doesn’t it?

Poll Results–2/3/2013

Posted by TomCat at 3:03 am Blog News, Politics

Feb 032013

Here are the results of our How Good a Deal poll.

Poll0203

And here are your comments.

Posted by SoINeedAName on January 8, 2013 at 4:44 pm.

Just about as good as we could hope for, and since Repubicans HATE it – plus shot themselves in the foot fighting over it – I gave it a "Good"

Posted by Lynn Squance on January 8, 2013 at 4:26 pm.

I voted ‘fair’ because while it is a reasonable deal, it could have been better. There is so much to be tweaked, especially in the tax rates and loopholes.

Posted by Patty on January 3, 2013 at 11:02 am.

I sort of liked the deal but it could have been much more fair if they had taxed estates and capital gains a bit higher.

Maybe they will do it in actual "tax reform".

I voted good. Obama backed Republicans into the corner until they caved-in. It took the Bush Tax cuts away from millionaires and billionaires. It did nothing to hurt the bug three. I did not vote Excellent, because it left the debt limit as an issue for Republicans to exploit.

Our new poll on Republican Intentions is now up.

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