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Subscribe to RSSShades of Schiavo?... Is the return of the culture war bad news for the GOP?... As GM goes, so goes the Obama presidency… Romney and allies have a 3-to-1 spending advantage over Santorum and allies in Michigan (and 8-to-1 nationally)… Pro-Santorum Super PAC goes on the air… Team Obama releases its January fundraising numbers: $29.1 million… White House gets criticized for full day of fundraising… And “Meet the Press” to interview Paul Ryan and Chris Van Hollen.
*** Shades of Schiavo? When the Terri Schiavo controversy first turned into a full-blown national story -- in March 2005 -- no one was sure of its political implications. Even some Democrats feared it was a loser for them. But after congressional Republicans and the Bush White House acted to keep the Schiavo alive, despite being in a vegetative state and despite her husband's wishes that her feeding tube be removed, their move backfired. The American public thought they went too far, and it marked the beginning of the end of GOP control over Congress and the White House. Flash forward almost seven years later, and is history repeating itself? Just like with the Schiavo case, we're unclear how the debate over contraception, women's health, and religious liberty will play out. But after the Obama White House initially bungled its contraception rollout and especially after it released its accommodation compromise, there are warning signs this week that the GOP has taken that issue -- and other social ones -- too far.
Science & Society Picture Librar / Getty Images Contributor
Montage of various types of contraceptive pills and their packaging.
*** Yesterday’s House hearing, Foster Friess, and the Virginia House: At a congressional hearing yesterday -- entitled "Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?" -- a Democrat walked out in protest over no women being included in a morning panel. Another, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., asked, “Where are the women?” Then Foster Friess, perhaps Rick Santorum’s most important financial backer, told NBC’s Andrea Mitchell yesterday: “This contraceptive thing, my gosh, it's so inexpensive. Back in my days, they used Bayer aspirin for contraceptives. The gals put it between their knees, and it wasn't that costly.” (Santorum distanced himself from the remark, which seemed to imply that women should put an aspirin between their legs so they don’t open them. And Friess has since apologized.) And also this week, the Virginia House passed bills 1) declaring personhood at conception, which would outlaw abortion in the state; and 2) requiring women to have a “transvaginal ultrasound” before getting an abortion.
*** Where’s the focus on the economy? Remember, this is Virginia -- a presidential battleground state that President Obama carried by nearly seven percentage points in ’08; a state with a key Senate contest in 2012; and a state whose GOP governor, Bob McDonnell, is a potential VP pick. How will these bills play in Virginia come November? Well, McDonnell has said he’ll sign the ultrasound legislation if he comes to his desk, but he hasn’t taken a position on the personhood bill. Democrats, meanwhile, are already seizing on both pieces of legislation. First Read has spoken with several GOP strategists, and their conclusion is pretty much the same: Republicans should be talking about the economy, not social issues. Meanwhile, per the Washington Post’s Greg Sargent, Dems Stanley Greenberg and James Carville have issued a polling memo that says, “[V]oters may wonder why the Republicans are consumed with pushing back health coverage for women rather than continuing to focus on the economy, spending and debt. We may yet look back on this debate and wonder whether this was a Terry [sic] Schiavo moment.”
The controversy over the White House contraception mandate continued Thursday on Capitol Hill, with a major donor to Rick Santorum's campaign adding more fuel to the fire. NBC's David Gregory reports.
*** As GM goes… : In 2009, we made this prediction: As GM goes, so goes the Obama presidency. And right now, it appears the Obama administration’s gamble with the bailout has paid off. Here are some of the headlines from yesterday’s news: Boston Globe: “GM rebounds with record $7.6b profit”; Detroit Free Press: “GM stock surges on record $7.6-billion profit for 2011”; the Detroit News: “GM employees to reap profit benefits.”
*** Here’s the latest look at the ad-spending race: In Michigan, Romney and his allies have a 3-to-1 advantage over Santorum and his allies. It’s Restore Our Future $1.9 million, Romney campaign $1.2 million, Red White and Blue Fund $655,000, and Santorum campaign $480,000. In addition, the pro-Romney Restore Our Future Super PAC placed an additional $2 million broadcast buy in AZ, OH, GA, OK, MS, TN and AL. That brings its ad spending to a grand total of $20.8 million -- the biggest spender in the GOP race. It’s followed by the Romney campaign at $13.4 million, Paul at $6.1 million, the pro-Gingrich Super PAC Winning Our Future at $5.1 million, Gingrich at $2.7 million, Red White and Blue Fund at $2.1 million, and the Santorum campaign at $2.1 million.
*** Pro-Santorum Super PAC on the air in Michigan: By the way, the Red, White, and Blue Fund has released its new TV ad in Michigan. Per NBC’s Andrew Rafferty, it’s a fairly positive ad – calling Santorum “father, husband, a champion for life, the leader with a bold plan to restore America’s greatness.”
*** Team Obama releases its January numbers: Via President Obama's twitter account, the Obama campaign announced that it raised $29.1 million for the month of January -- between the re-election campaign, the DNC, and its other accounts. (To put that haul into perspective, Team Obama and the DNC raised a combined $68 million in the months of October, November, and December.) The campaign says 98% of the donations were less than $250. We have now entered the stage in the presidential contest where the campaigns have to report monthly to the Federal Election Commission -- by the 20th of each month. (So for the January numbers, the deadline is Feb. 20.) We have yet to receive numbers from the GOP campaigns.
*** Fundraiser-in-chief: With his four fundraising events in California yesterday -- but no official business event -- the White House has begun to receive criticism that it is using Air Force One and other White House infrastructure for campaign purposes. The White House’s response, per NBC’s Shawna Thomas: It abides by all rules -- just like Bush 43 and Clinton did -- that govern how campaign costs are picked up by the campaign. NBC’s Ali Weinberg and Kristen Welker note that an Obama campaign official, its California field director, made this comment at one of Obama’s fundraising events last night: "There are people who say California's in the bag, and we're just an ATM. And you know what, they're kind of right," said Mary Jane Stevenson, the California field director for Obama for America, the president's campaign branch. "California's in the bag for president, and we are a bit of an ATM.” But, she added, California's in-the-bag status allowed Obama volunteers in 2008 to focus on making phone calls in swing states so that supporters in those states could spend more time going door-to-door and interacting with key voters.
*** On the trail, per NBC’s Adam Perez: Santorum makes a stop in Shelby, MI then travels to Ohio, campaigning in Mason and Georgetown… Romney fundraises in Boise, ID… Paul hosts two events in Washington then makes hits Moscow, ID… And Gingrich stumps in Peachtree City, GA… Also this weekend, as Romney heads to Utah, the DNC is up with a video noting how the 2002 Olympic games that Romney oversaw got $1.3 billion from the federal government.
*** “Meet” on Sunday: NBC’s David Gregory interviews House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R) and Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen (D).
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Countdown to Election Day: 263 days
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WANTED. $1000 REWARD.
DO YOU KNOW THIS VOTER?
The Minnesota A.C.L.U. is offering a thousand dollars to anyone who can prove genuine voter fraud. (True)
If you have bona fide proof of anyone casting a ballot (successfully) using someone else's name, you will be rewarded. (True)
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Even as they cut 700,000 public sector workers, Headstart, low-income folks & seniors under the pretext of budget cuts and shifted $Billions to corporations:
GOP governors are spending tons of taxpayer dollars putting new Voter ID laws in place across the country - because they lay awake night after night fretting themselves into a dreadful tizzy about *VOTER FRAUD*.
As a result, 5 million eligible Democratic voters will be disenfranchised just in time for the 2012 election.
Studies show that even XXtremely unpopular governors like Walker (R-WI) are more likely to be struck by lightning ~ than find an actual case of the elusive Voter Fraud.
Note: Republican organizers do not require photo I.D. at GOP caucuses (e.g. Iowa) because they feel that regular GOP folks just ain't the cheating kind. Apparently, Republicans organizers believe the Demi-ier you look the cheat-ier you are.
Harry Reid is a lifer!!!
This is great news. When Sharron Angle won the primary to challenge this moron in 2010, I breathed a sigh of relief. I would much rather have a loser moron like him in charge of the Senate Dems than risk the very remote possibility that they might find a competent replacement.
BTW, since there wasn’t even one FR lefty liberal willing to express their outrage yesterday at Government Motors, an evil corporation with HUGE 2011 profits not paying a penny in taxes, I expect we won’t be seeing any more faux “outrage” from those same FR lefty liberals about GE and ExxonMobil being in the same situation as Government Motors. Yeah, right. LMAO!!!!
From Politico:
Reid looks to stick around
By: John Bresnahan and Manu Raju
February 16, 2012 11:41 PM EST
Eight months out from the November elections, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is showing signs that he will stick around as Democratic leader no matter what happens this fall.
Reid faces the prospect of presiding over the loss of a Democratic majority, from the 20-seat advantage he enjoyed just three years ago. Such a shellacking could be enough to knock any leader from his perch — or at least persuade a leader like Reid to step aside.
But conversations with more than 25 Democratic senators and Reid allies show that the majority leader is moving to strengthen his hold over the caucus — and Reid waved off questions about whether he’d give up a slot as the top Democrat in the Senate — even in the minority.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Reid told POLITICO when asked if he’d stay on as leader even if Democrats lose the majority. “I still have five years left in my term.”
He's b-a-a-a-a-c-k
Santorum Plays Reverend Wright Card While Doing Damage Control For Supporter's Contraception "Joke
http://www.buzzfeed.com/zekejmiller/santorum-plays-reverend-wright-card-while-doing-d
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As if his Sugar Daddy's aspirin joke wasn't ofensive enough.
Lighten Up, Heathens
You're on Your Own
For most of us, there was a point in the early years of our lives when that phrase instilled a sense of pride and joy. It was about the time we got our first "real" job and were finally in a position to pay our own rent and buy our own clothes. No more living on the generosity of mom and dad, we were finally on our own. And I daresay most of us liked that feeling.
But today, that phrase has been hijacked and larded with a ton of political baggage. The president and his left wing buds tell us they're against "you're on your own" economics because that approach produces unequal outcomes. In their worldview, it's just not fair that success in America is experienced largely by those who made the choice to be all they can be. Yup that's a problem, so diverse economic outcomes need to be normalized by spreading the wealth more evenly. Thus a benevolent government is obliged to assume a parental role and force its more successful citizen-children to redistribute their hard earned gains to their less accomplished brethren.
So these days, being on your own isn't quite what it used to be. The pride we once took in making our way through the world is being systematically replaced with a resentful class envy that breeds a sense of entitlement. In this world, everyone demands their fair share (and expects to get it) and the concept of being on your own has less and less appeal. The unavoidable result is an insidious dependency on government that permeates ever increasing portions of our society -- a dependency that erodes the motivation to succeed and inevitably puts us on a path to national mediocrity.
Most of us stopped depending on parental handouts a long time ago. But Obama and his leftist partners have nurtured a culture where dependency has morphed into an honorable virtue while self-reliance has become an inhumane vice. If that's the America most voters want, then Obama will surely be reelected. But those folks should be careful what they wish for because our debt laden government can't even save itself, much less those seeking the benefits it promises to provide. So the supplicants among us are in for a rude awakening: they're already on their own, most just don't know it yet.
Long live an America that strives to be great -- an America where we're on our own.
Backhouse, great way to start Friday. A reward to prove voter fraud is icing on the cake. The GOPers sent Americans to fight two "unfunded" wars for the right to vote for Iraqis and Afghans yet in the United States, they seek to suppress voting. If the GOP can't win elections on their own merits, their own policies--they will cheat, lie and disinfranchise millions of voters in order to win.
Yeah, Bill, an America that throws its disabled, poor and children under the bus is a great country all right.
On several occasions, I've called out a number of posters who have no qualms about distorting the truth. We know JAS, who simply makes up quotes. There's nojo who cherry picks meaningless statistics to support her allegiance to dogma. There's Albany Joe and White Collar Auto who can even butcher positive news to fit their twisted narratives.
You can generally recognize a newcomer to First Read/First Thoughts. They will engage these dogmatics, but eventually they realize their efforts are wasted. The objects of their explanations are locked in ideology and are unable to process information that would lead them to question their hallowed right-wing doctrine. That's why we have the "ignore" feature. Why waste time reading hollow and thoroughly discredited talking points?
