Consider in 2001:
Republicans Sens. Olympia Snowe (ME), Susan Collins (ME), Lincoln Chafee (RI), Gordon Smith (OR), John Warner (VA), Arlen Specter (PA) co-sponsored S. 104 - the Equity in Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive Coverage Act
"to provide equity in insurance coverage for contraception."

From their Fact Sheet:
"The correlation is clear. Contraception prevents unintended pregnancy and reduces the need for abortion."

And "More than half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended, and half of all unintended pregnancies end in abortion. Contraceptives have a proven track record of enhancing the health of women and children, preventing unintended pregnancy, and reducing the need for abortion. However, although contraception is basic health care for women, far too many insurance policies exclude this vital coverage...
...The bill simply seeks to establish parity for contraceptive prescriptions and related medical services within the context of coverage already guaranteed by each insurance plan."

.....................................................................................................
In 2012, the Affordable Care Act offers more conscience protections than the GOP 2001 S.104 quoted above. The S.104 offered ZERO opt-out for religious groups opposed to contraception.

http://lobby.la.psu.edu/013_Contraceptive_Coverage/org

Da Rev. Al’s Comedy Hour had a Hillaryous moment last night. Da Rev. and Joe Madison were denouncing some speaker at CPAC. Madison made a comment that seemed totally right for a second, but, when it was boiled down to its fundamentals had me ROTFLMFAO!!!!! His comment was specifically about race relations, but, what he was fundamentally saying is that one group of people should not ever believe they are superior to another group of people.

In my experience, the vast majority of lefty liberals feel they are superior to conservatives. I see it here on FR in 20-30 posts every day (just look at post # 1 above). MSDNC has made a decision that their primetime lineup will be dedicated proving lefty liberals are superior to conservatives.

So, FR lefty liberals, is Joe Madison wrong, and it is really OK for one group of people to believe they are superior to another group of people? Or, is Joe Madison right, and lefty liberals are wrong to believe they are superior to conservatives?

Nasty?? Dr. Ron?? Jody?? Clara Belle??

My bet is that this “The TRUTH!?! You can’t handle the truth.” post will be collapsed in record time.

LMAO!!!!

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

Today is the
political equivalent to the Academy Awards at the CPAC crazy convention.

Feisty, I agree

Might I also add it is more like an asylum and they are are all flying over the cuck-coo's nest.

Now It’s A Holy War: The Fox Nation and the Church Launch A Crusade

Notice a pattern here: No matter what President Obama does it's a WAR on something.

So the Fox Nationalists are upping the ante by sending their troops on a mission to invade the Kingdom of Heaven. This is no longer a battle of mortals, but a celestial conflagration that they are blaming on President Obama.
But, in contrast to the Fox Nation's Holy War at CPAC hatefest you have Republicans accusing the President of a "War against the Church" and his goal to destroy America.

Speaking of goals...

If not the Catholic Church suppresses/d religion too. Have they forgotten the Spanish Inquisition, the torture machines, the Crusades, the Bible being brought to Africa and other nations under the guise of teaching ,scratch that imposing their way on what the Catholic Church called savages and pagans.

Don't forget about that money laundering scandal in addition to pedophilia.

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=13226

The repbuliCONS are starting a culture war to distract from their record on the economy

RepbuliCONS have no record on economic or social issues so they are using this in hopes it will take votes away from President Obama. It won't work. Already polls show women do not agree with the Catholic Church or Republicans and Democratic. Besides surrogate groups like NOW particularly Terry O’Neill, President of The National Organization for Women, have come out in defense of this outrage. There are many violations Republicans and the church are ignoring...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45755822/vp/46335061#46335061

1st amendment
civil rights
religion
privacy
equal protection of the law
EEOC
labor issues

So are other polls

More than 11 million women use oral birth control. These women and their doctors should be allowed to make contraceptive decisions based on medical reasons and personal beliefs. Doctors and families, not politicians and pundits, should decide what prescriptions women can access.

Source: http://www2.americanprogress.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=182

The only way to stop the right-wing attack on women is to fight back with everything we’ve got.

READ the polls what both women and men say...

Source: public religion research institute study

http://publicreligion.org/2012/02/understanding-the-nuances-of-catholics-perspectives-on-the-contraceptive-mandate/

=========================================================================
That is roughly 6-in-10 (58%) Catholics agreeing that employers should be required to provide their employees with health care plans that cover contraception (37% disagree). Catholic voters are slightly less likely to agree, with 52% in favor of a contraceptive mandate for all employers, and 44% opposed.

It's not just women. Men rely on birth control

It's called separation of church and state . The last I heard the Catholic Church does not rule the world.

FYI: Catholic bishops need not worry about re-election; republicans do. Republicans are fighting a losing battle on contraception; It's not a mandate!!!!

If the Catholic Bishops continue this facade TAX the Catholic Church!!!!

Re: Rubio's standing ovation @ CPAC, Linda, that is incredibly LOL funny. Rubio got a standing ovation for his ignorance. He stirred the ignorant, racial, pot implying the President was from South Africa, Ken ya be any more ignorant about Geography? Hawaii is in America.
From the Tampa Bay Times

Rubio returned to Ginsburg again when talking about the controversy over Obama's contraception rule. "This isn't even a social issue. This is a constitutional issue," Rubio said. "Now I don't know what the South African constitution says about these things. But I know what the U.S. Constitution says about it ... The federal government does not have the power to force religious organizations to pay for things that organization things is wrong.

Rubio says he still opposed the Dream Act but suggested yesterday he could be open to granting some legal status to children of illegal immigrants who serve in the military.

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/rubio-plays-his-audience-cpac

Rubio will not be able to pull Latinos . The younger generation of Latinos 2:1 broke for Obama. Yes, they are conservative in some ways; but they want jobs and the ugly immigration smears don't help the Republicans either. The economy is picking up and they can see the President fighting for the middle class and them. Ditto Black voters.

Looks like that forum on the failure on multiculturalism was appropriate. ha ha

Rick Santorum has a starring role in a remake of the classic----"Coal Miner's Grandson".

When they remake The Wizard of Oz, I'm having trouble casting the Wicked Witch of the West (too many good candidates). Debbie Wasserman Schultz would play Glinda.

Feisty, hope it's that good Chicago popcorn because this will be quite a show.

Backhouse, terrific reminder that whether it is cap & trade, health care insurance mandates or contraceptive coverage, the GOP was "for it" before they were "against it" because President Obama is for it. And voters wonder why Mitt Romney is doing back flips?

Albany Joe, who said liberals are superior? Mr. Madison is correct, no one is superior to another but that doesn't stop conservatives like you from trying to connect dots that are imaginery ones. Sorry, Joe, you lose.

Every year around April, a rabbit scatters eggs for kids to find. He also leaves candy for kids. We found that candy and we found those eggs, so surely there was an Easter Bunny. Nope, the grown-ups lied to us; they were the ones who hid the eggs and put out the candy.

Those same grown-ups explained that while the Easter Bunny was not real, there was a Jewish kid named Jesus, who was born two thousand years ago. Jesus was real and His dad was God. He was killed by Romans at the request of Jews. He rose from the dead. Now, that was true.

Every year in December, we would awaken on Christmas morning to find presents under a tree. A jolly, fat man named St. Nick brought us gifts, down a chimney - even if we didn't have one. We opened our gifts, so surely there was a Santa Claus. Nope, the grown-ups lied to us; they were the ones who brought the presents.

Those same grown-ups explained that while Santa Claus was not real, this Jewish kid named Jesus, who was born two thousand years ago had a mother who was a virgin. When Jesus grew up, he could walk on water, raise the dead, and turn water into wine. Now, that was true.

When we were kids, we'd lose our teeth. We'd put them under our pillow. In the morning, we'd find coins and our tooth was gone. The Tooth Fairy had paid a visit. Somehow the Fairy magically knew we had lost a tooth. Nope, the grown-ups lied to us; they were the ones who took the tooth and left the money.

Not much of a track record for grown-ups. They told us premarital sex was evil. Oh yeah! Really? They told us marijuana would make us crazy and lead us to use heroin. Oh yeah! Really? The Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus! Really?

But a Jewish kid whose Dad was God and whose Mom was a Jewish virgin, a guy who could do impossible things.....Well, that's real. And the grown-ups told us about heaven and hell. The grown-ups hadn't been dead. They didn't talk to dead people, so how could they couldn't know about this heaven and hell stuff? Zero credibility.

It's about faith. That's it. No more, no less. We pay all manner of clergy - grown-ups - to tell us unbelievable stories and about salvation and that we should deny our senses and believe in a being we cannot see, touch, or hear. Faith! And we can practice our faith without interference. Such is the promise of the First Amendment.

If you want to believe in a god who attends football games and roots for one side or the other, you can do that. If you want to believe in a god who loves Christians, but hates gays, Muslims, and dark-colored people, you can do that. But you cannot tell others they must accept your faith, your rules, and your beliefs.

Some of us don't trust grown-ups so much any more. The God thing is just too much for us. Why would God create contraceptives and then forbid their use? Wouldn't God be upset Catholic employers discriminate against other faiths? Wouldn't God be pleased that the government does not force Catholics to use contraceptives. Wouldn't God wonder what kind of idiots scream about the evils of abortion, but won't allow access to a little pill that would eliminate those abortions.

And important Catholic grown-ups - Bishops and such, and evangelicals - whatever they may be - are screaming the government is interfering in their religion. You know what? Those grown-ups are lying again. They're bearing false witness. Very, very bad.

If "religious" employers don't want to follow the labor laws of the land, they shouldn't hire employees. Business is business and religion is religion and in our country; never the twain shall meet.

My bet is that this “The TRUTH!?! You can’t handle the truth.” post will be collapsed in record time.

Anyone else notice how the Idiot from Albany's cries for attention are growing louder everyday?

First he pisses & moans when he's collapsed & when that doesn't work he resorts to begging to be collapsed... lmao

ITIA!

You're right, Joe. Liberals DO believe they are morally and intellectually superior. We see the evidence of that arrogance right here every day. These are people who define "virtue" as the willingness to give OTHER people's money away. It ends there for them. Nevermind that their generosity usually exacerbates problems and even creates MORE problems. It was the THOUGHT that counts....Isn't that sweet?