These dogmatics are what their right-wing handlers refer to as "useful idiots". Useful idiots don't know they are being manipulated, but they spread their dogma and reinforce the ignorance of the other useful idiots. They are impervious to facts, and reason, and they are incapable of critical thought.
Why should the right-wing be the sole beneficiary of these useful idiots? Why shouldn't rational, clear-thinking centrists, moderates, and even those who are left of center utilize "useful idiots" to advance our cause? We can, we should, and it's easy.
There is a fabulous irony in this. For the garden-variety U.I.'s, I simply use the ignore button. From time to time, I'll open one of their posts, but it's always the same. Dogma, dogma, dogma. However, I have never voted to collapse them. Others should read their nonsense. Clearly, though, they upset enough people that their posts are collapsed. So be it.
However, there is one poster who towers above the other U.I.'s. He should under no circumstance ever be collapsed. He is the distillation of every reason one should vote to destroy the right wing.
I give you Damage123. He paints a stunning self-portrait of world-class bigotry, and boundless ignorance. If lies were blue, if fourth-grade name-calling were red, and cowardice were white - this is your red, white, and blue right-winger.
He mocks veterans from the safety of his anonymity. His military experience comes via Xbox. He tells us he runs Obama-stickered cars off the road. He makes racist comments that he wouldn't dare say to anyone of color for fear of having the pimples knocked off his face. He is a productive citizen he tells us. Yet, a check of his posts clearly shows he pounds out nonsense virtually non-stop. He has been caught in lie after lie after lie.
Yes, my friends. I raise my glass to Damage123. May he never be collapsed. May we appreciate him in silence.
"Even if Congress were to enact this budget we would still be left with…unsustainable commitments in Medicare and Medicaid."
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said that in testimony yesterday before the Senate Finance Committee. Actually he said pretty much the same thing last year too, a fair warning that fell on deaf ears. But just to make sure my cuddly leftist friends understand the import of his words, let's take a quick stroll through some of the gory details of Obama's FY13 budget.
The president is proposing to raise taxes thusly: across the board on anyone or any business owners making more than $200K for individuals and $250K for couples; capital gains to 30% from 15% today; dividends to 30% from 15%; the estate tax to 45% from 35%; the Buffet rule tax on millionaires; and there's a vague idea of some new "global minimum tax" on U.S. corporations that do business abroad. So, even with all these hefty tax hikes – targeted at evil rich people and even more evil corporations – Geithner is telling us that the government's commitments to Medicare and Medicaid are still unsustainable. He could have thrown Social Security into the mix too, because that's the trifecta that's taking us down.
Just to put this in perspective, individuals and couples who make more than $200K and $250K respectively constitute 3% of all taxpayers – yet they already pay more in taxes than the other 97 percent. Of course in ObamaSpeak, we know these folks haven't been paying their "fair share" so we need to increase their contributions to 98% or 99 percent. Heck why stop there, let's give the rest of us a permanent federal income tax holiday and force these rich jokers to pick up the whole tab – I mean fair is fair, right?
But I digress. To get back to the point, in his budget Obama slashes defense spending (because he really wants to) as well as domestic discretionary spending (because he was forced to) and raises taxes on bad people (because he really wants to do that too). Even with all that, the fiscal hole we're in is so deep – a hole driven by unsustainable entitlement spending -- we still can't climb out of it. So, what to do?
How about showing some real leadership by taking the entitlement bull by the horns and proposing responsible reforms to stop the bleeding? Nice thought, but real leadership isn't Obama's style. He'd rather pander to his base and demonize the opposition – it's a heck of a lot easier than actually governing. So the last best hope of mankind is following in the footsteps of all the politicians who came before him by just kicking our fiscal time bomb down the road yet again.
Hope and change my a$$, this man is just another political hack.
MSNBC Censors conservative voice.
It appears the intellectual thought level at MSNBC is in line with the moonbats race baiters like Feisty, Bev, and Pat. Pat Buchanan who worked for the Nixon and Reagan administrations, author of multiple best sellers, loyal husband and father has been fired from MSNBC.
Why? Because on a daily basis Buchanan would make fools of the left in his on camera commentary and debate with left wing nuts like Lawrence O’Donnell, Rachel Maddow, Mika Brezeznski, Mike Barnicle, and the dozens of other moonbats.
So, the sole conservative voice is now gone from MSNBC. Oh, but Buchanan is a RACIST like Juan Williams during the PSB censorship lefties will cry. As Michael Jackson once sang….”It really doesn’t matter if your black or white” as long as you sing the progressive tune other wise you need to be eliminated.
Always amazes me that you forget that Democrats voted to go to war as well. In the case of Iraq that was particularly disgusting that they were so supine before George W Bush.
Terry Schiavo another disgusting episode in the GOP's history. Bill Frist, who seems to have become human now he is no longer a politician, was particularly culpable.
Studies show that even XXtremely unpopular governors like Walker (R-WI) are more likely to be struck by lightning ~than find an actual case of the elusive Voter Fraud.
It’s NOT about voter, it about voter suppression. I have no problem with a picture ID. But why in say Texas the same ID that will get you on an airplane, will allow you to purchase liquor, will allow you to buy a gun, is NOT valid for voting? Why is it in states like Ohio and Wisconsin, Republican governors make it harder to register, close down registration offices and make it harder to vote early?? Why is it that in some states, even a valid, up to date US Passport is NOT an acceptable ID to vote?
The reality is we are NOT going to have thousands upon thousands if illegal immigrants, non-citizens, and ex-convicts lining up to vote. Real voter fraud is gong to happen electronically and that’s what we should be concerned about. So far NONE of these right wing Republican governors have done anything about electronic voter fraud.
A good example in the Supreme Court race in Wisconsin held last spring. It looked like a very close election. It looked like Governor Scott Walker’s buddy just might not win. At least it looked like an automatic recount was going to happen. But then – some election official who just happened to work for Scott Walker in the past, just happened to find 7500 votes for the guy supporting Walker on her personal computer, and that 7500 votes were just enough to stop an automatic recount. Was that voter fraud? We don’t know. But it sure doesn't pass the smell test. Yet Scott walker, the guy so very concerned about voter fraud, did NOTHING to investigate this incident.
Actually, they always gave Buchanan a pass. He was like the crazy uncle who showed up daily to rant and rave.
Long live an America that strives to be great -- an America where we're on our own.
______________________________________________
Sadly, the only place where that America exists is in the rear view mirror.
The lefty liberals have mostly been successful in getting a majority of Americans to become addicted to Dem big govt for their daily fix. Just look at the debate on contraception: Barry and the Dems are out there touting a "free lunch", i.e. not even a $1.00 copay, even for "millionaires and billionaires", and a majority of lard-assed, lazy, Americans are lining up for second and third helpings of that and other Dem "free lunches".
Bill, that really is a central point of debate, though often one talked around by overly-simple slogans that fit on bumperstickers.
How do we balance fairness with economic freedom? Total economic freedom also means freedom from government meddling, which promotes the most efficient economic growth possible. But people can and will abuse the freedom. They'll cheat, or even if they play by the scaled-back rules, they'll crush competitors until none are left, and then jack up their prices at will. Not all people; but some.
For most, the ability to compete on a level playing field makes the system fair enough. Winners win and losers lose. But there's the rub. It's hard to define a level playing field. To make the field more level, we've gotten into wealth distribution. Make no mistake about it. Progressive taxation is wealth distribution. Entitlement programs are wealth distribution. And the vast majority from both major parties are in favor of it. The only questions are ones of detail and scope: How should we do it, how much is enough, and how much is too much?
So the FR crew is telling us that the 2006/2008 elections were about Teri Schiavo? How out to lunch do you need to be to believe that? It is understood that it is the job of the likes of Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, Brooke Brower, and Carrie Dann, the authors of this piece, to deflect all responsibility of Obama's sordid record, to erase it like it never really happened, and they do it poorly. But to claim that the contraceptive debate is somehow now a positive for Obama and minions? That really is a joke. The "Obama Knows Best" line of reasoning works well with the nut case Libs that roam these pages, but it doesn't it middle America.
Rob in ma-3189632
MSNBC Censors conservative voice.
It appears the intellectual thought level at MSNBC is in line with the moonbats race baiters like Feisty, Bev, and Pat. Pat Buchanan who worked for the Nixon and Reagan administrations, author of multiple best sellers, loyal husband and father has been fired from MSNBC.
Really????
MSNBC should have kicked Pat Buchanan off long ago.Too little too late. No wonder you baggers put tea bags in your ears. The truth hurts.
Care to name one? And to save time, I'll just call you a liar now.
You are really losing control David, getting in way over your head. Perhaps you should seek help.
Whats up with all this INSIDER TRADING and selling of POLITICAL INFORMATION? If you or I or Martha Stewart (and many, many others) engage in these ILLEGAL activities we are arrested and sent to prison. How come our Public Servants have been doing this very thing for quite a while now and it's Legal for them? I think every single person (from the bottom to the top) in D.C. who has profited by insider trading should be arrested, fined heavily, stripped of all benefits, and sent to prison where they rightfully belong. This is a disgrace and another example of how out of touch our representatives are with the real world. "Let Them Eat Cake" indeed.....................
Where exactly cannot you not vote with a Government issued photo ID?
Actually, I think David was spot on. It sure put you on the defensive.
Is President Obama trampling on religious freedom? Wrong question, Issa. The correct question is; does the Republican Party wish to trample on the Founders vision of this country as being religiously neutral? I am constantly amazed, that when you let the Republicans be themselves, they very clearly show their agenda. They want to turn this country into whatever religious vision that they have...and blame the Founders for it. The Founders carefully crafted the Constitution to be a secular document. Indeed they clarified that by saying that there (paraphrasing) shall be no religious test to hold political office. They were writing the rules, if they had wanted Christianity, in particular, Catholicism to be the religion of the nation...they could have said that.
More appalling is how little the Republicans seem to know about the founding of this nation. According to Lynn Buzzard, Executive Director of the Christian Legal Society, only 5% of the population were church members in 1776. That's not many folks.
But the Founders forever made clear their intentions for this country, once in the Treaty of Tripoli, which was written during Washington's time, passed unanimously, and signed by John Adams. In it they state (paraphrasing) the United States is not a Christian country. It was reaffirmed by a remarkable document written by James Madison; Memorial Remonstrances Against Religious Assessments.
It is clear that the Republicans are trying their old trick, wedge issues, because they feel that they can't make any other argument to defeat this President.
But, to base it on a false image of the Founders intent ought to offend all right thinking Americans.
I am not Catholic, I do not intend to live by Catholic doctrine. Others can make a different choice.
But, to Issa and other Republican neanderthals. Do please join us in the current century. Re Read Griswold v Conn. And quit attacking women, and access to contraceptives.
JoAnnaSmith1
The "Obama Knows Best" line of reasoning works well with the nut case Libs that roam these pages, but it doesn't it middle America.
Take a closer look; Inspector Sniff1
http://www.kksblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/magnifying-glass.gif
Republicans are doing everything very badly including destroying this country and eating themselves.
On the tax debate I propose that we tax everybody else, except me, at 60% to cover the deficits. In a poll of this question, 98% supported the proposal of not taxing me as much as other people.
On a more serious note the Buffet rule is class warfare pure and simple. The facts do not support the narrative. I simple fix to the carried interest rule would do more for "fairness" that what the President, or Sherrod Brown, has proposed. It's showboating on their part.
The Republicans vote blockers leave so many questions open concerning their integrity. Let’s not fall asleep for the general election. We as a nation can’t afford to have another FL 2000. So, hopefully the Justice Department will be on their toes and keep an eye on the funny business going on with the GOP, in the general election.
where is the proof 5 million will be disenfranchised and what does tha mean exactly? They can't eat at McDonalds?
First off, Terry Schiavo's case started because her parents asked for someone to step in. They mistrusted their son-in-law and even suspected his intentions weren't honorable. Remember, the dude had someone waiting in the wings he wanted to marry. There was no living will, only what the husband said the wife wanted.
How soon we forget. As a democrat, I smelt a rat and asked my democratic congressman to get involved as well.
But that's the problem with these self-serving democrat women and liberal media: they have short memories, refer to the constitution only when it pertains to their agenda and basically distort the truth.
First off, this isn't about contraceptives. It's about the First Amendment. The first Amendment does not say "Separation of Church and State" but rather, the government shall not appoint a state religion or instill beliefs upon a religion.
To say contraception is health care is a joke. MOST OF IT WILL SERIOUSLY HARM YOU. I practiced healthy birth control with rhythm and putting some owness on my boyfriends. I tried to take the pill once but threw it away after I read the PI.
I work for a major bank and they don't cover it. Actually, they don't cover much of anything. Instead, I took my own health insurance (which had better coverage and cheaper).
No one puts a gun to people's head to tell them to work for a religiously affliated institution: it's a choice.
We shouldn't be challenging the Constitution over dems who probably get big money from pharmas.
Want to solve the contraception debate? PUT IN A PUBLIC OPTION.
Meanwhile, GO GOP! As a former democrat - who practices birth control - I'm changing my voter registration.
Yeah right. The only danger David threatens is the insomnia induced by attempting to read one of his philosophical posts.
I think he was stunned yesterday that some people think that the residents of neighborhood are responsible for it's appearance. The idea that they should pick up trash from their own yard seems foreign to him. No doubt however, if it was a truck with on bricks in a poor white neighborhood he would be the first with the redneck jokes, clinging to their guns and religion.
Is anyone else offended by the assumptions that if you are not a Republican you are on the "dole". The truth is the majority needing help come from conservative states. Bill, in his post above, infers those on left have lost the ability to raise kids who are independent productive contributors of society. It is a supposition that's insulting. How about the politicians that assume we are not moral and need a politician to tell us how to live our lives. Double insulting. And on and on it continues and I'm sick of it.
You have the statistics to back this up?
What I'm offended by is welfare that is spanning generations of families. Why are we paying for children to have babies, to have babies? Outside left and right rhetoric, how can we end this cycle?
Smiffy:
Hook, line, and sinker. I wrote that you simply made up quotes to support your twisted ideology. You wrote at 1.15:
This comes from First Thoughts, a mere three days ago. This is straight from your post at 1.4:
The quotation marks are, of course, yours. For any doubters, here's the link: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/14/10405460-first-thoughts-here-we-go-again
Smiff! You're busted. Show me proof that President Obama said that, and I'll apologize right here, right now. Otherwise.......well, we know there is no otherwise. You'll just keep right on lying.
David, I couldnt have written a post any better that actually describes yourself. I havent seen an idealogue who sticks to the same tired progressive tactics of personal destruction and embellishment of facts more than you. You must have been looking in the mirror as you wrote it.
Bill, very good posts that unfortunately will fall on deaf ears on this blog. This equality of outcome agenda irrespective of equality if merit, ambition, investment, talent, education etc is beyond laughable and is not what this country was built on. We used to put success on a pedestal and now our progressive buddies want to punish that success. What happened to self reliance and personal accountability? No its all about free goodies that can be given away by the government. Its all about which voters you can buy with wealth redistribution and entitlements. We ignore problems such as the education gap and refuse reform because we are beholden to the unions. We ignore senior citizen entitlement reform because we are beholden to the senior vote and refuse to acknowledge that these same seniors control over 80% of the wealth in this country in the aggregate. We refuse to acknowledge that we have an unfunded government union entitlement pension problem because they vote us in office. We announce mandates to make sure women get free lifestyle contraceptives from their employers becauase we need their votes.
What happened to real leadership in this country? Bush didnt have it and certainly Obama doesnt have it. Where on the political landscape do you see anyone of either party willing to stand up and face the economic issues of our times without political posturing and buying votes and standing up to constituents regardless of party and say enough is enough. No more feeding at the trough whether it be tax reform or spending reform. Obama's budget doesnt do it so who will?
As amused as I am by aarpmom's attempt to re write the First Amendment...Jefferson told us what it meant. Do read the Jefferson letter to the Danbury Baptists, which is where the phrase "Wall of Separation" first appears. I assume that you will agree that Jefferson is a Founder, and a pretty important one at that.
By the way, the religious nuts of Jefferson's day hated him. When he talked about forever standing up in the face of tyranny, he was talking about the religious. They knew it too.
Rick Scumtorum called Contraception "Murder"
Just like with the Schiavo case, we're unclear how the debate over contraception, women's health, and religious liberty will play out
Shouldn't they focus on the "real" issues of this country? Apparently they already know that they can't deny the fact that President Obama saved GM, killed Osama BL and improved the fiscal health of the country.
As usual, the GOP is focusing their priorities in the WRONG areas, and they are digging their own grave.
Why are we paying for children to have babies, to have babies? Outside left and right rhetoric, how can we end this cycle?
You are trying to find simplistic solutions to complex problems. Nobody is preventing you from running, if you know all the answers.
Bill -- Amongst all your garbage the biggest glaring error: Capital gains tax is set to go back to 20% not 30% for those making over $250K. Anyone else will be taxed at 15%.
The President is calling for an end to the "carried interest" loophole.
Religious Extremists Rick Santorum said rape victims should think of the babies conceived during their assault as gifts from God. This guy is beyond Weird.
First I'll break down the difference between liberals and conservatives as I see them...
Nothing doesn't equal something. Conservatives seem to believe that NOT being allowed to dictate citizen's private choices, that somehow infringes on their own private choices. If they can't dictate who can marry who, does that mean they're forced to marry someone? If they can't dictate who can do what with their bodies, does that mean they're forced to have an abortion?
No. If you're pushing against a wall and you stop, does that mean the wall is now pushing you???
You need to apply the "but for" test. But for the right's attempts to maintain the ban on gay marriage, would liberals be telling you who to marry? But for the attacks on women's bodies, would liberals be telling you what to do with yours?
No. There is no "but for" with conservatives. But for their morals??? Well their morals, all of our morals are PERSONAL and aren't to be used to legislate.
Than, I'll break down how our laws work...
We're a Constitutional Republic. That means that our rights are protected from the whims of the majority. It means that to enact any legislation that limits liberty, choice, or individual rights the government has to have a compelling state reason, and that the burden of proof for why that reason is compelling, is placed on those trying to limit freedoms.
It also means we have some very basic civil rights, that are almost impossible to limit. Speech, freedom from/to religion, the press, due process, and here are the two tricky ones that people forget about... Equal protection (14th Amendment) and privacy (9th and 4th Amendments).
Now put it all together...
These "morality" issues that conservatives are so bent on legislating, well those are also civil rights issues (see paragraph above), and neither Santorum or anyone on this vine, has the necessary argument needed to limit them, because nothing doesn't equal something (see top paragraph).
My David, why all the anger? Apparently you never heard of sarcasm. We certainly know you don't possess a grain of a sense of humor, so it's not any wonder why you just do not get it. Many pompous asses like yourself possess the same characteristics of lacking a sense of humor, so it's really not a surprise.
And you're still a liar David, because you said you had me and others you comment on on "Ignore". We know you can't handle reading others ideas that differ from yours David, that's why you use that little defense mechanism so your head doesn't explode.
And the name calling David, my. Isn't that a tad below your intellectual level. Oh wait, maybe not.
Obama 2012 - "Really, it's not my fault, give me another chance"
The reason the Catholics Bishops are so against contraception is because they don't need. You see, little boys can't get pregnant.
Somewhere along the line here we have people who are doing what D.C. has been doing. Instead of focusing on the issue at hand they are just pointing fingers at each others perceived flaws.
This article is about the contraceptive issue. The Obama administration overstepped their bounds and rectified it with the catholic church by making sure that those institutions had no involvement in the offering of contraception. The GOP has turned around and has taken this issue to places that is completely unconstitutional for one and without even one woman to have a voice in it. As an independent I can no longer in good conscious vote for a republican, yes I have voted for republicans as well as democrats, I vote for candidates.
I have to ask conservatives here, what possible good can come from this? They are achieving nothing but upsetting female voters. While you will still have some bible thumping women that will support them, you are going to be hard pressed to find moderate and independents that will. There is no way the federal courts will uphold these attempts to override the supreme court. If it were me, I would be asking them why they are focusing on womens health issues and not the economy where they could make a difference.
Ah, David: Your hurt poor JoAnna's feelings. It is so hard for her to be so constantly reminded that she is not in your league!
And I guess the President arguing for fairness in taxes is not morality. It's just good tax policy?
Look at my post above (1.21), backed by analysis and you can see he is not arguing from a position of logic.
@Alan, NJ
I completely agree with you. In the town I live in, there's a lady on welfare that has 11 kids, and another that just had her 6th kid. They need to put in a law where you can only get help for the first two, after that you're on your own, you can live with your responsibility. It makes it more sickening to think that all of those kids are going to be raised to live off our tax dollars, and they're going to reproduce.
I'm not against welfare, I'm against all the free loaders on it. There's a ton of savings there alone.
Charlie 1915998, you are terribly misinformed or an outright liar!
A good example in the Supreme Court race in Wisconsin held last spring. It looked like a very close election. It looked like Governor Scott Walker’s buddy just might not win. At least it looked like an automatic recount was going to happen. But then – some election official who just happened to work for Scott Walker in the past, just happened to find 7500 votes for the guy supporting Walker on her personal computer, and that 7500 votes were just enough to stop an automatic recount. Was that voter fraud? We don’t know. But it sure doesn't pass the smell test. Yet Scott walker, the guy so very concerned about voter fraud, did NOTHING to investigate this incident.
Beyond the fact that it was a close election, nothing you've posted above is accurate.
1. The votes that were not counted in the initial returns on election night were the result of improper filing by the precinct in tabulation of the returns, they used an improper format that was not discovered till the election results were certified a few days latter. There was never an effort to deliberately hide these votes. Once the error was discovered and corrected, the returns were consistent with results from that precinct in past elections.
2. THERE WAS A RECOUNT! The returns were scrutinized vote by vote, across the state, and it was confirmed that David Prosser won fair and square.
You obviously are not from Wisconsin or you would not have posted such rubbish. The true story is common knowledge to the people of this state. As for Walker, he is our governor and will be long after the pathetic effort to recall him fails miserably.
Alex, the problem with what the tea party governors is that they are not going after the free loaders, they are going after public servants. Welfare programs are state run programs not federal first of all. Addressing this issue is problematic for any politician, while you want to punish the woman who has eleven children and free loading, if you take the money away the ones that are really hurt are the children.
So what is the answer? Obviously banning contraceptives. How is that even slightly logical? By the way are they going to ban condoms too? Because by Santorums logic, contraceptives is just a license for kids to have sex. Condoms are FAR easier to come by than womens contraceptives and to get those women are educated. While you can go to any drug store and pick up as many condoms as you want. I am trying to find a way not to see this as a blatant attack on women but I can't find it.
Joe from Albany I am far too kind to call you an idiot nor do I actually believe that, I only suggested the word because right now you are acting like one. With as much you talk about the economy and the fact that yesterday you used the actual terminology "tax benefit" I am sure you understand exactly what that is. Yet, here you are trying to spin it to those who do not understand what it is to draw an illusion that GM made a 7 billion dollar profit and paid no taxes. (which is certainly untrue if you include payroll taxes)
I am sure you know that GM was on the verge of bankruptcy and suffered losses during those periods. I am sure you know that just like any individual investor a corporation can use the losses and ofset them against future gains for the next 20 years to recieve a tax benefit. There is nothing illegal about that and no harm done to anyone.
To simplify the logic for those who may not have taken many business classes and do not understand why this is done. If a company loses 1million dollars one year and makes 1million the next as a whole did they make a profit? How is it fair to tax them on the 1 million the second year when in the end they have only broke even. This would put hardship on companies starting out as they would be punished when they were doing well and ignored when the were ailing. The "tax benefit" is only there so that companies can net gains to losses. This is not an option only available to companies and there is no wrong in doing it. Joe it is highly irresponsible of you to try to present that information in the manner which you did.
Ah, sorry about your bad case of digression disease, Sir Fairfaux. Sadly, it is a condition not covered by any insurance company. Perhaps we can make an insurance exception, Catholic style, to have it covered just for you. That is what your ilk support, stylized coverage based upon your religious belief. Screw the rest of the populace.