And while they're busy feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, it's we common sense, regular folks that have to deal with the fallout and pick up the pieces.

Joe in Albany

So, FR lefty liberals, is Joe Madison wrong, and it is really OK for one group of people to believe they are superior to another group of people?

No, we liberals DONT believe we are superior to conservatives. We know are beliefs ARE superior. (Big difference)

Obama/Biden 2012

Beverly, terrific post as well. You, too, David Walker.

Based on his comments yesterday, Rubio is juvenile at best, still wears short pants but he does know how to blow the right-wing dog whistle.

Backhouse, you can present all the analysis you want on the contraceptive issue, but it doesn't matter. People in politics don't want to go against the Catholic Church for some stupid reason.

The same Church who raped little boys. How anyone can support them is unfathomable to me. Just check out our very own Cardinal Law here in Boston. He got away with the cover ups and now the Catholic Church is protecting him.

But not women. And people are perfectly fine with this?

So to me they have no integrity when it comes to women's health. They have no clue. They simply don't care.

That wonderful ignore button works wonders......Joe in Alb, Nojoallblow...JS0...etc...

First he pisses & moans when he's collapsed

__________________________________

Nasty Redhead: I never "piss and moan" when my posts are collapsed. I always try to thank the FR lefty liberals for collapsing my posts. It confirms that I have made my point. Tell you what: If you can produce a post of mine where I have "pissed and moaned" about my post being collapsed, I will refer to Barry as "President Obama" for a week. If you can't produce one, you will refer to President Obama as "Barry" for a week.

Are you up for the challenge??

BTW, no comment on Joe Mason's atatement on Da Rev. Al's show??

We know are beliefs ARE superior. (Big difference)

However, your grammar and proofreading leave a lot to be desired.

The same Church who raped little boys

If only the Church protected those boys with the same veracity they're going after women...

I wonder if those priests wore condoms when they were sodomizing the innocent!

Nast Redhead: I never "piss and moan" when my posts are collapsed

Go beg someone else for attention - you bore the snot out of me! *yawn*

CPAC, no thanks, but I'll take a SIX PACK instead. Well the clown show started yesterday. All the GOP wantabe's, use to be's and never were be's, showed up yesterday to spill their hate and venom for our President.

Not yesterday, or any time in the last 3 years have any of these clowns proposed any ideas on how they'd help the economy or our Country. Probably because they have no ideas. Only hate, hate, hate.

Ogama in 2012.

David Skywalker-- Here are some other FAiry Tales that grown-ups tell us....

That our planet, which has been here for BILLIONS of years, is being negatively affected by humans (mainly evil Americans), whose time on said planet is a tiny, tiny blip in the overall scheme of things.

That poverty causes crime. The economy is supposedly at it's worst since the 1930s and crime is at a 40 year low. Maybe now the libs will admit that criminality is a character flaw.

Everyone is capable of being a brain surgeon or a rocket scientist if only they were born into money and/or given the chance. False. Some people are just friggin' stupid. It's in their genes. Many of them voted for Obama and will again.

Communism and Socialism are great ideas but have never been given a chance to work. Well, let's see if Hussein gets elected.

Go beg someone else for attention - you bore the snot out of me! *yawn*

___________________________

As I expected, the Nasty Redhead isn't up to the challenge because deep down inside Betty knows she's FoS.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

David, wonderful post.

I remember a few years ago there was a diary on DailyKos during the holidays. And the diary was about Mary, the Virgin Mother and the diariest wrote about the fact that Mary cheated on Joseph and got pregnant by her lover and to cover her tracks, just made the whole story up. It was so damn funny.

As far as faith, for these people on tv and certain parishoners, to me it's about ego. Jesus loves them and hates us because we don't conform. And the more they say it, the more money they raise.

And religious people like to pretend they conform, but if you listen to them and watch how they really live their lives, they're phonies. But don't tell anybody.

I guess to me if you want a relationship with God, then you can have one. You don't need a priest, you don't need to go to Church and you don't need to go to confession.

Deal with it privately with God. The Church is a business. An unholy business from what I saw and experienced as a kid.

This reminds me of the fight scene in Rocky IV. Rocky (aka the Republicans) seems to be up against a powerful and unbeatable Communist (Obama) who is using steroids (lying to the American public). Rocky is getting beat down but all of a sudden the Communist makes a mistake and leaves himself open. "HE'S CUT!!!!! He sees his blood and he knows he is vulnerable and Rocky knows he is not invincible and soon shows his Communist followers (democrats) he can be beaten. A tree is only dropped after several cuts to the trunk. Get ready for TIMBER!!!!!!!!

Biden is gone!!!!! He will not be on the ticket for opposing the almighty one -- just like Daley. How are you LWNJs going to spin this when Obama backs down????? How are you going to lie??? Not if you are going to lie but how ROFLMAO!!!!!

Wow, the only war I see is the one you guys seem to have going against the Catholic Church, lol.

Pat, are you really saying that if Obama does reverse course today on this insurance thing, he won't have any integrity or credibility on women's issues? Huh. And will that influence your vote in November?

Bev he did not say that becasue what you have does not even make sense, "The federal government does not have the power to force religious organizations to pay for things that organization things is wrong" wtf?

I bet it was betty aka feisty covering obama'a annouincement 5 years ago

People in politics don't want to go against the Catholic Church for some stupid reason.

Catholicism is a religion protected under the Free Exercise clause of the First Amendment. Catholic doctrine strongly opposes contraception. For the government to force Catholic institutions to provide "health services" that are in contravention to their religious doctrine makes a mockery of the Free Exercise clause.

Is that the "stupid reason" of which you speak?

I remember a few years ago there was a diary on DailyKos during the holidays. And the diary was about Mary, the Virgin Mother and the diariest wrote about the fact that Mary cheated on Joseph and got pregnant by her lover and to cover her tracks, just made the whole story up. It was so damn funny.

I'm an atheist but I don't mock people faith. I'm just curious but has Daily Kos ever run a satirical diary of Islam or Judaism? It seems kind of strange when you mock religion that you don't seem to comment on the other two major Judea-Christian religions. I'll give Bill Maher his due, he went after all of them in his movie.

The religious fanatics are at one moment for birth control and the next against it. The CPAC convention promoted birth control in this neat little statement,

conservative columnist and Fox News contributor Cal Thomas had this to say about MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow: “I think she’s the best argument in favor of her parents using contraception.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72715.html#ixzz1lzUDqwof

Apparently, conservatives flip-flop like a Romney when it fits their need. Abort a Maddow, save a conservative is the new message. I say bring out the lions. There are a lot of uppity conservatives that need their roar taken down a notch or two.

Liberals DO believe they are morally and intellectually superior.

You've hit on something very important here, Damage. We are--at least in regard to you and Joe Almighty.

Wonderful post, David.

@Damage

Pat can only see people as voting groups. Individuals mean nothing.

Some people are just friggin' stupid. It's in their genes

Words of wisdom, proven every day by the left wing zealots on this board....

your grammar and proofreading leave a lot to be desired.

LMAO, kudos to Alan. Must be those damned leftist genes.

Joe-

Who cares what you think? From what I've read of your Posts, I've come to the conclusion that absolutely NO ONE cares what you think.

Obama in 2012.

Alan, NJ

Guess I spent to much time listening to George "is our children learning" Bush

The religious fanatics are at one moment for birth control and the next against it. The CPAC convention promoted birth control in this neat little statement,

The issue not whether an individual chooses to use birth control. The issue is whether it should be provided by organization, which has stated that use is against their beliefs.

We started this conversation yesterday but I never got a reason as to why contraception should be provided with no co-pay. Why is birth control different from other drugs needed on a regular basis like lipitor or insulin?

So predictable…. (although I thought they would wait until later this afternoon)

Today is walk back day for President Obama, Valerie Jarrett, and the crackle of moonbats that thought they could impede freedom.

Sorry to say but the damage is done. People of faith will not forget what this President and his band of libbies attempted. See Americans of faith value the Constitution and hold freedom of religion in high regard.

I hope Jarrett and the sisterhood enjoy the view of Axerod’s backside as it’s now apparent that they have been ordered to walk a few paces behind him from now on. Maybe a good foot binding would be in order for such a colossal mistake.

The spin from the leftwing cheerleaders on FR today will be hilarious I’m sure.

I will be back and forth from media matters and the daily kos. I do want to see how the libbies with actual convictions take this one. HAHAHAHAHAHA

Where is Joe in Albany's cut and paste job from Jim Vandehei, the aide to disgraced former speaker Tom Delay?

Does even Jim Vandehei have nothing to say this morning?

LMAO.

Guess I spent to much time listening to George "is our children learning" Bush

LOL...a man who clearly spoke English as second, or third, language

You know the RWNJ's are out of gas when after multiple factual posting by liberals the best they can retort with is;

• Spelling & punctuation
• Collapsing of posts
• Arm chair psychology
• Islam
• Rocky Balboa!

Slow down guys - it's going to be a painful 9 months! ;o)

Catholicism is a religion protected under the Free Exercise clause of the First Amendment

You seriously advocate that any church is above the law? If the Catholics start another inquisition, you are prepared stand by and let them slaughter because your interpretation of the Constitution allows it? Churches are not above the law. They don't pay taxes, they should have no representation. Let's hope Obama stands firm and tells the Church to go to that dark, scorching spot they so fear.

what I don't get is Bev keeps telling us what fox says, which means she must watch it. If I see/hear something and I do not agree with it I change the channel or turn it off.

@Joe in Albany & Damage123

In my experience, the vast majority of lefty liberals feel they are superior to conservatives. I see it here on FR in 20-30 posts every day (just look at post # 1 above).

You only feel that way because you and best bud, have an inferiority complex. I

Pathetic, just pathetic!!!

You seriously advocate that any church is above the law....Churches are not above the law

Ummm, the issue is whether the government can ignore the constitution.

Damage123

I can't believe you would stoop so low to protect pedophilia!!!!

Pathetic, just pathetic you are a real sicko.

Matt L-1901963

Where is Joe in Albany's cut and paste job from Jim Vandehei, the aide to disgraced former speaker Tom Delay?