As to your crying and whining about taxes, you are right, the rich pay in actual dollars more in taxes than the non-rich. In your Pee Wee Herman world, fairness works like this:
Government needs 3.00 in taxes to operate
Person 1 makes $10 a day; they owe, in fairness to all $1
Person 2 makes $1 a day; they owe, in fairness to all $1
Person 3 makes .50 cents a day, they owe, in fairness to all $1
Obviously, person 2 and 3 are screwed and have nothing to live on. But in the Fairfaux world, this is where we pull out the labels. They are government teat sucking liberals who don't understand the value of work, who are too lazy to get a real job, they expect handouts from everyone. Well, gee Fairfaux, person 2 and 3 are the teachers, firefighters, policemen, garbage collectors, bookkeepers (read middle class) that allowed person #1 the ability to earn $10.
Fairfaux, you are an insult to humanity and 99% of the population. You are an indentured servant to the 1%, will never rise above your rank, but will fearlessly protect your 1%. As you kiss the butts of your masters, we can only hope they leave you with a loaf of bread for your retirement. For we know they won't leave you a penny for all your allegiance.
alan, david doesn't sound like a red neck to me. i live in tx where they are king. i have never heard them say anything remotely like what he was saying. people in nj should just listen to what people have to say. i am oringinally from ny. if i were you i wouldn't advertise i was from jersey.
Yeah Alex ...you go, guy. If there's one thing ALL the righteous want to see it's American kids starving because they picked the wrong parents. dang freeloading 6 year olds!!
Dont_carry_it_all
That is just wrong. The most welfare checks go out to "blue" states. Liberals mis state facts all the time.
The biggest welfare states
This should be great news for the GOP. Since they believe voter fraud is rampant, they can get all of their minions to gather that proof and collect all of that money for their campaign, right?
The only problem is that voter fraud in any numbers beyond miniscule is a fraud perpetrated by the GOP. The more they push these vote suppression tactics based on the voter fraud myth, the more people will see this transparency and vote against the GOP in November. If the media keeps doing its job to expose this sham, these voter suppression efforts by the GOP could ironically help to be a great election cycle for the Democrats.
And to those against welfare for more than two kids. I agree it is irresponsible to have a large amount of children without the means to provide for them. The problem I see with cutting them off so to speak is that in the end you are hurting the children who had no say in the matter. I think this is the reason the government establishes these programs in the first place. The only way you could implement something like that is if you could somehow find a way to help those children and still disincentivise such behavior (I don't think you can just take the kids away either). I personally cannot think of a better alternative though I am sure there is one do you have any ideas?
@Backhouse,
I would point out that the ACLU offer only pertains to actual votes cast at a polling place and does not attempts that failed or fraud involving absentee ballots. Virtually attempts at voter fraud fail at the polling place. The old system of marking off a voter in a unique register has worked since the late 1600's. (Before that paper was too expensive to produce a new roll for every election.) Virtually all fraud takes place with absentee ballots. The most common fraud is when people cast absenmtee ballots "on behalf of" their spouses and adult children. There will never be anything done about absentee ballots because they tend to favor Republican candidates by a significant margin.
The GOP has spread an incredible amount of mis-information about voter fraud. Illegal immigrants don't vote --- that is a myth. Legal immigrants don't vote either. People don't vote multiple times in the same district/state --- that is a myth. There are indeed poblems with our voting proces, but mostly they stem from people who forget to cancel their registrations in old locations or when re-districting happens. Pew just published some research that said that about 1/4 of all voter registrations were in error in some way. They failed to mention, however, that it was virtually all of this is due to redistricting and that numerous people are being moved to districts as much as 50 miles away.
The major voter fraud that occurs outside of absentee ballots is in voter registration drives. In the 2008 election runup, 16 GOP-sanctioned groups were cited for enrolling new voters and then throwing away the apps for those checking for the Democratic primary. (This type of fraud onl works in states with closed primaries.) Six GOP politicos got fines and jail time for it. (There were no prosecuted instances of Democrats doing the same.)
So what about ACORN? ACORN was caught with a very technical violation only. They paid people to register new voters ($3 per completed app.) But they found that there were people who tried to collect more money by filling out false apps or having friends do so. ACORN was well aware of that problem and had been, for years, separating out apps with names like "Donald Duck" or incomplete apps and refusing to pay the person for them. They usually bundled up these apps and marked them "Probably bad" but turned them in anyway. What they were dinged for was separating these out in any way. The FEC determined that ACORN had broken the law by identifying any group or subgroup within their applications. This determination was to be solely the job of local election boards. The same law is the reason why some GOP voter registration groups were indicted. But clearly there was no attempt by ACORN to register Donald Duck to vote.
Alan,
The president has reasonings beyond that of his religion or morals as to why we should implement the Buffet Rule.
He might believe it to be the moral way to increase revenues, but in addition to that, he can make a case for it being the smartest way to increase revenues. Plus, "taxes" aren't a civil rights issue. Taxes are a necessity for our society to remain in existance. Sans morality, taxes and the ways we increase and levy them would still be an issue. Sans morality, gay marriage and abortion would not.
Fact: We need to increase revinues in order to balance the budget.
Now, I break it down into two options. We can tax the wealth, or we can tax the people. Now, Alex above me here, might be all about taxing the people. Making the poorest among us pay income taxes, although how you implement an income tax on someone who has virtually no income is beyond me, ergo how we will collect enough revinue by doing that is also beyond me.
Or we could follow the money. We've had what, ten years, of low tax rates on the richest among us, and corporate loopholes??? Look around you, we're at the threshold of economic hell. Obviously, that didn't work out too well. If we're gonna mine for gold, I don't think it makes too much sense to start by digging in our sandboxes.
Follow the money. If you reverse, logically, "you get what you pay for" it becomes, "you owe for what you get." God bless the super rich, they can keep a shload (that's my way of saying sh($ load in case you were wondering) of what they have. But for every single dime they made, they were assisted along in some way, by this country. Ergo, they owe for what they've received, specifically because they couldn't have received it without all of us.
You might be right, the conservative states just take the most federal welfare to get by. Er I guess I should say assistance.
Sarah points out, once again, the hypocrisy of what I call the fake conservatives.
I'm not one to shy away from extremists of the left. Spraying fur coats, and risking your life to pour acid on a Japanese whaling vessel are amazingly fringe behaviors. But the issue of contraception for the fringe of the left certainly points out their particular brand of nuts.
You can already hear people on the right screaming for this issue to be dropped. Because it is embarassing. Much as the left does when it is confronted with some humiliating behavior of its radical end.
Can't be about small government and want to regulate contraception. Sorry. Santorum, yes, I 'understand' him. Doesn't make him out of his mind. And if you like him JUST because he's a Republican, well, it is no surprise why you'd be lost.
Welcome to the modern era, where if you want a politician that matters, you actually have to turn on your brain and not just vote for one party. Santorum will and should be sunk more by this, and then voters will have to decide between Romney's brand of corporatism and win at all costs, vs. what Obama has provided since he's been elected. THAT would be a worthwhile election based on your beliefs and desires.
A Santorum election is an auto-win for the Democrats. Sorry to rain on anyone's parade if they think otherwise.
Ron Paul won't be the nominee. Republicans won't let him be.
so sarah, you think forcing folks to buy healthcare and forcing churches to pay for something they dont believe in is constitutional...???? really??? so is putting a gun in someones face and taking from them to "give" to others is constitutional....
dont talk out of both sides of your mouth...that is called "liberal vomit"
what about the "rights" of the unborn...is it right to cut them up into small pieces and suck out their brains and basically toss them in the trash...
I dont care how you slice and dice your argument on abortion or justify it in your mind...at the end of the day....at the end of the day....it is murder...PERIOD!
Actually, David Skywalker, you couldn't put me on ignore or be silent about me if I promised you a years free supply of depression medication. You're the epitome of a condescending, elitist, know-it-all liberal jerkoff. You LIVE for people like me. If it weren't for conservatives like me, you would have nothing to feel oppressed or depressed about. Know what's great? I used to think like you people. I was jealous of the rich. Hated those bastards. NOTHING was ever my fault. No personal responsibility at all. Then...I got a real job. Got married. Bought houses and cars. Had kids. This is why I realize that liberalism is basically a state of arrested development based on grievances and grudges from when you people were kids. Now, I don't mind waiting for you jackasses to grow up (if you ever do), but I really wish you wouldn't destroy the greatest nation on earth in the process.
It was proved that the Black Panthers intimidated votes during the last election and OH!mama's Eric Holder did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!! Talk about VOTER FRAUD!!!!!!!!!!!! NO SOUP FOR OH!MAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark, I hate to rain on your ignorance reigns supreme parade but Obamacare does not require individuals to buy it, just states to offer it.
Sarah is smokin' some more smut this morning. Typical liberal dribble. She touts there are ONLY two choices... lol. TAX......... OR TAX!!! No idea that cutting spending is even a ABSOLUTE necessity. I wonder how she budgets her OWN finances... lol. Maybe like a Kennedy... Spending her way into prosperity... YEAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO SOUP FOR YOU SARAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are a liar! He did not marrry his girlfriend because he was so commited to keeping his promise to Teri that he would in effect pull the pull if she were in a vegetative state. Both he and his girlfriend lived in relationship limbo because he wanted to keep his word.
There is nothing about freedom FROM religion in the constitution. That would violate my first amendment rights to freedom OF religion.
If you interpret the constitution literally concerning then congress would not be permitted to pass any law respecting an establishment of religion. As far as I know congress has NEVER even attempted to pass a law respecting an establishment of religion. Yet atheists have used those words to abrogate my constitutionally guaranteed right to openly and freely practice my religion. Why do you liberals insist on distorting the truth?
I have to laugh at all the people posting what this candidate said, or what that candidate says as if it makes any difference. Obama said he would cut the deficit in half in his first term and instead he more then doubled it. Gas prices are up over 100% since Obama took office, which means oil companies are making more under Obama then they did under Bush. People should spend more time concentrating on what candidates actually do, rather then what they say. Using that sort of litmus test, most if not all politicians would never be re-elected.
Or, we can go by the current system where by person 1 pays 2.50, Person 2 pays nothing, and Person 3 receives a tax credit for 0.50 cents. And the government borrows the other 40% to make up the difference.
But you agree, given the analysis, that logic is not one of them?
Now, I will accept that we have to raise taxes to balance the budget, but I do not accept that you can balance the budget by only raising taxes. The current spending of the government cannot be covered by taxing the wealthy at 100%. So, we move on to your second proposal where we also tax wealth. Now do you mean through the estate tax or an ongoing annual tax on accumulated wealth? Again, given the spending of the government how many years can you go to this well? The link sipplied estimates the total wealth of the US at around $55T.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wealth_in_the_United_States
Now the unfunded liabilities of the US Government (federal only I'm not counting the 32T in unfunded state government pensions) as 2006 according this article are
Medicare - 25T
SS - 21T
Interest on Debt - 9T
So, before we even get to veterans benefits, 3.6T, we've run out of wealth as well.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-06-06-us-debt-chart-medicare-social-security_n.htm
So, I assume you agree that it's impossible to balance the budget through taxes alone. Now before I agree to raise taxes to give revenue to an entity that cannot even produce a budget, I want to know where it will cut spending. Is that so unreasonable?
I wonder what conservatives are smoking right now, really? They are behind a man who thinks womens contraceptives is the most important issue this country is facing? Seriously? I am starting to think you all want Obama to win.
David & Sarah,
Two of the best postings I've seen this year. As usual, well thought out discussions based on reality rather than ideological fantasies.
David, I was about to post a very similar approach about dealing with the handful of hateful righties that persist in ignoring anything that doesn't feed into their one-dimensional and self-absorbed little belief boxes. I used to get a kick out of watching them get their heads handed to them by you, Sarah, Feisty and the others, but frankly, it has become boring. I think the best way to treat them is as you suggested; simply ignore them. Don't get into the little pissing contests that make them feel important. Don't even recognize that they have posted another of their ignorant fantasies. Keep to truthful facts and forget the losers and losers-to-be. The polls are beginning to indicate that the majority of Americans have also grown tired of listening to their bombastic ravings and we can only hope that the trend carries over into the house and senate contests. I believe that is where progressives need to concentrate, since, unless something catastrophic happens, Obama is in great shape, and people like our simple-minded 'winger friends on this blog are contributing to his re-election every day.