Is that so? I learn something on this message board every day that I wouldn't find out from the beltway pundits themselves. Judging from his "work" at Politico and his comments on talk shows, I always pegged Vandehei as a far-right Republican pretending to be an impartial journalist. Having worked for Tom (the Hammer and Convicted Felon) Delay would explain a lot.

Beverly, just the other day you called for the banning of media that does not take your point of view. You're an ignorant, police-state, commie and you have ZERO credibility.

Buck Naked Sr

what I don't get is Bev keeps telling us what fox says, which means she must watch it. If I see/hear something and I do not agree with it I change the channel or turn it off.

Have you ever heard of the internet re-writing what news stations say and do? How about local TV and other cable channels????

Now change your rant ignorant steeple.

TeaPeople like wars!

Class Warfare!......Culture War!.......Religious War!.....

...........and of course real boots on the ground war!

"Romney the 2012 version of McCain."

Praying that version will show up at the polls in Nov.

Obama 2012

Interesting how, on this site and all the others I've been to, those who's ideas don't cut it always criticize the spelling and/or grammar of others.

I'm not sure where the idea came from that liberals are arrogant and believe themselves to be superior. We just greatly disagree with backward centuries' old philosophies of the conservatives. We, as you conservatives, believe we are right. That doesn't imply superiority or arrogance. What is arrogant is to believe your way is the only way at the cost of inclusion or consideration of all other ideas with no analysis of the content. As Thomas Jefferson said; "The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees in every object only the traits which favor that theory." The GOP theory is anti-Obama, no matter what. You even make up "facts" and history to serve that purpose when real facts and history do not.

Liberals are, by definition and in practice more open to a wider range of ideas and philosophies. We are willing to evaluate before deciding. Conservatives [in America] take their position based on who made the statement or suggestion with no regard to reasonable analysis of it's content. Now that's arrogant. And that presupposes superiority.

For a prime example check the 90's statements by conservatives on the health care proposals. Much of what they now criticize was in fact based on ideas floated by GOP lawmakers. Since Obama got it passed, their own ideas are now evil and unconstitutional. Romney instituted the mandate in Mass, and Gingrich supported "some kind of mandate" as late as May 2011. Go figure.

in order to rewrite you must hear or read it, so if you do not agree with it don't pay any attention to it. let's be fair and make everyone's tax the same. Now how is that not fair, 10% 12% 15% 25% flat tax for all.

Liberals DO believe they are morally and intellectually superior.

You've hit on something very important here, Damage. We are--at least in regard to you and Joe Almighty.

__________________________________

So, you are saying Joe Madison's statement is wrong.

Thanks for playing.

Ummm, the issue is whether the government can ignore the constitution.

Fairfaux - Good to know you support wholesale murder when a church advocates it. Interesting to note you support human trafficking of babies, all in the name of religion. Blind faith results in the destruction of society. I'm not ready to re-enter the dark ages brought on by the rise of the Catholic Church. Those nasty liberals you hate are fine with you living in a cave in darkness, but don't expect us to join you there.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/10/spains-stolen-babies-an-ugly-past-on-a-staggering-scale-2/

Thanks to nisl for showing us this ugly but very recent reminder of a holier than thou church that routinely operates in the realm of true evil.

Can't we all just... get along?

Damage123

Beverly, just the other day you called for the banning of media that does not take your point of view. You're an ignorant, police-state, commie and you have ZERO credibility.

That is exactly right. It's not just my point of view it thousands and thousands of people.

The time for accountability is now. It's time for advertisers to drop Fox until Fox becomes a responsible news network.

For too long Fox News has smeared, attacked, distorted and deliberately misinformed with impunity.

DROP FOX NOISE

http://dropfox.com/

You see how that fool Glenn Beck vaporized.

FYI: Rev AL rocks he beats CNN.

“PoliticsNation” with Al Sharpton ranked #2 and beat CNN among A25-54 (164,000 vs. 136,000) for the 4th consecutive month and among total viewers (768,000 vs. 472,000) for the 5th month in a row.

http://insidecablenews.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/january-numbers-msnbc-4/

If you think people looooooooooove Tamron Hall just look at how much we ♥♥♥♥ love love Rev Al; especially when he reminds you RepubliCONS how much blueberry pie you got all over your faces.

That includes you too my boy; Joee!!!

Good to know you support wholesale murder when a church advocates it.

Thanks ever so much for putting words in my mouth that I never said, a typical tactic of leftist trolls. What I support is respect for a cherished precept in this country: freedom of religion -- a precept obviously banned from the cave of darkness you inhabit.

Umm Joe....full of shyt or full of snot? One she has copped to.....the other, well I will defer to you on that!

Bill --

What if all hospitals, healthcare facilities, doctor's offices, insurance companies etc. decided to partner with a religion and each came out with a specific set of healthcare objections based on their affiliated religion's beliefs?

I ask this to open up this discussion to the broader questions that come to mind.

Without explaining just how President Obama is a Communist the Nazi wannabes here seem to infer state their opinions that he might be one. Obviously they have not the foggiest idea what a Communist is and believes in. One of those wackadoos took flight in the 1940s and 50s with the Army-McCarthy hearings where Sen. Joe McCarthy (R of course) of Wisconsin seemed to think there was a big ol' bad ol' Commie under every rock. Of course he was exposed as a stupid fool after ruining the careers of many great people for nothing. Do we have more Joe McCarthys out there or just Nazi wannabes who make the same stupid statements?

According to excerpts of his remarks, Gingrich will say, “Getting America again will require bold thinking and bold solutions. Many of these new approaches will be opposed by the establishment in both parties.”

It's telling that The Newt talks about 'getting' America, as in getting control. That's what he wants...it was what he wanted when he was Speaker of the House, when he refused to compromise with anyone.

It's only one of the reasons why the GOP establishment will shut him down.

Poor old GOP...they're wringing their hands over the pitiful choices they have on offer.

Hiya kids, hiya, hiya,

The old frog is living high today. It's payday, it's Friday, it's my 33rd Wedding Anniversary, Rick Santorum says women can't serve in combat because the men will kill themselves protecting them, poor Mitt Romney can't buy the love of the GOP and Moon Unit Gingrich is bringing back $2 a gallon gasoline.

Wow, where do I begin?

First, the Rickster. He was in Oklahoma yesterday. He visited a gun store in OKC and a University founded by a Televangelist charlatan in Tulsa. Quite the power trip and what a Victorian Chauvinist. Women in combat would endanger the mission? BANG! What was that sound? Rick Santorum shooting himself in the foot, AGAIN! Is this guy THE anti-woman candidate or what? Somebody send him a calender so he can see it's 2012, not 1950.

Then, there is poor, poor, pitiful Mitt Romney. Poor little rich boy. He's all dressed up and ready to run for President but the GOP doesn't want him. Sad, just sad. But good news for all right-thinking Americans because he WILL be the GOP nominee and the GOP will not support him. Is it too early to say, "Congrats on the win Mr. President"?

Oh, and "Promises, promises" Gringrich. A car in every garage, a chicken in every pot, $2 a gallon gasoline and no black welfare problem. He'll say whatever he thinks the gullible want to hear in order to stay in the race. He still doesn't stand a chance and his rhetoric is beginning to sound more than desperate. TO THE MOON, Gingrich!

Ah....it's a good day.

Plunk your magic twanger Froggie!

Obama/Biden 2012

Dont_carry_it_all

Bill --

What if all hospitals, healthcare facilities, doctor's offices, insurance companies etc. decided to partner with a religion and each came out with a specific set of healthcare objections based on their affiliated religion's beliefs?

I ask this to open up this discussion to the broader questions that come to mind.

That's an excellent point. The religious thought control police haven't thought it all through, as usual.

Americans have a Constitutional right not to be told what to do by any religion.

Religious nutters: if you want your holy man to tell you what to do about your body and your healthcare, you'd love it in Saudi Arabia.

MEMO: All righties the President Obama just handed you all your contraceptions.

Now, like my girl friend Feisty said will the priest and bishops use them. After all they do dress in drag so why not??

Women will still get guaranteed access to birth control without co-pays or premiums no matter where they work, a provision of Obama's health care law that he insisted must remain. But religious universities and hospitals that see contraception as an unconscionable violation of their faith can refuse to cover it, and insurance companies will then have to step in to do so.

Obama will speak about his decision at 12:15 p.m. EST.

The administration instead will demand that insurance companies will be the ones directly responsible for providing free contraception.

http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=AP&Date=20120210&ID=14781658

What a diff'rence 4 years makes
35, 064 little hours
Swiss banks and Bahamas
Where there used to be love

My campaign was new, dear
Now most states are all blue, dear
My prospects are through, dear
(Since I said I was in)

What a diff'rence 4 years makes
Independents desert me
Even Cons try to hurt me
The politics of flip-flop
That has to stop

(Vulture capitalists don’t owe America anything)
What a diff'rence 4 years made
And the difference is Mitt

(What a diff'rence four years makes)
(There's CPAC before me)
(Skies ahead are all stormy)
Since that Florida vote, that thrilling note

(It's heaven when you can avoid paying taxes)
What a diff'rence 4 years made
And the difference is Mitt

If the Catholic Church is intellectually honest about the Birth Control issue they would acknowledge that most of their parishioners are in favor of Birth Control and they lost that argument over 30 years ago.

The Catholic Church has done great things for the poor and downtrodden but this is a political issue and has absolutey nothing to do with Birth Control.

Just ask the Pope. He lives in a country where birth control is readily available, paid for by the Universal Health Plan in Italy and is probably used by a vast majority of women of child-bearing age.

It is clear that the Republicans do not want to talk about the economy. Not a winning strategy at the moment.

Sooooo... let's flip the script and talk about birth control, gay marriage, war against religion, etc.

Thinking individuals are not fooled.

Obama/Biden 2012

If the Catholic Church is intellectually honest...

...they would have closed their doors after it came to light that for decades thousands of American children were molested and raped by their so-called holy men, aided and abetted by their bishops.

That's a very big IF.

rev al is a racist

BREAKING NEWS: Mitt Romney's sons all get jobs waiting tables at the Olive Garden. Details to follow's in Mitt's CNUT speech.