More and more people are asking themselves, "are these the kinds of people we want governing this country and representing us to the rest of the world", and their answer is increasingly a resounding "NO"! I'm convinced that very little of that answer is a result of what they hear from progressives. Most of it is from what they hear and see from the TP and friends on the right fringe. So let them rant and repeat what they're fed by the right-wing media, but let's not get sucked into giving them any unnecessary air time. Eventually, even they will realize they have become irrelevant, and, like every regressive group in the history of the country, the world will proceed without them.
Yes... this was the statement delivered on the Senate floor by Bill Frist, a physician, in the Terri Schiavo case:
Frist was criticized by a medical ethicist at Northwestern University for making a diagnosis without personally examining the patient and for questioning the diagnosis when he was not a neurologist.
After Schiavo's death, the autopsy showed signs of long-term and irreversible damage to a brain consistent with PVS. Frist defended his actions after the autopsy, but his credibility had been damaged irreversibly by his interference in the case.
And so it continues...those 'small government' proponents still can't keep their hands off the bodies of America's women.
But the joke is on them, because THEY CAN'T TAKE AWAY OUR BRAINS, OR OUR RIGHT TO VOTE.
Thanks ever so much for your thoughtful contribution to the discussion. You can pick up your prize on the way out.
Sarah, if Buffett can't follow his own rule then why tell others they should? He is a hypocrite who still owes the IRS over a $billion in backtaxes but still says he wants to be taxed more. He can always write a check anytime he's ready to and live up to the "Buffett Rule."
Rick -- Here is where I found that info:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/04/the_red_state_ripoff.html
The wealthy aren't people? Hmm. I guess that's one way to objectify the wealthy. Maybe the wealthy are just chattel?
Tell us Sarah, what did you think of the plan produced by President Obama's Debt Commission? By the looks of things, you seem to have the same feelings towards it as the President, the President that ignored it.
Currently the wealthy pay the strong majority of the taxes. How much more would you have them pay to balance the budget?
Really? How so? And how did you assist the wealthy on their quest for wealth? Did you come up with the idea for a business for them? Did you lend them the capital to start the business? Did you build the business from scratch when there were few customers but lots of bills? Did you work 120 hours week with little or no pay just to keep the new business going? Did you hire the people to work for the business? Did you fire the workers when the business slumped? Did you have a business fail as most do and be so brave to start another business? Did you put your family and friends second and your business first in your priorities? Did you have a business fail and lose all your money, as most do, and then be so brave to start another business?
Every single dime. Sure.
So basically we're just screwed? Pun intended.
There should be no benefits after a certain number, my choice would be 3, and same goes for tax deductions. Why am I paying for someone else to have 4, 5 or 6 kids? The maximum tax deduction should be 3 children.
On welfare, I am for drug testing. If this is their source of income how can you justify that they can use welfare money to buy drugs? Cigarettes and alcohol are different. I don't think it's right but they are legal.
Ahhhh...it's almost the weekend. Happy Friday everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE!
After all, you are ALL my fellow Americans.
I plan to spend this wonderful three day weekend at a chess tournament. It's my first and I'm very excited about it. It's been 50 years since I last played chess. In the last two weeks I have played 17 games and gotten beaten like a toddler in the WalMart in every one of them and I have been having a great time.
Chess is an elegant game.
Two equally matched forces of 16 brave and loyal soldiers battling for control of just 64 little squares. The rules are iron-clad and guarantee a fair and righteous result. Cheating is virtually unknown and having vast amounts of money does not guarantee you success. The only variable is the skill of the individual. It is an elegant game. A relaxing exercise for the mind.
Each match opens with a hand-shake and the battle begins in absolute silence and will continue in virtual silence until it is concluded, again, with a hand-shake. Elegant.
If only politics were more like chess. The contest limited to a small field of equally matched forces, a hand-shake followed by two minds, each trying to out-guess and out-manuver the other. In the end the gods smile on one of the contestants, there is a final hand-shake and off to the lounge for a drink and a discussion of the game. No insults, strictly forbidden. No commentary, whining or loud noises of any kind during the game. It's not a beauty contest, it's not a mud-wrestling contest. It is a true test of knowledge, skill and experience.
(Sigh) Sadly, politics is more like Nascar or Professional Wrestling. Lots of meaningless noise and theatrics. What does this say about us? In Europe they air chess matches on television. They teach chess in the schools. They don't have Nascar or Professional Wrestling. For the most part they have national health care and upward mobility is much greater for the lower and middle-classes.
I think it's because they emphasize chess education in the schools.
I'll bet President Obama plays a mean game of chess.
Obama/Biden 2012
How does this justify your position? The blue states are taxed more at state level and the money is used for social welfare, so ergo the people in the blue sates are receiving more, just not as much from the federal government. In fact the link you included the first has California as the biggest welfare state. Found it interesting that Maine and Vermont are also in the top 5.
What is with all of the collapsing of posts?
You do realize that we still open them and read them, don't you?
There is still freedom of speech in this country. And freedom of the press. If you would deny this, youare in the wrong place.
Stop collapsing!
Rick,
Everything after the comma means you can worship any way you want to. Everything before the comma, means 1; The Church can't be told what to do (unless the state has a reason that passes strict scrutiny. This is why although the Bible says not to "spare the rod" Christians aren't allowed to beat their children) 2; The government can't tell people what to do in regards to religion (they can't use it in laws, they can't tell us what to do based on it, they can't tell us what not to do based on it, yada, yada, yada.)
So Rick, please explain to me how nothing equals somthing. From above...
Maverick,
Please show me the math that enables us to balance the budget, without increasing revenues, and allows us to continue things like education, infrastructure, defense, you know all those things you benefit from.
Mark,
The Church isn't being forced to do anything. The businesses, which they filed business plans for, and receive tax exemptions due to be non-profits, the businesses that employ people of all religions, the businesses that are governed by all other employment laws (OSHA, EEOC, FDA), those businesses, have to at least provide ACCESS.
Wam, bam, thank you maam, that didn't take long. I give you exhibit A, the quote above. There is zero, evidence or agreement as to when HUMAN life begins. It may be alive, but you can't prove it's human. Ergo, it is each person's individual choice. You choose to think it's murder, fantastic, you're entitled too, however, no being allowed to force other's to BELIEVE as you do, doesn't force you to have an abortion.
That's the difference between liberals and conservatives. You believe, ergo you want to force. I believe, ergo I could care less what you choose to believe, just stop trying to dictate your beliefs onto me.
When someone trys to FORCE you to have an abortion, you'll know how we feel.
You complain about this and then go do your best to make sure the woman can do nothing EXCEPT bear children (unless she keeps aspirin between her legs). Do you realize the problem here? It really IS true - republicans want to control women and pretend to care about life (only in utero), after they are born, tough @!$%#, your mom should have kept her legs closed. Republicans really picked a loser this time.
So by that logic Alan its okay to take federal welfare but not state?
lib50 the logical solution is to ban contraceptives, that will teach us women our place. Personally if they do that I think women should just stop having sex with men completely, most men aren't that good at it anyway.
TO: Alan, NJ who worte:
"Always amazes me that you forget that Democrats voted to go to war as well..."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It always disgusts me that Republicans fail to mention that they LIED to the Democrats in order to get the votes they got, and if any one of them known the truth of the matter, that Bush and Cheney were ONLY going into Iraq to drill for oil, then Republicans would NOT have gotten one single Democratic Vote.
Republicans threw the Democrats a "CURVEBALL" in order to lie their way into getting votes.
Some Republicans really need to seek corrective help for their constant memory lapses.
Joanna,
Did they ship their goods on our roads? Did they higher people who were publically educated? Have they ever called the police, or firemen, or EMT's?
Were they allowed to run their business in the market place protected by our laws? We're they allowed to live their lives in a society governed by our laws?
Did all of those people and things you mentioned in YOUR post occur because of OUR society???
It may be hard for you to grasp Joanna, but rich people wouldn't be rich people, if they weren't utilizing the middle class.
Alan, NJ;
Yep, I guess there were Democrats that voted to go to war. However, you failed to mention that President Cheney and his lacky Bush fed nothing but bull$hit to Congress and the American people thus using fraudulent means to obtain that vote. Those two should have been tried for treason!!! A lot of good people were, and continue to be, used for fodder.
Oh, BTW, ever find out about those WMDs??
Rick, please explain how or why our First Amendment right to freedom of speech has in any way abrogated your right to openly and freely practice your religion. Thank you.
AlexM-2364525
Serious question the right seems to be alergic to:
How do we fix the various entitlements so that those that need it aren't just cut off out of ideological spite? What do we do to remove the "freeloaders" while not hurting anyone in genuine need who are using the system correctly?
@Jan,
I tend towards the conservative side on abortion (I'm and independent). I definitely don't agree with Santorum, he's far too right for me on this. I have no problem with birth control, and for career welfare moms, I'd go as far as forcing them to have an implanted birth control until they could support more kids on their own (which obviously is breaking rights so wouldn't happen, just personal opinion). As far as abortion, the only time I would possibly agree with abortion is indangerment of life, or rape. Past that, the government needs to make adoption cheaper so that more kids get adopted.
They could also make sure that those that need welfare received (the hand up) it, while adopting rules to make sure that the free loaders (the hand out) didn't receive it. If you need food stamps to eat, then you wouldn't mind not being able to buy pop, candy, energy drinks, etc with them, because you'll be buying actual food. There is a rampant problem with trading food stamps for cash around where I live. To the point that one of the grocery stores had to stop taking water bottles in recycle since people would buy tons of bottled water, dump it out, then recycle for the cash to use for booze and drugs.
The other side that they don't even talk about is the father, since it obviously takes two to make a child. There isn't enough punishment on men who will not pay child support. The father of my step-son has never paid a dime to my wife in child support. He was 12 when we got married and she never saw a cent from him. I'm not saying we want it now, I'm perfectly capable of supporting my family and he's not allowed on the property. But he lives off the welfare system since his mom retired from the welfare office here, she put all of his stuff through. He's 42 and a career alcoholic, and refuses to get a job. Where's the punishment for him?
@AP,
Quit being such a bleeding heart liberal and wake up to reality. I never said take the money away from the kids. I said there needs to be some rules passed that would make these women stop popping out kids just for the money. Do you think these career welfare moms would keep having kids if they knew they weren't going to get welfare for them? It's called being responsible, look it up (dictionary.com).
Blaze,
We need to begin by coming up with assistance programs that actually allow one to pull themselves out of poverty, as opposed to our current programs that simply keep people from starving or freezing.
To simplify the logic for those who may not have taken many business classes and do not understand why this is done. If a company loses 1million dollars one year and makes 1million the next as a whole did they make a profit? How is it fair to tax them on the 1 million the second year when in the end they have only broke even. This would put hardship on companies starting out as they would be punished when they were doing well and ignored when the were ailing. The "tax benefit" is only there so that companies can net gains to losses. This is not an option only available to companies and there is no wrong in doing it. Joe it is highly irresponsible of you to try to present that information in the manner which you did.
________________________________________________
Akeem, you are clueless about Government Motors corporate taxes. GM should have had to give up the prior losses in bankruptcy, like every other corp does. The Gm UAW bailout gave GM SPECIAL treatment. Now who is the "highly irresponsible" one?? Moron.
From CNN Money:
GM's sweetheart tax deal
By Chris Isidore, senior writerFebruary 23, 2011: 1:49 PM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The U.S. Treasury is giving up $14 billion in tax revenue because of a sweetheart deal it's giving General Motors.
The automaker is expected to post its first profitable year since 2004 when it reports fourth-quarter results on Thursday. But GM (GM) won't have to worry about being hit with a big tax bill because billions in previous losses will provide shelter for years to come.
That break will reduce GM's U.S. tax bill by an estimated $14 billion in the coming years, and its global taxes by close to $19 billion, according to a company filing.
Companies typically get a break on future taxes because of past losses. But in most cases they lose that tax break during bankruptcy, because the losses are offset by the "income" the company receives from shedding its debt.
The power behind GM's throne
Since the company shed $30 billion in debt during bankruptcy, it should have wiped out most of the tax break. GM even warned it expected to lose those tax breaks shortly before filing for Chapter 11 protection.
But somehow, that never happened, and the automaker was able to keep most of its tax breaks, essentially receiving a $14 billion "gift" from the government.
Thanks for trying to help keep it civil, skip. As usual, you have gotten to the heart of the matter.