BREAKING NEWS: The recent contraception issue was discovered to be one component of President Obama's new immigration policy. The objective is to get conservatives to self-deport themselves by driving them crazy with irrelevant social issues. The next phase was to pass a federal law legalizing gay marriage. The last phase was to make Fox News only available in Mexico. When asked the President says "he feels that last step is important to achieving the goal." When asked how he intends to keep them there the President replied "we are building a condom fence about 1,500 miles long to secure the border."

Yes 5 years sure does make a difference. Just look how crazy the republican/tea bag party has become. Just a bunch of loose nuts & bolts!

@1.1 - Dear, you are a hoot! You always amaze me with you narrow-minded comments. Whenever you are requested to make a logical conclusion to a discussion, you always use a one or two line childish comment. Thanks for the laughs and for continuing to prove why Progressives shouldn't be allowed to reproduce.

@1.2 - Why did you change your screen name from Disabled Navy to Backhouse?

My father never graduated from college. He apprenticed as a lath and plaster carpenter, and he was darn good at it. He learned how to put a handful of nails in his mouth and spit them out, point forward.

The essence of Romney's father's story = he because very successful despite all odds, just like President Obama, who grew up in a single parent household, is black, with a Muslim name and still became the President, and a darn good one.

So, by telling the story of his father, Romney is endorsing Obama.

Dude... you people need to stop arguing and just be glad we don't have George W. Bush in the white house taking a dump on the constitution.

By the way - Mitt Romney is not going to win in 2012. As GWB once said: "You can write that down!"

wanna bet 10,000 bucks on that? handoutstretched

The same Church who raped little boys

We get it that you hate Catholics, but the Church did not rape anybody. Pedophile criminals have, and the Church, unlike any other institution that comes to mind, is doing everything it can think of to ensure that it does not happen again.

With 1.2 billion adherents and a 2,000 year history, that's a tall order.

Meanwhile, you're not winning votes by attacking people for their religious beliefs.

Most of the pedophile priests were also gay, but it would be wrong, both factually and morally, to blame pedophilia on all homosexuals. Or all Americans.

Poor ol' twitchy Mittens is simply toast.

Thanks Beverly for the sane poll. I knew that the 98% study the Obama Administration was out of line.

Regardless - the Fed should not interfer with the beliefs of Churches - unless they are Murdering, stealing, or abusing Children.

I realize the Catholic church has a struggle with the pedophilia issue, but they have made strides to correct the situation. These situations are tricky for them, on the one hand they cannot tolerate such actions, and on the other if they don't forgive - they are hypocrits.

I realize the Catholic church has a struggle with the pedophilia issue,

Oh...is that what it is? A struggle for the Church? That systematically covered up thousands of criminal sexual acts against innocent children?

What about the struggles of the victims? What about the faith and innocence that was forever destroyed by perverted, pathetic old men?

but they have made strides to correct the situation. These situations are tricky for them, on the one hand they cannot tolerate such actions, and on the other if they don't forgive - they are hypocrits.

What strides have they made?

These situations are tricky for them???

Yeah... it's tricky all right for a man who supposedly represents God to justify raping and molesting our beautiful, innocent children.

It is an abomination! No politically correct or religiously tolerant b*llsh*t is going to change that reality.

Nice try, DB.

I don't forgive, and I am NOT a hypocrite.

What a difference four years makes? If you stuff his shirt any more he'll look like Newt.

I am not Catholic, but I can surely see that virtually anyone can come forward to make damaging complaint and accusation against clergy, years after the event has occurred and perhaps years beyond any sort of proof that the event did occur as reported. And I am sure that these accusations are not confined to Catholic clergy, but probably more newsworthy because of the stance of the Catholic Church on celibacy. In any event, the hard part in dealing with these accusations is verifying their truth and validity before totally destroying somebody's reputation and perhaps a lifetime of service to the church community. I am not saying that genuine incidents of abuse do not occur, but I am saying that when posters allude to thousand and thousands....it may well be an exaggeration of the true amount which is fueled by media attention and the fact that some folks will confess to anything for their 15 minutes of fame....The whole issue of sexual abuse is problematic in that so many instances have occurred far in the past and defy proof, but the damage and fall out is the same regardless of whether a crime is proven or not. It could be a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer-anyone in a potential position of authority and prestige...accusation is made and the damage is done regardless of any proof of the wrong doing.

Last week the government reported the unemployment rate had fallen to 8.3 percent. Huzzah! But one pesky data point the government also reported – but the MSM glossed over – was the labor force participation rate had fallen to 63.7%, which was an unprecedented drop from the 65.7% level the day Obama took office.

What this means is that during the Obama regime about 5 million Americans have fled the workforce in hopeless despair. More to the point, in the arcane world of employment statistics these folks aren't even counted in the headline unemployment number the MSM cheerleaders have been celebrating. If they were counted, the real unemployment rate would be closer to 11 percent

And that number is a more accurate measure of the suffering visited on America by Obama and his policies.

Dennis, more good news and so true. The GOP is losing their bad economy claims, is losing their class warfare battle, and suddenly realizes that the pubic has seen through all their obstruction, all their tactics so now they revert to their culture wars about guns, God and gays failing to recognize that only their most loyal supporters who are already in their pocket for votes will listen to them and cheer.

Bela loves to rant, rave, scream "socialist", but fails to post even one little itty-bitty socialist policy implemented by President Obama. The gerbils must be gnawing a sore spot in Bela's gut - the discomfort makes him/her scream "socialist".

HR4646 look it up

Bill, lots of people retired.

Dennis - Aren't you glad the Republicans in the House are keeping to their word about raising employment? You liberals have asked for so long, where are the jobs... well by virtue of your post this morning, you can see the Republicans are finally starting to roll on the jobs situation.

Bill - you are correct that the government throws out skewed numbers. But to bolster Dennis's point, if the government wants to show the unemployment numbers falling... it can only be attributable to the Republicans and their promise to lower unemployment.

RedDev - Obamacare is a socialist program. It was his hallmark in the first 2 years... and liberals love it... meaning they are pro-socialist too.

Bill, Fairfax VA

Last week the government reported the unemployment rate had fallen to 8.3 percent. Huzzah! But one pesky data point the government also reported – but the MSM glossed over – was the labor force participation rate had fallen to 63.7%, which was an unprecedented drop from the 65.7% level the day Obama took office.

What this means is that during the Obama regime about 5 million Americans have fled the workforce in hopeless despair.

Are you deliberately spreading this lie or are you just gullible? This claim has been debunked by none other than that liberal rag, the Walls Street Journal.

See this article (yeah, it's Media Matters, but it's quoting the WSJ)

http://mediamatters.org/research/201202030017?newsref=www.eschatonblog.com

Here's what happened: According to the Census Bureau, the civilian population grew by 1.5 million people in 2011. But the growth wasn't distributed evenly. Most of the growth came among people 55 and older and, to a lesser degree, by people 16-24 years old. Both groups are less likely to work than people in their mid-20s to early 50s. So the share of the population that's working is actually lower than previously believed.

So, got any more misinformation you care to share with us, Bill?

Houston,

Thanks – Bill like Brian cannot get the facts correct. Brian cannot name anything that the Teapublican controlled House has done to create jobs. While they passed several bills none have become law because they are so toxic that Harry would not even waste the Senate’s time because none of the 30 bills could even get enough votes for cloture.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act is NOT a socialist policy Anyne making that claim as either not read any of the Act, has no clue what socialism is, or both. It is a sorely needed regulation of health insurance industry. The individual mandate is both reasonable and necessary. Those with our health care get treatment and we all pay for it in higher costs for ourselves and our families. How the GOP, who claim to be for individual responsibility, do not see being insured as one of the highest examples of individual responsibility is another example of the paradoxical nature of American conservatives.

Houston - The numbers are jello. The way the data is represented by the White House and spread throughout the media complex, it appears as though they are saying that the unemployment in this country is falling. That's not quite the truth. They didn't mention that the workforce is also falling and the ratio has declined. The whole premise of last months numbers was to make the White House look like they are doing something about the unemployment figures when that couldn't be further from the truth.

Take a look at this and you will see what I am talking about:

http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS11300000

You can argue all you like about the reasons for the decline, but since the decline has happened, that bit of informatoin was not reported along with the unemployment numbers for the month. They chose to NOT give the real reason for the lower unemployment numbers... and that simply isn't truthful. It takes people who actually care about these things to look into it to dig up the truth... not some shill wanting to make the White House look like they are actually doing something when there not.

@ Bill My husband and myself both retired.

Our 401K'2 have slowly grew back from the 2008 hit.

Good news for lots of people.

Obama 2012

Yes Sandy!!!! That means the evil corporations on Wall Street are making significant profits without hiring!!!!!!! The left is so ignorant, they want it both ways. You truly are pathetic comedians.

Dennis - deny it all you like but you also can't give a real reason for Obama helping the unemployment numbers... especially in light of the declining work force. You support the lies of the White House. You support the claim that the president is doing something about the numbers... in otherwords you support this fake president in his presentation of a pack of lies to the public. Who's living in the dreamworld? Sure is ironic that the White House takes the numbers, presents them and the republicans made the claim the numbers would go down.

The republicans did present several jobs bills and Harry Reid has them on his table. What ever happened to the straight up or down vote on presented bills? Harry Reid doesn't wanna play anymore. At least until he feels he has the advantage...

bmerbob - When the government FORCES someone to buy a third party product or face fines imposed by the government - tell me how that is not socialistic. Tell me how that is not tyrannical. Don't even go to the car insurance thing because as a citizen I have a right to not own a car, therfore I don't have to buy that insurance. The insurance mandate requires me, by government fiat to own health insurance.

any more misinformation you care to share with us, Bill

When it comes to misinformation, you are one of the leaders of the pack. Thanks for reading.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2012/02/09/dont-be-fooled-the-obama-unemployment-rate-is-11/

It is amazing that Bill, Brian and Ben cannot look at the weekly jobs unemployment claims falling and at their lowest level in 4 years as being good news – which they must ignore and to more good news that hundreds of thousands of Americans found work and dispute what the actual unemployment rate is.

The unemployment trend is what should be important and for the last 5 months it has, on average, been good and above the number needed to keep up with the population growth.

Brianb, those of us who live in societies with Universal Healthcare can only snicker at what you call socialism. BTW, we are still fee to get rich and say what we want. Capitalism does just fine when tempered with Social Democracy. Think of it as a happy heterosexual marriage.

bmerbob, to let you know that I am fully aware of what a socialist is, here are some definitions that fit within this discussion:

Democratic Socialists are more interested in protecting ordinary people from unregulated capitalism through regulation and progressive taxation.

Social Security, Medicare, unemployment benefits -- all reflect socialistic values.

The widely accepted notions of public education and Pell Grants for college students are socialistic in origin. They fit well with the socialistic premise that government should provide basic security from the cradle to the grave to all of its citizens.

Dennis - you are dead wrong! I do look at falling unemployment as good news.

What's not good news is the way you liberals categorize it. You credit someone that isn't worthy of the credit because he did NOTHING to cause the lowering of unemployment. Your ideology causes you to stumble around searching for some reason to give the HNIC (head narcisist in charge) credit for it. THAT'S my contention.

Brianb, try thinking of heathcare and education as infrastructure as in bridges and interstate highways. Both make the country stronger.

Brian,

All Presidents always get the blame or credit for employment rates.

Always has been true, always will be true.

Dennis,

Not sure who mentioned it on their show last night; but you can see the vitriol pouring from every Republican orifice today on news that the economy may end up as right as rain and all their establishment fawning over Romney will be for naught,...

LMFAO at them. Way to back the nag in the final race, Repubbies. Most prescient of you.

and RedDev, I will NEVER get tired of seeing you type Fairfaux. Cracks me up EVERY time,...so don't go changing!

Bill, Fairfax VA

When it comes to misinformation, you are one of the leaders of the pack. Thanks for reading.

You don't deserve any thanks for repeating the lie that has already been debunked. The Forbes article you linked to claims:

In the latest, much celebrated, unemployment report, the labor force participation rate had plummeted to 63.7%, the most rapid decline in U.S. history. That means that under President Obama nearly 5 million Americans have fled the workforce in hopeless despair.

That's precisely the claim that has been debunked by the Wall Street Journal, which apparently Bill refuses to believe. Repeating the lie doesn't make it true. Bill suffers from Obama Derangement Syndrome and is in deep denial of the fact that the economy is improving, in large part because of Obama's policies.

But just wait, if the recovery falters again because of the European debt crisis blowing up, Israel attacking Iran, or the Congressional Republicans blocking Obama's payroll tax cut, you can bet that Bill will be the first to blame Obama for it.

Dennis - if all things were equal among presidents, I would strongly agree with you. But when numbers are skewed to make the president look good, I have a strong problem with that because it's not honest.

President Reagan argued that the raw unemployment numbers should be used. Members of his cabinet strongly objected and eventually changed Reagan's mind. They told him that the raw numbers were very hard to calculate because there was no government reporting of those people that fell off the unemployment roles. There were many variables and the brainpower was not available to assess the data in a timely manner. We are stuck with the unemployment role data, but it's no where near accurate to reflect the actual unemployment data.

We hinge ourselves on incorrect data and those numbers are jello. How many times in the past 5 years have revisions to those numbers been announced. If it's bad news, the revisions are released on Friday at 5PM. If the numbers reflect good news they release the data on Monday at 9AM.

The one main question I have is - how do we know what the truth is and what is a lie? Since I don't trust the Obama administration, I have serious doubts anything they say is the truth. I also had the same problem with the second term led by Bush.

There is no way on this earth that the mess that came out of Congress known as "Obamacare" AKA the The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act is socialist. There are a couple of provisions that might be interpreted as socialist (expansion of Medicaid, assistance for insurance premiums), but it still retained the basic system. If anything, it's a weak compromise that serves as little more than a gift to the insurance industry (individual mandate) in exchange for regulations that presumably qould require the industry to actually do what it is morally bound to do--help the people for whom its charging an arm and a leg.

Dennis, Columbus, Ohio

Brian,

All Presidents always get the blame or credit for employment rates.

Always has been true, always will be true.

The Republicans have invented new rules for Obama: He gets no credit when the economy improves, even when independent economists have said he deserves it, but he'll get the blame if there's an economic downturn, even if it's caused by something that happens overseas or something perpetrated by the Republican-controlled House.

Brian,

But the fact remains that the BLS has used the same way of gathering data for several decades. If nothing else it is consistant.

Reagan was often accused of skewing the numbers when in fact he like our President did not.

Since there is a Dem in the WH you don't trust the numbers but if there is a Republican Pres you do ... why?

BrianB

You can argue all you like about the reasons for the decline, but since the decline has happened, that bit of informatoin was not reported along with the unemployment numbers for the month.

I'm not arguing anything. I stated the facts. The percentage of the adult population in the work force declined because the percentage of retired people in the population increased. If you and Bill Fairfax don't have the math skills to understand that, it's not my problem.

Ideo - If you were to look at all things provided by the government as being equal, what you say about the infrastructure is logically correct. But, and you know I pretty much always have a but... There is a separation between physical objects built by the government (bridges, interstate, ect) and programs that directly relate to personal responsibility by the citizens. Physical infrastructure lasts for years and the cost factors associated with them is spread over a large span of time. Direct costs such as welfare, medicare, Social Security, low income assistance are constant and in fact growing. The costs associated with the ACA haven't even been correctly calculated because there is no physical department working for that program yet. If you know our government, they have a habitual habit of underestimating the costs associated with anything they get their hands involved in. They do this on purpose to sell their plans and programs to the public in order to promote their plans. If people would only begin to recognize this and understand that the government doesn't do anything efficiently they would demand accuracy.

So basically my argument with what you said is... physical enhancements that are perminent in nature have a lifespan that incorporates the cost of the project whereas social programs have a cost associated with them on an increasing curve upward every year.

Dennis - did you read my post? If you read it, you wouldn't say that I trust republicans any more than I do democrats. Stop painting me into a corner because you are remiss in reading what I say. Are you disingenuous, or just obtuse?

Houston - you have a problem. Your problem is the same as Dennis's. You don't read posts very well. You are arguing point whatever, and if you had read my post, you would have actually understood what my contention and argument was all about.

It's called courtesy. If you parse what I or any conservative says, then that's a form of dishonesty... something that is very prevalent by liberals. Now if you would like to go back to the discussion of points made by me that are reflective of points made by you... be my guest. If not, keep up the dishonesty.

Ideo - to clarify the word "argument," it doesn't mean actually arguing. Use it in the soft term - point/counter point. That was the frame of mind I was in while typing the word.

I didn't want to appear like we are arguing... because we are only sharing opinions.

I make the clarification not for you, because I believe you understand what I meant. This is to clarify for any lunkhead out there that sees the word as hostile.

Brianb-999431

If you parse what I or any conservative says, then that's a form of dishonesty... something that is very prevalent by liberals.

Parsing means looking for a subject, verb, and object in a sentence that expresses a complete thought. To you, that may be "dishonesty" but to most people, that's how you comprehend what other people are saying. Your thought, such as it is, is that you buy the lie that there is something sneaky about the unemployment numbers. The number of people not in the workforce has increased due primarily to the number of people who are no longer in it because they RETIRED, not because of discouraged workers who've given up looking for jobs has increased. Now, why ever would the number of retired people be increasing? Maybe some liberal fudge at the liberal biased Wall Street Journal just fudged the numbers. Or just maybe it has something to do with the BABY BOOM. Ever hear of that? It's something that happened in the 1940's through 1960's and has nothing to do with any liberal conspiracy.

Houston - You still don't get it. Whatever.

Brianb-999431

Houston - You still don't get it. Whatever.

There's nothing to "get" from you, except nonsense and lame attempts to avoid admitting the truth.

BTW: I see you're dodge answering Dennis question:

Since there is a Dem in the WH you don't trust the numbers but if there is a Republican Pres you do ... why?

Yes. WHY?

Here's why

That 243,000 jobs created last month.

When bush left office there were 132 million jobs. In January there were just over 130 Million. That is in the hole about 2 million jobs over 3 years - yet there were 243,000 jobs created in January?

December 2010 to January 2011 the loss of jobs was over 2.9 million. The loss of jobs from December 2011 to January 2012 was just about 2.7 million 243,000 less than the previous years. Yet the statistic was represented as 243,000 Jobs created. Very, very slick but FAIL.

IR, thanks for the article and your thoughts.

The trouble with Ron Paul is that while he may be harmless, his message resonates with those who are anything but harmless.

Exactly Jody. While Dr. Paul and some of the other candidates seem to think that hyperbole and vitriol are just funning and business as usual they seem to forget that there is a minority of our folks that take every statement that they make as deadly serious...............As usual a fine like frog hair split job on the wrapup.

Hmmm. A lot can be said about the premise of this article. Considering the source and Independent Redneck's ideology, it sounds an awful lot like fear mongering to me... when you consider that the left railed against the previous administration for doing the same thing with the threat of terrorism.

There has always been extremists in this country. Why the sudden growing concern? Maybe it should be considered that many citizens are completely dissatisfied with the way the government is (not) working. Militia groups have always been around - from little burroughs to country folk to even those in big cities. Now, because there happens to be an extremist in the White House that fits an ideological profile, do we hear about the one candidate that draws these types of people to his viewpoint.

Maybe a little irony is deserved.

For you Info it's not fear-mongering Brian just a gentle reminder that the nut jobs that are out there are still out there and don't need any encouragement. When I see an article that tells me when a Democratic or Independent Candidate is going to give some of these Nut Jobs more credence than they are due you can rest assured that I will bring it to your attention.

Indy - I guess the militia groups aren't a real concern to me because they have pretty much been benign. Nut jobs are in the news all the time... from some wacked out husband who offs his entire family, to the mob hits, to anyone that want's to rob a bank, a store or anyone that promotes evil. Our society is filled with these extremists. And, yes, anyone that takes an extremist step to harm someone, or damage property in my mind are nutjobs.

To monitor individuals for political views, or ideology, or even walking funny smacks of big brother watching over all our shoulders... when will it stop? Never, as long as it's encouraged. Do you drive? Do you know how many times in one day you are monitored via traffic cams? Everytime you walk into a convenience store, or even Home Depot, you are being monitored. How much more is required?

The extremists are trying to get in the White House. The current occupant is the one with reason, intelligence and thoughtfulness.

Jody,

BRAVO!