I trust you are feeling better and ready for a great PRESIDENT'S DAY weekend. Best of luck with the chess.
bill of fairfax, good and informative posts, keep up the good work!
Jan:
Do you think you can take off your dense hat for just a moment and try to realize that contraception is not the issue; it is the government forcing citizens to do something that they believe to be morally wrong. It would be the same if the government mandated that kosher delis must sell ham.
Interesting. So those roads, the ones you ride on, it isn't enough that you have access to use of them, but you want to tax commerce that is shipped on them? And all those taxes people and corporations pay for the schools already doesn't count, and you want more? Same with the fire and police. Your explanation is nonsensical.
You're a real Lizzy Warren socialist if you think the rich haven't already paid for these things.
For others, this is where Sarah gets her rhetoric:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOyDR2b71ag
You really don't understand the effort it takes to run a business Sarah. But keep up the Lizzy Warren lines of attack, they are amusing.
Another blathering fool, enter Maverick. Apparently Maverick is unclear on when an election is held, the date the winner takes office, and who is charge at any given time. Maverick, since you clearly have no clue, let me explain it to you in the simplest way possible so there is a small chance you will understand. Bush was in charge and decided there was no "Black Panther" case to prosecute. Call him in Texas an whine to him.
Sarah...
As in putting a timeline as to how long assistance lasts? You know, give them an incentive to get off of public assistance.
To whoever said contraceptives were being "given away free", just because there is no co-pay does not mean they are free - most of pay at least a portion of our health insurance.
Alan - Drug testing for welfare receipients? That is one of those ideas that sound good in theory but fall apart under practical application. A good screening for all illegal drugs would be very expensive and hard to implement, would end up costing more than it would save, and would lead to legal challenges for positive results. Check out the states that have tried it, they have not been very successful.
Alan -- In a study using data from 2010, Aaron Carroll of Indiana University, reports that the residents of the 10 states Gallup ranks as “most conservative” received 21.2 percent of their income in government transfers, while the number for the 10 most liberal states was only 17.1 percent.
State taxes stay in the state. They are not federally transferred. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Truer words were never spoken, Jan.
Who said, "There are no frigid women, only clumsy men"?
Republicans, whatever will you do when your wives won't stand for it?
The problem with knee-jerk conservatives is that they never think things through to their logical conclusion.
To JAS1
The wealthy benefit from the US government and taxes in the preservation and protection of there wealth through the laws and enforcement of those laws. They benefit from the roads made and maintained so people can travel to their businesses and they can ship good to and forth, as well as their employees get to their jobs. They benefit from these and many other services that in the end are actually what allows them to be rich.
To this I am sure you can make the argument that all of us are entitled to these rights and why should the rich pay more than some poor person who pay "no taxes"? To me that answer is obvious. It is because they have much more to lose. Simillar to insurance the more you have at stake the more you must pay to have that safeguarded. To keep the means for them to make that income intact the rich SHOULD pay more because if that was taken who would be worse off?
Sarah-3043284
Do whatever in hell pleases you. Just don't ask me to get involved and don't ask me to pay for something I disagree with just like you liberals have shown us that YOU have no intention of paying for philosophies YOU disagree with. For me your hypocrisy is what this is all about.
Our schools are supported by property taxes. I have property. But my grand daughter nor any of her friends can even rent an unused room at her school for a Christian social group because atheists don't want their tax dollars used to "support" religious causes they don't believe in. Great! As long as YOU do not expect me to support "religious" causes I don't believe in. THIS IS ABOUT THE HYPOCRISY OF THE LIBERAL LEFT. DO NOT TRY TO SPIN IT OTHERWISE. You support my cause and I will support yours.
Alan,
I am also an independent, although on abortion I tend to lean left. While it would not be a choice I make for myself its not one I am willing to make for others. My fathers closest friend since childhood is a woman now in her seventies who has devoted her life to taking care of children that are in and out of the system due to abuse. I have spent quite a bit of time with her and at the group home that she used to run (through the church) she has since retired. However, the biggest problem is that the courts want to give parents the chance to change. So children end up in and out of foster care until the courts finally give up on the parents by the time they are seven or eight. By then the damage to these kids is done and adopting them out is nearly impossible, people do not want to inherit their issues.
This isn't an advocation to any one solution because it feels almost like an impossible one to solve. I would encourage people to visit one of these type places and see what I have seen, its tragic. Those kids were so desperate for love and attention. Mandatory birth control? I am all for it, and I do believe there are judges that have done that but the ACLU usually throws fits about it. The one thing I do know is that banning contraception can only make things worse not better, that Santorum is acting on religious beliefs and not in the best interest of those children.
I am a nurse and the hardest thing I had to do was to call social services to have children removed from homes, but sometimes its necessary. People talk about welfare and how they don't want to pay for the lazy, unfortunately its the kids that end up paying the price.
If I saw a candidate that wanted to eliminate the Bush tax breaks (not raise taxes, just go back to what the intended ones.) Lower taxes on small business, cut spending across the board and that includes defense. We do not need to spend four times what every other country in the world does. I would vote for them in a heart beat. Unfortunately there is not one candidate who is willing to go out on that limb. We will never balance the budget unless we cut spending and address revenue. The tax code is a mess, while capital gains should be protected, there are far too many ways to shelter money that isn't being used to help the economy.
Lizzie Warren is much smarter than you will ever be. She makes considerably more sense.
Proportionately, and I know you may find this a bit difficult to grasp, since we pay taxes by RATES, they pay considerably less than I do, and profit considerably more.
So Joanna,
Please provide the math, that allows us to continue the tax code we have now, balance the budget, and not completely collapse as a society...
or,
Provide the math that allows us to, balance the budget by taxing poor people and keeping the rest of the code we have now, and not compeletly collapse as a society...
Until you can do that, you simply sound hateful. I know your insecure, and you need to try to boost your self esteem through demonizing entire groups of people, because obviously by doing that, by being in a position to demonize at all, that implies you're somehow superior, but you aren't.
I suggest self reflection and counsiling to help you deal with the realization that your life is basically futile and inconsequential, and you're no better than gay people or women who have abortions or poor people. It might work better unabashed and unjustified demonization and hate.
Why do we always need to talk about EVERYTHING instead of the topic of the article? NOT EVERYTHING relates.
The topic is the issue of contraception and why it will backfire on the GOP. Its obvious, regardless of what you believe, that the vast majority of Americans feel that a) contracteption works safely and b) in everyone's right to use it if they want.
Santorum doesn't. And mostly because he believes in
GreekChristian mythology. That doesn't mean he's a Christian, mind you. It means he is smokin' the pages of the Bible and having crazytalk. And yes, that's a reason it will backfire. The WORST part for Santorum is not that he doesn't believe in the use of contraception...but his reasons reveal him to be out of his mind.Good point, TNSEVOL. Jon Stewart did an enlightening segment on this issue. Since we all receive some sort of publicly-funded financial benefit from the government at some point in our lives, logically if we are going to require one group of recipients to be drug tested, then we all must be. Grandma on Social Security? Drug test her! Your governor's paycheck comes from taxpayer funds? Drug test him!
Knee-jerk conservatives...this is your idea of keeping government out of our lives?
Actually in florida the statistics on mandatory drug testing was mind boggling. 96% of those tested passed, while the cost was 178 million a year to do this, they saved a whopping 60 thousand dollars. You cannot call yourself a fiscal conservative and advocate that kind of waste.
Rick,
Yeah, I don't want you to have to support any religious causes I may have. And just because your granddaughter can't use tax payer funded buildings for religious reasons, doesn't mean she can't have a youth group.
And, what philosophies are liberals asking you to pay for???
Abortion???
Well the Hyde Amendment prohibits all public funding for being used on it. It's like this...
Do you use a bank??? When you put 10 bucks into your account, and than take it out the next day, you do know they're not giving you that SAME 10 dollar bill, right??? You're getting it's equivalent in value and the loss to the bank is the same.
Contraception???
Well, that's preventative care, and will actually lead to less abortions. Furthermore, I have to pay into the system also, and my money will also go to cover you and your prostate exams. If you don't like that, I don't know, move??? But believe me when I tell you preventative care will save us ALL money in the long run.
So please, explain how I'm a hypocrit???
Joe your information is correct
"The tax benefit stems from so-called tax-loss carry-forwards and other provisions, which allow companies to use losses in prior years and costs related to pensions and other expenses to shield profits from U.S. taxes for up to 20 years. In GM's case, the losses stem from years prior to when GM entered bankruptcy.
Usually, companies that undergo a significant change in ownership risk having major restrictions put on their tax benefits. The U.S. bailout of GM, in which the Treasury took a 61% stake in the company, ordinarily would have resulted in GM having such limits put on its tax benefits, according to tax experts.
But the federal government, in a little-noticed ruling last year, decided that companies that received U.S. bailout money under the Troubled Asset Relief Program won't fall under that rule...
...The government's rationale, said people familiar with the situation, is that the profit-shielding tax credit makes the bailed-out companies more attractive to investors, and that the value of the benefit is greater than the lost tax payments, especially since the tax payments would not exist if the companies fail."
from the WSJ
I think the reasoning for keeping the tax break explains itself. Once again you posted inforamtion irresponsibly. You wrote as if there was no reason behind the tax break when cleary there was and it was even explained by the government. They wanted to make GM was attractive to investors in attempt to increase the chance the US investment wasn't a failure. Gee... I wonder how that turned out
American,
How about things like, skills, education, apprenticeship programs??? Tools to help themselves??? Things like that. If you simply say, "We're gonna cut it off on this date" that doesn't do anything except perpetuate the cycle of poverty. They're right back where they started.
I don't consider myself an intelligence expert but even I could see through the nonsense the Bush Administration was shoveling on Iraq. Somehow a country overrun with Inspectors, two fly zones and economy in tatters could produce nuclear weapons (Chemical and Biological I give the benefit of the doubt as they are fairly easy to manufacture and conceal).
So the fact that the congress (Democrats included) are either too stupid or too gullible to work this out for themselves does not absolve them of their vote. In fact isn't this the point the current President made against Hillary? She was responsible for her vote and as far as I remember she didn't back down on the issue. Any member of congress who tries to use this as an excuse should be voted out for stupidity.
I thought your point was that red states are the biggest welfare beneficiaries and therefore the people receiving those benefits were the biggest recipients. I was simply pointing out that the biggest recipients are actually in the blue states because their states supply bigger benefits when added to the federal benefits. For example, who gets better welfare in total, a recipient in Oklahoma or a recipient in California?
Why are contraceptives exempted from co-pays?
On drug testing, if you simply ask a recipient to sign an agreement, similar to a driving licence that they agree to random drug tests in exchange for receiving welfare I don't see the legal challenge. We do it to high-school athletes.
The Contraception Issue backfires on the GOP because while they're arguing about who pays for rubbers and The Pill, the rest of the country is wondering about jobs, the economy, a potential war with Iran, education, overall healthcare costs, crime, etc. These guys have lost so much touch with reality. Besides everyone knows this is just their grandstanding in an election year. They're pandering to their extremist Christian constituency basically saying, "We may not have done anything else in the last 4 years, but see!!! We've got the rubbers and pill taken care of."
It's like the Egyptians who worried about the gold trim when the Sphynx's nose fell off.
"And how did you like the play, Mrs. Lincoln?"
And, if your kid applies for financial aid that is one of the criteria. If they are found guilty of drug use they can be denied financial aid. So why not extend that criteria to welfare?
BTW. You should not equate SS to welfare. that is a big no-no in left wing circles.
Don't state workers require a drug test before employment? I know I needed one for my current job.
Jan, I don't think Santorum understands the concept of the best interest of children at all. He and his wife made a personal choice not to use birth control, which resulted in their youngest child (conceived when Mrs. Santorum was 48 years old) having serious problems.
They hold up the Duggar family, which has 19 children, as a model for the American family. Michelle Duggar is 45 years old and has had more than one high-risk pregnancy.
Women who have the desire to deliver healthy offspring are motivated to care for themselves before and during pregnancy: no smoking, no alcohol, healthy diet, moderate exercise.
Medically, a woman who opts to conceive after the age of about 42 is willing to take a chance with the health of her baby, so how is that in the best interests of the child? Personally, I think it is the height of selfishness on the part of the Santorums, Duggars, and people like them to put a baby at risk, just so they can keep having babies beyond an age when it is safe to conceive a child.