Can I add this little tidbit to the war on labor laws?

Bless their greedy little ♥'s!

New Hampshire’s GOP legislature has come up with all manner of absurd bills recently, including a proposal making public school curriculum optional, another to prevent police from protecting domestic abuse victims, and even a measure mandating that new laws be based on the Magna Carta. Some of the Granite State’s GOP lawmakers have even proposed doing away with the law that requires employers to give their workers time off for lunch, under the rationale that all employers will simply grant lunch breaks out of the goodness of their hearts:

“This is an unneeded law,” [Republican state Representative Kyle Jones] said. “If I was to deny one of my employees a break, I would be in a very bad position with the company’s human resources representative. If you consider that this is a very easy law to follow in that everyone already does it, then why do we need it? Our constituents have already proven that they have enough common sense to do this on their own.”

The bill’s sponsor, state representative J.R. Hoell, argued that companies failing to provide lunch breaks would be shamed over social media, thus rendering the law unnecessary. “If they are not letting people have lunch, they could put it out though the news media, though social media. I don’t think that abusive behavior would continue, the way communications are today,” he said.

Of course, not every employer can be counted to to follow even the easiest of requirements to look after workers’ health and rights. Back in 2005, Walmart was forced to pay $172 million for denying workers their lunch breaks. Pyramid Breweries Inc. settled a case in 2008 for $1.5 million. Just a few months ago, California ordered Embassy Suites to pay workers tens of thousands of dollars for forcing them to skip breaks.

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/02/08/421510/new-hampshire-gop-repeal-lunch/

Eric Schneiderman, head of the financial fraud task force investigating Wall Street, said unfortunately, we've moved from blaming Wall Street and banks to blaming fire fighters, police and teachers but "in our investigations, we cannot find any evidence that fire fighters, teachers and police blew up the economy."

*************

Doesn't matter Jody. The GOP have more than their share of mouthpiece hosts on Sunday morning programs to help the Republican Party with their message that the middle/working classes NEED TO DO MORE (David Gregory is one of them).

Evidently losing their jobs, their homes and sending their kids/fathers/mothers to Iraq and Afghanistan isn't enough of a price to pay.

Great work Jody.

Another stellar wrap-up, Jody. I hope the Chitspa Award becomes a regular feature.

Sorry that it was such a busy week that you couldn't note Rick Santorum's dire warning that the Obama administration is like the French Revolution and we will soon be headed for the guillotine!

The sad thing is Republican right wing followers believe this stuff. Education please.

Jody:

Thank you, thank you, thank you. We've been busy moving the last week or so, and it was great to know that I could tune in Friday for a wrap-up. This one was great. Wow, there's a surprise.

However, I can't seem to raise your wrap for last week. How do I get it?

Jody,

My facebook has been blowing up the last month with comments. I even had my sister de-friend me over it. Guess she cant handle opposing views.

Thanks for taking the time and effort to wrap it up

Jody, Iowa

Thanks for another absolutely, fantastic, rundown on the way it is!!!

According to Gallup, Congress's approval rating dropped to 10%. Actually, it's a surprise that it's that high!

So am I. I think those numbers are just simply wonderful. It proves just low the Republicans have gone. Republicans can go even lower.

Never mind all Boehner's broken promises or that after the Citizens United decision, he said "let the American people decide how much money is too much."

Look at President Obama laughing while Boehnor is crying

http://images1.dailykos.com/i/user/191280/boehnerwhiningaboutobama.jpg

We could superimpose Noot on that image since he too was whinning about the effect of Negative ads. Like I said before It's sooooooooooooo sweeeeeeet to see Newt turn sour on Citizens United.

Oh, and Jody with all this hilarity I'm almost certain you will have a nice weekend

Nobody but Obama/ Biden 2012

WOW!!!! The circle jerk continues. Aren't you guys getting a little sticky???? LOL.

Thanks Jody for another great wrap - I shake my head in disbelief at the the lies that spew forth from the GNOP and their obvious lack of respect for the POTUS...one thing that is obvious (except to them) they can't handle the truth...and soon (as I said in another post yesterday) the people of the US will wake up and realize that the GNOP only know how to do 3 things - Lie, protect the wealthy and decimate the less well off.

Jody,

I always looks forward to your weekly recap. GREAT!

Jody ... love your wrap-ups!

David, last week's should be in FR's archives.

Additions are always welcome because I can't keep up with these folks, change the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America"?

Good morning Jody! Terrific post!

Can we add that WSJ has officially debunked all those on the right claiming regulations are killing jobs in the oil and gas industries. In a front page article in this past Wednesday's edition, titled "Oil and Gas Boom Lifts U.S. Economy" by Russell Gold, Mr. Russell states, "U.S. oil production is rising for the first time in decades. Natural gas has become so plentiful that prices recently plunged to a 10-year low." This in-depth article worth reading.

Feisty, great catch!

Here is what else happened this week-

Proving, once again, that his words mean what they mean when he says what they mean, and not what others hearing those words think they mean, Obama begged big dollar donors to please, please, pretty please, start donating to his "outside, not affiliated with his campaign" Super PAC- the one started by two former aides who, coincidentally, formed said Super PAC the very next day after leaving their White House positions.

Why is this stunning? Well, here is what Candidate Obama said about such groups in 2007

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/02/08/obama_in_2007_you_cant_be_against_outside_groups_and_then_for_them.html

So, I guess when Obama says that you can't be against outside groups, and then for them, he excludes himself from that statement.

Kind of like how he excluded himself from public financing for his campaign, after saying that was the only way to go. Again, that was meant for his opponent- not himself.

Also this week- proving, once again, that he does not learn from stinging rebukes, Obama ignored a nine to nothing SCOTUS ruling precluding him from sticking his nose into religious business, declared that the First Amendment did not apply to him or his administration, and he would force Church runs schools and hospitals to provide contraceptives and abortifacients to its employees.

He really does not understand that the Constitution applies to him, too.

Proving, yet again, that he has an ego the size of Mount Everest, Obama declared, this week, that he DESERVED a second term. Those pesky voters should just give it to him, already. In fact, why bother with an election?

Proving, yet again, that being an ally of this country under this administration is about the most dangerous position you could hold, the Obama administration proclaimed for all to hear that, yes, probably Israel would launch an attack on Iran. So much for the element of surprise, right?

Proving, yet again, that the administration has no respect for the intelligence of the electorate, another 1.2 million people suddenly either had rich relatives kick the bucket, hit the lottery, or otherwise find a way to live without, actually, working- because they all just "poof" exited the workforce. The civilian workforce, by the way, is down to 1980 levels. No one in the media finds this odd. It might be interesting to kind of, you know, seek out those people, interview them, and figure out how they're managing to survive. Then again, it might hurt Obama, so, well, never mind.

Initial claims for unemployment were down- good. However, the revision from the prior week was an eye popping six thousand- up from the usual two or three. Kind of begs the question about next week's revision- which will not be mentioned here, or in any other media outlet.

Ah, well- smoke, mirrors, and spin. It's,the Obama way- and his loyal minions simply drop their objections to positions he takes because, well, he's their idol! And can do no wrong. To which I say. . .

Obama shelved in 2012.

betty, therre is a plan to raise money for your state since they cannot control spending it is called HR4646 check it out and thanks for the extra tax!

President SuperPac's Millionaires and Billionaires are good.

Republican superpacs millionaires and billionaires are evil.

It's as plain as day to the moonbats!

Damn it!

I forgot to lay down the nut job from NJ repellant!

Sorry Jody - I'll call Floyd for the backhoe! ;o)

PS: Thank God we weren't playing the drinking game of taking a shot everytime we read the word 'proven' of out the dingbat! lol

Didn't anybody hear the real news story of the day?

Obama is selling out on the health needs of women!

Rob,

Not a sellout - The White House will likely announce “an accommodation” for religious groups angered by its new rule requiring employers — including organizations with religious affiliations — to offer health insurance that fully covers birth control.

Not a sellout

Dennis,

Interesting compromise is considered a 'sell-out'...

With that kind of attitude is it any wonder Congressional approval is currently 10%?

Spin away all you want. Check out the Daily Kos where the progressives that stand on ideals disagreed. They know a sell out when they see one.

Jody:

Thanks, I found it. All this time, I thought that archives was what I was putting on my baked potato with arsour arcream. Who knew?

Dennis, this is in no way a sell out, but that's how it's being portrayed. As Nashville Fan said below, President Obama had a major announcement yesterday about mortgage settlements.

Is this news anywhere? No.

Again, this is not a sell out but the pundits will perceive it as one. They always do. Never do they hold the fruit cakes in this country accountable.

Never, other than a very few. And I mean a very very few.

Backhoe will be by in a minute Betty. As our Yahoo buddies seem to lose less and less of the narrative they are trying to create we've had to put on a third shift to handle all the Bullshirt and the new DDI Garden Center looks forward to doing a booming fertilizer business this spring. Looks like it's the only Jobs program we're going to get from the Yahoo's this year so we have to make hay while the sun shines...........Jody just remember " Imitation (no matter how poor) is the sincerest form of flattery"

Backhoe will be by in a minute Betty.

We can always count on you Floyd! ;o)

Jody just remember " Imitation (no matter how poor) is the sincerest form of flattery"

I can't figure out why the nut job from NJ always picks Jody's porch to crap on!

Wouldn't you think she would try to hide her mess after reading Jody's excellent weekly wraps?

Glutton for punishment I guess...

@Don't Carry -- That is production of proven and tapped reserves. It doesn't take more people to increase production in the oil & gas industry. There are no new hires as a result. The regulations are stifling job growth when it comes to new exploration, drilling, production laying of gathering lines to the main transmission lines and increasing our proven reserves. Any one with a third grade education would know that.

Meanwhile, Michigan GOPer Pete Hoekstra, who is running for Senator, ran a "Tokyo Rose" propaganda-style ad during Super Bowl and he calls himself a patriot!

Great as always Jody, and this is the one that cracked me up.

@Feisty -- When one lives in an outhouse and has a cesspool for a brain -- that's where you are supposed to crap. She shovels crap each week so another turd or two on the heap of garbage her computer is spewing "don't mean nutin honey" Time to go back in your hole. :-).

Now, now everyone. JoNo is just marching to a different drummer, one leading her to the Field of Defeat. I have begun to read her posts with tissues within reach ... sometimes they are in a box and sometimes they come on a roll.

Ben -- The WSJ has a little graph right beside the article titled: Jobs Gusher. The graph shows a 33% increase in oilfield employment over the last five years, with a spike in 2011. The article talks about 158K + jobs added in oil and gas as well. Read the article Ben.

Eric Schneiderman, head of the financial fraud task force investigating Wall Street, said unfortunately, we've moved from blaming Wall Street and banks to blaming fire fighters, police and teachers but "in our investigations, we cannot find any evidence that fire fighters, teachers and police blew up the economy." Well said.

Well said indeed. That goes for your weekly wrap up as well, Jody. Loved it!

It just floors me how the GOP blames poor and the working class for the economy and many of the problems our nation faces.

Jody, as always, great review. You are correct, there is so much going on, it is hard to include everything the clown show provides on a daily basis. As much as I keep up on happenings, I learned a few things from your post. Thank you.

Ben lotsanumbers:

Perhaps you have forgotten the gift of Cheney, or more likely you simply didn't know. To aid in the search for natural gas, fracking has been exempted from oversight via the Safe Drinking Water Act and other regulations. It's always about money for you cretins.

It's high time you and your other willfully ignorant brethren stopped slinging the BS about regulation. You can most assuredly live without cheap natural gas and you can live without depleting the extremely limited petroleum reserves in this country. You cannot live without clean air and water.

Frankly, I don't give a rotund rodent's rectum whether people like you asphyxiate on filthy air or poison yourselves with contaminated water. But I do care about others who are trying to live within the constraints of nature and holding to tenets of good stewardship.

When asked, Romney said Komen should not fund Planned Parenthood because it performs abortions and that Government should not fund it either thus throwing poor women under the bus. Republicans speak about a "War on Religion" while they wage a conservative "War on Women."

What a spin job Jody. Republicans want to harm poor people by throwing them under the bus?!? Can anyone say stretch?

Let's rephrase it a little - Democrats want to give poor people money so they can have abortions to reduce their population size. It's exactly the same as what you are saying but in reverse. Logically it's the same premise. Even though I will admit that my line is a stretch, you fully believe your line as complete truth.

Maybe what you should learn, is that there are many different viewpoints and you should preface your remarks with - "this is my opinion."

David -- Well said! The article also briefly touches on the problems associated with the drilling.

Though the energy boom looks like a road to prosperity, it may be a bumpy one. Drilling is disrupting communities in ways that are still unfolding, creating concerns about the costs to local governments for things like road damage. It is also raising fears about potential water contamination, air pollution and even earthquakes from the effects of drilling thousands of new deep wells.

In my week I discovered that taxes have been raised on the poor already in 2011. I just finished helping my son with his taxes.

First they ended the making work pay. That would be $400 for people who worked and made a minimum amount of money. So he didn't get the $400.

Well they have a new rule this year. It was the only loophole for the working poor. In the past if you worked for a company and made less than $600 that amount never got sent to the IRS. Now if you make $1 that amount get sent to the IRS.

Apparently they have no problem eliminating loop-holes for the working poor. But the billion dollar oil companies all the republicans voted for them to keep their special tax cuts.

Romney said it best when he uttered that cuts don't hurt the poor. (At least none of the poor lobbyist has complained to him.)

Raising taxes for the already rich is fought with their dying breath, raising taxes on the poor doesn't even get mentioned.

You have to make less than $9500 in a year to not pay taxes as a single person. Romney makes 5 almost 6 times that much in 1 day. Then Romney wants to raise taxes on the poor to give himself another tax cut. This is after the increases already on the working poor this last year.

Interesting that republicans think everyone should sacrifice and suffer except the rich.

In otherwords Americans First, you are blaming republicans for raising taxes on your son. Show me the bill, or act that has been offered up by republicans to raise taxes. I'd love to see it.

There are Democrats in charge... but yet you NEVER blame them for an increase in taxes... Why is that?

How come you never mention how much in bed Obama is with big oil, or wall street, or the banks? It's all republicans fault but yet your very own president is in bed with those who you blame republicans for being in bed with... How novel.

Once again, we seem to confuse rights with entitlement. Women have the right to choose, to choose abortion, to choose birth control, to choose to be celibate-whatever they would like to do with their bodies is their choice.....Roe Vs Wade put that into our legal vernacular.....A right does not mean that you are entitled to receive it. I have the right to bear arms, but the government is not buying me a gun or ammunition. I have the right to travel freely within the United States, but the government is not buying me a car, or gasoline, or bus fare. I have the right to study any academic area that I choose, but the government is not required to pay for it. If any person truly wants something, then they will find a way to make it happen because it is a priority in their lives. If preventing or ending pregnancy is a priority, then they will treat it accordingly. How else do you explain that often teh poorest among us seem to have better TV's, cell phones etc than those of us who work. They are exercising their right to make choices, and I shouldn't have to pay for those choices.

ideologyspoilstheview

Re: Peter Brimelow

What in the world is the Republican Party up to inviting Brimelow to CPAC.

They had an extra cone hat and white sheet in the back.

Ideology ... unfortunately that is part of the reason a lot of them will pull the "Bubba lever". And don't worry, no one blames you for Brimelow.

Class Warfare: Fox's Eric Bolling Denies Income Inequality In This Country

confronted with the fact that Americans share the protesters' concerns about rising income inequality in the United States, he chose to negate the claim, arguing that income inequality doesn't exist in this country

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201202080021

Fox's Bolling Hypes Flawed Heritage Study To Pit "The Takers" Against "The Makers"

February 09, 2012

http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201202090023

============================================

See that's how the idiotic crickets at FOX NOISE, opps, I meant FOX's Faux RELIGION channel causes them in unison to chirp LIE. They make sh!t up from their corporate sponsors . They can't think for themselves so they use the flawed Koch Bros funded Heritage Foundation to further their zeal

I'll bet that appearance will help the Republicans with their African-American and Latino outreach programs! Tone deaf much?

Ideology, great post. I could not believe CPAC had a White Supremacist on their first panel. What I find astonishing is that people like Rubio and Cain would want to associate with a party that so obviously uses them as tokens.

How about we outsource Brimelow to China?

Jody, Antarctica come to mind, it is very white.

Jody--thank you for all the great updates. I always find something that I missed. I also would like to see the Chitspa Award as a regular feature!

"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly

Steve Sailer argued on VDARE following Hurricane Katrina that the lower average IQ of African-Americans found in intelligence research correlates with "poorer native judgment than members of better-educated groups resulting in the need for stricter moral guidance from society." He said that looting after the 1995 Kobe earthquake was minimal because "when you get down to it, Japanese aren't blacks. Wikipedia

Uh, Mr. Sailer, sir? How about adding some decent public schools to better educate African-Americans, along with that stricter moral guidance?

Racist much?

Thanks for that info, ISTV. This is one of those times when I really have to grit my teeth to tolerate freedom of speech.

I better take a Prozac before going

Ames,

You're going to need something stronger then a Prozac? lol

Can't wait for the dirty details!

Amy ... beware of the flying red meat, I'm sure CPAC wouldn't let the gubmint inspectors check it out first.

Amy -

I think you should take a mouthful of nails and plenty of spit. And a can of aluminum paint. Oh, and don't forget the ear plugs for when Mitt breaks into "America The Beautiful" again!

Amy---you are going above and beyond the call of duty to attend the Romney event. Are you taking any glitter with you? Hair gel? Whatever you do, don't take let any dogs near Mitt's car.

Looking forward to your FR report, Amy. Good luck!

Amy don't take the sleeping pills before going. You know the ones from the ad.

Be Wary The Loyalty Oath!

(I've heard it's actually a Deal with the Devil!)

I don't see why you are complaining. Killing babies is awesome.

My favorite political figure, Maddox, presented a striking, forward-thinking political party, who's platform is astonishingly simple:

Against Abortion, yet, for killing babies!

Vote Regressive.

Awesome. An opinion piece. That proves everything.

To anyone reading this that may be swayed by it, the facts behind Obama's vote has been reported over and over.

There was already legislation in Illinois covering these occurences, and the legislation Obama voted against was a thinly-veiled effort to outlaw abortions.

Never let the facts stand in your way.

I hate to tell you righties this, but war is not pro-life.

Birth control keeps women from having to have abortions.

So the pro-life party is for war and keeping women from having birth control so there are more abortions. You must be proud to be republicans to create so much death under the guise of pro-life.

Hey moron I am not pro war. I am pro peace. I am pro life. But there are times when an abortion is neccessary. (Health of the mother, Incest or rape) But getting an abortion so you don't have to take responsibility for your actions , or because you don't want top inconvenience yourself, is just a cop out. THAT is murder. But so it bombing abortion clinics. You cannot fight evil in the streets or battle fields. Evil must be fought at home in the living room.

Life, All life, is sacred. It was created by God. I believe he is sadened by the light way we take his greatest gift to us. Those who choose to continue in this path will have to face, and answer to Him for it. Whether you believe in Him or not is irrelavent.

I don't see the first one of these right-wingers stepping up to demand an increase in government funding for daycare, adoption, aid to families with dependent children, food stamps for single parents, or welfare, yet they demand that abortion and birth control be taken away. Is it that they want more unplanned pregnancies and births, or do they just not realize that when people multiply, there are consequences? And simply put, it is it not the right-wing's position that government should not interfere in the lives of ordinary Americans? How can they reconcile that so obvious conflict when they want government to control a woman's reproductive rights? Isn't that a bit hypocritical?

How can conservative republicans claim to love America when they so obviously don't like average Americans?

Damage 123 - Partial Birth Abortions - this relates to this column how? And, I don't know anyone who is in favor of this practice except when it is to save the life of the mother. But, you go ahead and make up your lies and run on posts as if anyone is going to believe your nonsense. President Obama is no more in favor of this - except in extreme circumstances - than anyone else is. And, make no mistake, if a Republican's wife's life was in danger and the only way to save it was a partial birth abortion - they would be racing to the hospital to have it done. Okay, with possibly the exception of Gingrich who would just be lining up the next wife. My bad!

JoAnne---thanks for sharing that "warm" memory. Looking forward to the next inauguration!!