@Jan
I agree with almost everything you posted.
Of the 5 current choices for President I would vote for none of the above.
SS is not welfare, I know I pay into it so does everyone else.
Alan, as an independent I would hope that you would do a little better on thinking about issues than just demonizing the poor. Obviously there are problems, but as the republicans are busy attacking poor people, the big problems are one big failure on their part to address. Read the statistics on Floridas drug testing on welfare recipients, they pay 178 million dollars a year to save sixty thousand dollars. That is the republican fiscal conservative working for you. There is no logic to this, there is no logic to saying people in poverty should be paying more taxes, as if that is suddenly going to solve our 15 trillion dollar deficit. People need to start thinking with their brains and not just their prejudices.
Alan,
In the case Treasury Employees v. Von Raab, the Supreme Court ruled that drug testing does equal a search. The ultimate test under the fourth amendment is whether a search is deemed reasonable. Reasonable, has been held (although not always) by SCOTUS as "Whether or not the search was made pursuant to a warrant with probable cause."
Considering these people aren't even suspected of having comitted a crime, that the only reason they government has for drug testing them is their status as "poor" or in need of assistance, and that this isn't an employer testing, it's the government, I guarentee you, it is wrong.
You can get fired for cursing at work, right??? Is that a free speech violation? No. Employers aren't the same as the government. The government has the power to restrict liberty, ergo higher standards apply. Employers do not.
No where in the Constitution does is say I have the right to use your tax dollars when I'm stupid enough to drive off the side of a cliff. Should we insist on drug tests prior to allowing individuals phones access to 911?
Alan, that is incorrect, and I should know because my child in college receives financial aid but has never been required to take a drug test. It is true that a student who is convicted of a drug offense is rendered ineligible for further aid.
As for drug testing welfare recipients, the State of Florida tried to implement it and found that only 2% of the tests came back positive for drugs. It ended up costing the state way more than it was worth.
Wow, Cygnus, how does it feel to be so far out of touch with what is happening? You obviously didn't watch any of the congressional hearing on this issue the other day. Reality is that a whole buch of people are "wondering" about the federal government trashing constitutional rights and mandating morality for political gain.
Gee, 8-legged creature, what pray tell, is the government forcing you to do?
Filden - agreed. STOP COLLAPSING POSTS. Conservative, liberal, Republican, Democrat, Independent .. all posts must be allowed to stand. Otherwise, what is the point of the forum.
Kay I wonder if people really understand how much money goes into premature babies. Its mind boggling costs in the millions for each one of them and if they are born before twenty four weeks their chance of survival is extremely low. The Duggers do the show to pay for their child addiction, if they were taking welfare I would have a serious problem with it.
Santorum on the other hand wants to force his beliefs on the rest of us, and the constitution is fairly clear that law cannot be enacted based on religion. What he wants is no better than Sharia law for Muslims. If the republicans were smart they would go with Romney, Santorum isn't just hurting himself, he is killing the GOP brand.
Sarah, there is no doubt that the tax code needs to be reformed to be simpler fair and progressive. We need to eliminate all loopholes, social engineering and welfare from the tax code. There is no reason that people with kids get a break over childless couples or homeowners etc. We also need to reduce the overall rates but keep them very progressive so the wealthy pay a fair rate but we also dont have 50% of taxpayers paying no federal income tax. That said, our current system is already very progressive with people making over $200,000 paying virtually all the federal income tax but its definitely not a fair system as we have extreme examples on both ends. Your example of the wealthy using roads, education etc so they need to pay more is a very bad one. First, all of these services offered by the government are available to everyone. The fact that the wealthy used the education and services to prosper is a great thing not to be punished but be rewarded. Further, all of these items are supported by taxes different than federal income tax. Your education is supported locally and your state and local budgets support the roads and infrastructure. Sales and property taxes are more regressive than an income tax but the wealthy already pay the vast majority of these taxes also in absolute dollars. Thats because the sales tax on a 10,000 car is a lot less than a $75,000 car.
On the spending side, do you realize that government assistance has grown 80% since Obama took office to $900 billion dollars in 90 welfare programs as of the last fiscal budget ended last October? These programs are on top of the vast charitable network in this country pumping billions more into helping those who need it most. Do you know how many trillions of dollars have been provided since the war on poverty began and do you know how much worse its gotten? Its the same with education. Education spending started to really ratchet up with Clinton and Bush increased in more than any other previous president and Obama has spent billions through the stimulus program. Guess what happened? No improvement because the money was spent increasing teacher salaries and paying for pension and health care benefits while very little into school upgrades and education reform. Same thing with welfare and assistance. Spending money doesnt solve the problem but it does create a sense of entitlement and a resistance to change. Have you seen what happens with seniors if you discuss medicare or social security? Have you seen the progressives here start frothing at the mouth against the 1% if you suggest spending on freebies and government handouts are out of control? Its nice that you have this idealistic view of the world but there are billions spent on training etc but the only real solution is reviving economic growth and we all know where Obama stands on that.
My, now we know the source of your dogma.
We don't pay taxes in rates, we pay taxes in dollars. The rich pay considerably more dollars than you do Sarah. And if you are so jealous of them, why don't you work hard and take the risks to become one. Sure beats your whining.
You keep asking questions, but don't answer the ones put forth to you Sarah. How much more do you want to tax the rich to balance budget? That is what you said you wanted to do in post 1.54. That is your idea to fix the problem, so lets see your math. Again, I agree with the Debt Commission report of 2010. You can look to that for the math I agree with.
You mean like you just did?
Kirk, you do realize that Obama inherited the worst financial collapse since 1929, why is it that republicans ignore that fact? Jobs moved to china, people couldn't find work, financial assistance was needed for survival. Are you suggesting we just let people starve to death while the country deals with the crisis that the banks caused?
You know, people are starting to sound very stupid when they say the auto bailouts were a failure. Actually anyone who says they were a failure are stupid.
Alan,
And yet the Republicans want to ban abortion and stop providing birth control, creating a population explosion in the welfare class.
Care you explain that, buddy? People like you want to end the welfare cycle... so you pursue legislation that will directly increase the welfare cycle. Your social agenda will increase the economic problem that you are against. And worst of all, you are completely oblivious to this.
So tell us, Alan. How can we possibly end the welfare cycle when you are working to pass legislation that increases the welfare population?
Looks like the left-wing NON-Freedom-of-Speech Riders are at it again... suppressing as many conservative comments as they can.
Heaven forbid anyone should be able to read the thoughts of those who disagree with you lunatics!
Real 'Freedom Riders' you turned out to be... protecting the constitutional rights of ALL Americans, right? HAHAHAH! NOT! What hypocrites!
(show me the clown nose, fisty!)
I know that the real left regulars on here will ask for proof of this, but with out releasing names and business's that would cause issues. Fiesty already took the time to research and post my name on here more than a few times so I would not put anything else past her of some of the others on this blog. I have several friends who own bars/restaurants and hire many young women as bartenders and waitress's. They all work a lot of hard hours and the money varies depending how many hours they want to work. Im not sure if this is a Michigan or a Detroit thing, but between the 6 restaurants there are 8 women who realized (word of mouth I guess) that they can live (with a boyfriend) pretty well if they get pregnant and have a baby once a year. Once the first baby is born they can go for 4 years with out any issues. Before last year it was unlimited, however last year Gov. Snyder limited that to 4 years, with out valid reasons. ie handicapped or LD children. The word is getting around with them and some of them are wanting to figure out how to work a winter job and not earn enough to disrupt their aide from the Gov.
I would like to know why MEN are deciding what women should do with their bodies. They shouldn't. This is the USA, not some country which has rules based on religion. Any politician running on a religious platform should be automatically disqualified from the ballot. Imagine how furious people would be if there was a Muslim candidate saying the same things. Its the same thing with Santorum, Romney, and any other politician that wants to destroy the Constitution to have laws based on religious views. These men are shameful.
JoAnn you do realize those tax breaks were never intended to be permanent? That the Bush tax breaks were meant to expire in 2010, Obama continued them until this year. Letting them expire is not a tax hike, its just going back to the intended rates and that should be for everyone and that includes the wealthy and the payroll tax breaks.
Moonbase - don't forget Ricky also claims:
Rape and rape babies are gifts from God.
You can't make this stuff up.
Mandating that employers provide contraceptives free of a copay so its funded by the employer is not a law but a regulation under ACA which provided the HSS the freedom to oversee certain medical benefits. This is not about access to contraceptives as a medical need which has always been covered by insurance even via religious institutions nor is it about access to contraceptives as a lifestyle choice. Employees can always get them and pay for them. Its about who pays for contraceptives so as much as the Fiestys and Backhouses want to make this a female issue its not. Nothing is preventing a woman from getting her contraceptives if she wants them. This isnt about religious intrusion in some person's life its all about money thats it and who is going to pay for contraceptives. The argument that its much cheaper to provide and not have to pay for the baby etc is not a good one because if it was true, they would be handed out like candy by employers as the three largest employer health care costs are 1) OB/GYN benefits, 2) AIDs drugs and treatment 3) lifestyle drugs treating depression, anxiety, birth control etc. This was the case for my 90,000 employee employer so I assume it is representative across the country.
This issue is solely buying female votes by providing another free item to get the female vote.
You would think the conservatives would be smart enough not to play right into their hand. At the moment not allowing women a voice is just making it that much easier not to vote republican.
Jan, you put an apt name to what the Duggars are all about: child addiction. The very idea that a family can do a good job raising nineteen children is lunacy. It's not even advisable to have that many pets.
Santorum makes a good bit more money as a lobbyist/ professional campaigner than the average Joe, and is out of touch with the middle class reality of raising children and the cost of educating them. He has no right to make or even promote personal family decisions based on his far right wing agenda.
Two unfunded Wars from "W", where was Rick Santorum - He was hiding from the Military like a "Worm" The Vet's call him "Rambo"
JoAnna,
First, taxes are based on rates... you should probably educate yourself before posting, it makes you look really bad.
Second, the claim that the rich pay more "dollars" is a clever way to twist the tax code to benefit your argument. Naturally, the more money you have, the more you pay. If we reduced the tax RATE on the wealthy to 1%... and increased the RATE on the poor to 100% (you would LOVE that)... then the rich still pay more. Mitt Romney pays more at 1% than a poor man pays at 100%. Of course, you would still say that this is unfair and that the poor should pay more... even though you are taking every penny from them.
That is why we have RATES. Income tax is progressive, meaning that you pay more, as a percentage of total income, the more you have. Sales, gas, payroll, etc. taxes are regressive, meaning you pay more, as a percentage of total income, the less you have.
Because we live in a society where prices for goods and services are not progressive with your income, we have to look at the fixed "cost of living" standards as a factor of income, and thus the tax rates as a percentage of total income.
Based on your comments, I can only assume you are uneducated and thus do not understand any of this. They are probably all just "big words" to you. But I am at least hoping you will gain some small amount of knowledge.
Jan, yes I do and I lived through the recession in the late 70s and early 80s where the town I grew up in was in the top 10 nationally in unemployment. That time was worse than this in terms of economic hardship. My dad lost his job and after a year started his own business working 7 days a week 14 hours a day and in hindsight is better off for it. I completely understand but in terms of percentage of GDP we still spend substantially more on welfare and government assistance than we did then. This isnt about attacking the poor and unemployed its about the best way of addressing our economic woes. Class warfare, creating a socialistic entitlement state and disincentives to invest work hard and be successful never works.
The auto bailouts were not a failure but lets put it in perspective. I applaud Bush and Obama for assisting the issue but GM was always making an operating profit, their losses were from the amount of debt they had. So nothing the bailout did assisted GM in creating a more long term viable business model. Most of the bailout money went into the union pension coffers rather than the lenders and I am willing to predict that GM will slowly lever up the company and be close to filing bankruptcy during the next economic downturn. So lets not get all giddy over something that was really a union buyout and no long term fix
Tea bagging republican extremist in government ran on a platform last election to CREATE jobs but have not at all. They lied because they do not believe in government intervention in the job market and the ONLY jobs the government can create are government jobs. ; ] Government jobs have been downsizing for quite some time now. Now then, we have this? First abortion laws after abortion laws nothing done at all for the economy now this? "Women's rights away"! is the new slogan?Hmm. ; ]
The fact that the right is holding its last stand to what these bald come over wearing old timers want NOW is laughable. It is a last ditch attempt to take us BACK. Take us backward back to a time you hear them say this often on the right. BUT! And that's your wives BIG but God made time move forward. Man was created to progress. Progress through time not regress through time yet here we are. And the tea bagging republican extremist panel in government of ALL males was a testament that THEY think they know whats best for you above you. They claim to HATE government intervention in Americans lives but that is all they do. They claim that they and there religion alone is moral. They equate morals with religion alone. As though morals cannot and do not exist without religion. It is down right HOGWASH.