The Republicans love to wrap themselves up in the Constitution when it suits them (like over the birth control non-troversy) but are perfectly happy to ignore it to get a desired result--like get rid of judges they disagree with. A remarkable combination of hypocrisy and convenience.

JoAnne, well said. I wasn't in DC but the visual on that day was wonderfully warm.

Newt's latest Constitutional hooey is the same as "activist judges", it depends on which side of the decision one sits. I do know one thing, the last folks I'd want rewriting the Constitution is the current crop of republicans.

JoAnne,

Right you are about that cold January day. I had a BLAST and am still in contact with people I met that day! Fired UP...

PS. Don't forget Catholics get special Constitutional treatment; but not gays.

They don't use logic,...they use vitriol, hate and fear. I am already pissed at the President for modifying anything on this issue. I am so sick of him caving to the wingers. But, hey, that's just me. I am sick to death of people stabbing Religious Flags in my reproductive organs and declaring them for G-d!

In other words, Newt is delusional!

Yeah, that too.

I thought it was King of the Moon.

It was frustrating to see that big news received very little media attention. Guess, they were all too focused on fighting over contraceptives.

The fact that they got 49 out of 50 states' attorneys general to agree to the deal should be a headline in itself. Funny thing--the 50th state (Oklahoma) didn't sign on because it was "too hard" on the mortgage industry. Geesh.

Best part of the deal is that there will be current relief for some people plus the opportunity to continue investigations into abuses. You'd think this would rate more discussion on FR than endless stories on CPAC.

Thanks for sharing your insights Jody and Steeler Fan . . . hope you ladies have a great weekend!

Did anyone see the news item earlier today that South Carolina's state legislature passed another new law against Unions?

This right-wing bastion is fully in favor of allowing big business to run roughshod over the rights of the working citizen, to the point that they're passing laws to protect the BUSINESSES, and not the workers. I know that if you work for a state agency, or for a company that does business with the state, and you even mention the word "Union" you can be fired immediately. Why? Because South Carolina is a "right to work" state. Meaning, they can fire you without cause, for any reason, whether it be true or not, because the workers have the "right to work"

How's that for looking out for the common citizen?

Houston, well said. If Santorum is what the conservative party represents, we all need to run to the other side of that street as quickly as possible.

Houston & Jody ... we can all run but we can't hide. Santorum will have the National Bedroom Police peeking in our windows.

The total lack of respect toward the President of the United States is a disgrace. I cringe when I hear/read the vile that comes out of the GOP's mouths, knowing that anyone in the world with a computer and Internet can see/read about the vile. We all need to remember that the majority of people voted for and elected President Obama and will hopefully do it again this fall. The GOP is doing nothing but harming the USA with lies, hatred, and fear pouring out of their mouths. They are a spiteful and dangerous party, indeed.

I have to say that I said that Bush 2 was the least bright president elected in modern times.

I am appalled at the campaign of garbage that the GOP spews about the president of the United States but I guess I am prejudging against hatred.

You err on the side of ignorance. I cannot speak for others, but I will spoeak my mind. I don't hate Obama. I think he is a very intelligent man. He is a good talker. But he never had any REAL experience in economics before becoming president of the US. This is why the ecomomy is still broken. Reagan had it fixed in LESS then 2 years!!!. The only reason that unemployement went down is because more people are giving up searching for jobs. This will lower unemployement. So it is a false positive that he is trying to take credit for.

I am making 32 thousand dollars less per year than I was 3 years ago. I am fighting to keep food on the table. An experienced person knows that most jobs come from the private sector.
If the jobs start coming mostly from the Public sector than you have a government that is hinging on socialism!!!

Ifly, you had better check your facts. Reagan did nothing to improve the economy until near the end of his fourth year in office, and only because he threatened Congress with an Executive Order shutdown.

You obviously don't remember Iran-Contra, PATCO, or the tax-cuts for the wealthy that caused significant increases in interest rates, which led to the meltdown of the economy under George I.

It wasn't until Clinton came into office, inheriting the largest deficits in modern times, that anything was done to actually improve the economy, and when he left office, we had the largest budget surplus in history. Which was all undone by the tax cuts for the rich, two wars we didn't need to be in (over nonexistent WMD, no less) and a series of corporate deregulation laws being passed. When George II left office, we once again had the highest deficits in history.

Houston, don't overlook the Natalie Mains incident. Remember when "criticizing the President" was labeled un-American, unpatriotic, and treasonous? If Democrats had said anything about George II like the GOP are now saying about Mr. Obama, there would have been screaming from the rooftops and Congressional investigations into anti-American activities. Oh wait, there were. All leveled against people who dared to criticize or disagree with George II.

I remember having the rear window broken out of my car, and finding the brick on my back seat, because I had a Kerry sticker on the window. It was right next to the sticker with the Thomas Jefferson quote: "Dissent is the highest form of Patriotism" I can assure you, it wasn't a Democrat who broke out my car window.

You are correct when you observe that the GOP is "spewing campaign hatred."

And just for the record, I am sick and tired of the right-wing and their ignorant supporters throwing the word "socialism" around as if it were a bad thing.

For you people who don't know how to use a dictionary, and who only respond from the gut, without engaging your brain, here is the definition of Socialism:

1. An economic theory or system in which the means of production, distribution, and exchange are owned by the community collectively. It is characterized by production for use rather than profit, and by equality of individual wealth rather than an unequal distribution of wealth with a small percentage of individuals controlling almost all of the money supply. 2. Any of various social or political theories or movements in which the common welfare is to be achieved through the establishment of a economic system where the economic security and benefit of fellow citizens is placed ahead of the accumulation of individual wealth.

You try to tell me that compassion for my fellow citizens is a bad thing, and I will tell you that you don't have the right to decide for me what is right or wrong.

That said, why are they unable to admit that he loves his country as much as any of them and he wants what is best for all Americans?

Could the GOP hatred toward President Obama be because he's Democrat, black, intelligent, knows how to listen, is slowly getting the USA out of the Bush tank, the world having "President Envy?," not to mention that President Obama is a good family man, has integrity, and can even sing well? These are but a few reasons the GOP hates and attacks our President.

I agree, K2mn. It speaks volumes about them for sure.

Ya gotta remember that if it is a GNOP president and you disagree - then you must hate America ....if it is Democrat in the White House then only the GNOP can love America...

USHonor, nice post. It's hard to listen to those like Santorum preach "moral superiority" while being anything but moral.

and churches debt in the first place

To be clear, contraception does NOT add to any churches debt. Yet another spin, or more aptly named bold-faced lie spewing from the conservative talking point machine.

It's not the cost of the taxpayers, its private insurance for which we pay premiums or partial premiums as part of employer health care plans. That rule had nothing to do with taxpayer money beyond the fact that those institutions accept taxpayer funds to run their business--that rule said those employer plans with Rx included must not charge a co-pay for contraceptives.

Ok that clears it up. Obama says you can't be charged for contraceptives. Who do you suppose actually gets stuck with that bill??? Hmmmm that is perplexing. I need to think about who is paying for that cost.......

I'm still feverishly trying to figure this one out. If I wanted birth control how in the world would it ever be paid for. (I'm squinting hard and slapping my forehead) Let's see I could pay for it myself. No NO NO get that idea out of my head. There must be a different way.....

UAW

I feel compelled to inform you that contraceptives are used for people who are sexually active,...

You probably don't need to worry about where to find them or how to fund them,...

bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Sorry, I couldn't resist. I tried; but it was too funny to pass up.

I feel compelled to inform you that contraceptives are used for people who are sexually active,...

Well said Clara.

(I'm squinting hard and slapping my forehead)

The poor baby thinks this is being "sexually active". Wonder if the slaps to the forehead followed a hard squint are a daily activity.

Slaps to the forehead do not require contraceptives, and insurance shouldn't be used to help you recover from the brain damage.

Clara, That is a good point. Shouldnt the government be responsible for providing everyone regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation a a sex partner as well as "free contraceptives"? I'm starting a new PAC. "Short Fat Bald Guys for Obama".... :P

PPG is the lefter of the two prominent newspapers in our fair city, but, nevertheless, it is true.

How do you guys find out all this stuff? Didn't hear a thing. Maybe cause it wasn't there and someone manufactured it or put their slant on it. Why is it necessary to deviate from the truth plain and simple? Amazing what happens when you play real complete tapes and indicate what the context is. You don't need to go back to some era where noone can remember or find what in the world you are talking about. Then you get mad when others don't go there to. A winner runs his own race and wins. A loser focuses on the winner and tries to tear him down and worries about him constantly. Maybe the GOP should try Obamas rules instead of Alinskys or Ruperts. However, they have to figure out what they are don't they. Quite frankly I am waiting for him to start acting like a Chicago politician but it seems he has never had to because of lack of competion I guess. However a Chicago politician acts.

No, I didn't mention Ron Paul, So shoot me, Why would I?

Makes you wonder. Romney has won 2 (NH, FL), and Missouri, one of the 3 states the other night was a beauty pageant and will hold another next month--the GOP messed up big time by not changing the state law that said the primary must be in Feb and they weren't ready. Cost MO $7 million for a contest that didn't really count.

are Breitbart and Tucker a couple now?

I shall refer to them as TuckBart,...in the tradition of other great couples throughout the ages...brangelina...brennifer...

As a young man I went to a protest in DC where it was rumored Mr Ayers was going to be "present" I went back to Ct. and joined the military. Didnt like those people much!

I live in Illinois and Mr.Ayers has never had an effect over anything that I have heard of. You can tell when the GOP run out of stuff to make up they go back and regurgitate what they tried to get to work before. I would consider it a problem if everytime he gave a speech he brought his name up or talked about someone named Saul Alinsky. Who incidentally noone has heard of either except for one Newt Gingrich who seems to love him because he talks about him all the time and even follows his rules. And Obama has the problem? I think it would be nice if the GOP tried to get their act together before they continued to badmouth Obama. Does Alinksky have brainwashing methods too because they seem to be employed constantly. Funny just 4 years ago I was for Mitt Romney til he dropped out and thenue to what was left I checked Obama out. And liked what I found when I checked him out. He hasn't disappointed me yet but much of the GOP has. I had no clue they were like they are. Seriously.