To be so bold as to tell women what they can or cannot do in a FREE MARKET is absurd in the least and STUPID at the most. Money must be made. And the tea bagging republican extremist in government are trying to keep Americans from making money because of there pathetic morals. There religion. though President Obama has ALREADY compromised on the Catholic contraceptive issue here they stand. Whining and crying as they always do. NEVER pro active with solutions to Americas REAL problems just poor mes and sob stories. PA THET IC indeed. And once again here they stand, assuming the position of TELLING every women what they can or cannot do and what there morals should be in a free country.
It seems that tea bagging republican extrmesit in this country envy certain muslim theocracys and are trying to bring them here. ; ]
Cheers
Just to clear things up... Here is a the definition of TYRANNY:
tyr·an·ny
pronounced [tir-uh-nee] noun, plural -nies.
1. arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power; despotic abuse of authority.
2. the government or rule of a tyrant or absolute ruler.
3. a state ruled by a tyrant or absolute ruler.
4. oppressive or unjustly severe government on the part of any ruler.
5. undue severity or harshness.
Sounds like good old King George doesn't it?
Also, just in case you forget... the first settlers to come to America left their homeland to seek religious freedom and to escape religious persecution.
(show me the clown nose, fisty!)
Until the republican establishment figures out how to herd their tea party cats, I guess I will be voting straight democrat. I never thought I would see the day when I had to go that route.
JoAnne always posts that same lame argument about the rich paying more...she thinks we are all fooled by "quantity" and do not understand the concept of RATE which seems to confuse her.
She and this new GOP also do not prescribe to the scripture which states "to whom much is given, much is required". This new GOP says that God did not "give" them anything, that they "worked very hard" on their own without God's help so therefore again that verse does not apply and anyone who wants them to share/contribute more with others is "stealing" from them.
This new GOP also does not believe Jesus' command to take care of the poor, the widow, the orphan, the "least of them" in this world. First of all they believe "least of them" only applies to the unborn (hence federal invasions of the uterus).... and the rest (born) who are poor, widowed and orphaned, jobless and homeless are by their own fault....they were lazy, dumb, not Christian enough and overall bad people...again nullifying Jesus' command.
This new GOP has leadership like Huckabee, Romney, etc...who themsleves signed into law legislation which mandated contraception for women by employers INCLUDING religious hospitals, universities, and institutions and these same people are NOW saying that this legislation is a war on religion & Constitution led by Mr. Obama.
They are SHAMELESS in their Hypocrisy!! The fact that they are using God's name and the sacrifice of Christ for ALL as a "political chip" is blasphemy. No way around it...Republicans who call themselves Christian should distance themselves from these hateful hypocritical politics. They are doing more harm for "religion" than any other group they dare to judge.
Kirk, the only way to fix our economic woes is to address revenue and cut spending. The republicans want to cut revenue and continue to spend. The democrats want to increase revenue and continue to spend, neither party has the answers. I just find the republicans attempts to use religion to legislate policy more than I can tolerate so I will go with the democrats for now.
The tax code needs revamped so that invested money in the US economy is left in the hands of the people that can do that. Small business needs to be protected (they create jobs) but there are other ways of raising revenue. Defense spending has to be cut, across the board spending cuts has to be done. No one is going to be immune to taking a hit if they want to fix things. There is not one politician out there saying what NEEDS to be done.
Sick,
You have the right to free speech, not the right to an audience. You and everyone else, can express yourselves and post all you want. No one is stopping you, or blocking you. We however, don't have to listen, just as you don't have to listen to us.
That's all that a post being collapsed means. That enough people didn't wanna listen. The post still may have merit, and it's still expressing your opinion.
Thank you Paris and Indie, and I'm still waiting for anyone to do this...
Please provide the math, that allows us to continue the tax code we have now, balance the budget, and not completely collapse as a society...
or,
Provide the math that allows us to, balance the budget by taxing poor people and keeping the rest of the code we have now, and not compeletly collapse as a society...
FR:
President Obama has shown himself to be a risk-taker. But unlike the reckless and foolish risks Bush took in starting the horrendous Iraq misadventure that his aides promised would be a "cake walk," Obama takes carefully calculated risks. The GM bailout was a big risk that the Republicans clearly wanted to fail, but couldn't prevent because the Democrats held the majorities in both houses of Congress at the time it was done. The way handled taking out Bin Laden was also a huge risk that paid off. His military advisers wanted him to play it safe by bombing Bin Laden's compound to rubble, killing women and innocent children living in the compound and probably obliterating any evidence that Bin Laden was even there.
But Obama judged that the benefits of sending in the Navy Seals on helicopters outweighed the risks of a debacle like the one Jimmy Carter suffered in his failed attempt to rescue US embassy employees held captive in Iran by the Iranian revolutionaries. But Obama planned well, insisting on sending in a backup helicopter that turned out to have been absolutely necessary in avoiding the fate of Jimmy Carter's mission, because the first helicopter did crash in the compound and the SEAL team had to leave on the backup copter.
We know what a President Romney would have done to the US auto industry: let it go bankrupt and be liquidated. My bet is that a timid and clueless Romney would have also chosen the bombing option to get Bin Laden because it was the safest way to go politically.
Honestly, collapsing posts seems to get people to read them more. For myself, its really a matter of if someone is posting racist or sexist comments, or breaking the rules of Newsvine. Of course, I see plenty of posts collapsed because they are fine, but happen to post a liberal or conservative point of view.
Sarah:
You should not feed the JoAnne troll. Her dogma shield is utterly impenetrable. She is immune to reason.
Check her earlier posts in this thread. She prevaricates, she creates "facts" from thin air, and she even makes up English rules of grammar.
Responding to her posts is a mistake.
Oh, but I do so like to poke the trolls with sticks!!! What else am I supposed to do at work??? Work???? Pshaw! ;)
Okay, I'll let her go back under her bridge, I guess.
Actually when any of my posts get collapsed, I consider it a badge of honor. Because I am conservative posting on a mostly liberal board, it means that I've annoyed enough liberals that they are compelled to hit the collapse feature. It only takes 5 collapse votes to collapse a post. I am usually wondering what reason they chose... no value, or inflammatory. I would suspect inflammatory for most of the liberals. Considering that I weigh my words carefully when posting, the oversensitive and emotional liberals just can't handle what is said. The last post I hit collapse on was someone advertising something... and then I hit advertisement.
What is it about the liberals having that compulsion to shut down opposing thought? Is it inherent in their belief system? Being conservative, I hold the strong belief that anyone can say what's on their mind. If I am offended by what they say, I just move on... the scroll feature works just fine... but no... liberals have to voice their emotions by collapsing the post. Just yesterday I had 8 posts collapsed because of my views on homosexuality and abortion. Yesterday was a good day!
The phrase: "The shields are still up.... It's a trap!" comes to mind.
Well there goes 20 % more of the voting republican base running away from the GOP, old white men telling women who ,what, and how, to control there body if not and you live in Virginia and other GOP controlled States a doctor will insert a medical device into your Vagina , even when you say no and yell RAPE
Jan - question for you. Do you have any earthly idea why republicans want to cut revenue and not increase it? I'll make it rhetorical for you... what happens when revenue to the government is increased? Any idea?
What's wrong with balancing the budget? Reigning in waste and overspending in areas that are least needed? How about eliminating the waste from the military alone? We could save billions if they would simply cut out overlapping programs, shutting down unnecessary buildings and reducing the workforce of the federal government. Doesn't that seem reasonable?
And they usually go over like a ton of bricks.
Brianb,
In case you missed it, the Republicans have been freaking out... literally having an aneurism... over military cuts.
As someone who is related to high ranking officials in the military, I can tell you stories about the rampant waste there.
Lol, I was thinking "Danger Will Robinson, danger!" I just hope we don't all get sucked into the crazy vortex.
When you're drowing you get disoriented and experts say in order to make it to the surface you should swim towards the bubbles.
Whenever the crazy gets out of hand on here, I like to chant that to myself...
"Swim towards the bubbles. Swim towards the bubbles."
x
RedDev - correction... they usually go right over your head... and while you are looking up, they fall directly on top of you... I can't help it you are too stupid to step out of the way.
I can do this all day long! :o)
Sarah and Indie -- Music helps as well. ; )
Akeem -- Great point.
Rick, if you think it through logically, of course the First Amendment to the Constitution that guarantees freedom of religion also guarantees freedom from religion. Therefore, a Muslim cannot tell a Mormon what to believe, nor can I tell you what to believe. And you don't have the right to tell anyone else what to believe. No one can be forced to buy into any religious belief system.
It only makes sense that it works both ways.
Indie - as a veteran, I can directly tell you about the waste. On local levels, the various departments always overspend in order to gain more budget dollars the next year. If they under spend their budgets, the amount of allocated money is reduced... and no commander wants that to happen to them. It doesn't matter if they have supply areas completely stocked, they find room for more parts. It is nothing but waste because the control they have is limited to last years budget.
Because what the Grand Old Pri*ks claim as truth is in fact delusional ranting and nothing more. It has been proven that the constituency of the GOP are intellectually and ethically BANKRUPT. Basically you would rather wallow around in your comfortable Limbaugh induced ignorance than have an honest conversation about the problems of the country and any solution to those problems other than reduce taxes for those that least need it.
Do these people have any free will? Are we as a society simply to accept that they, and their progeny, will always be wards of the state? What is your solution? I am saying I object to them buying an illegal substance while receiving welfare. Would you agree that their welfare should be stopped if they are found guilty of a drug related crime? No testing therefore it's cheaper. It seems you want to keep going as we are.
I am actually for contraception for the poorest (and I'm also for co-pays for those that can afford it), and for needle exchange programs and for drug rehab over imprisonment. However, I also think there has to be time limits on how long this can go on, and for the number of children who receive benefits. Is society there to take care of everybody's mistakes?
The way I see it the current system is perpetrating the cycle so we have to try something. What are your suggestions?
Kaybee - the words in the constitution have nothing to do with what one religion can tell another religion. Let me quote the first ammendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech
CONGRESS shall.... got that? In otherwords Congress is not allowed to establish a state religion, nor deny anyone from worshiping.
Funny how liberals always get this wrong. There is NO freedom from religion at all... they made that part up because they don't want to actually read the words. There is NO separation of church and state... as so widely claimed. The government is supposed to be neutral. Liberals want them to deny religion.
IndieParty, thank you for a good explanation of the tax system. I have said it many times, many simply do not understand it or refuse to. The logic of the cost of living is foreign to them and they do not understand the implications the cost of living plays in flat taxes.
You have a problem if:
You think only conservatives or liberals are collapsing threads because of bias.
Your welcome.
Brian,
You said it yourself...
Okay, here's the deal. What does neutrality look like??? It looks like no religion. No religion in our laws, or government, that looks like, well NO RELIGION.
If the lack of religion constituted a sponsorship of athieism, than we would have to write disclaimers on every government owned, well everything, saying "The lack of religious content does not constitute a support of Athieism."
Or, our other option would be to have every single religion represented in every single, public everything.
Indie, should you say it, or shall I....
NOTHING DOESN'T EQUAL SOMETHING.
And conservatives view a "neutral" stance as "denying their religion".
The government SHOULD be neutral... as in, no religion whatsoever. The absence of religion is not "denying" religion, it is just absence.
Liberals are not "denying", they are upholding absence. They want no religious influence... meaning no sharia law, no Christian law, no flying-purple-spaghetti-monster law. Liberals want religion to stay a personal decision... PERSONAL, as in no government influence. The very concept of faith dictates that you personally believe, not that you agree with the governmental influence. Not that you influence others through governmental regulations. You have personal faith, PERSONALLY... only YOU.
LOL... you must type faster than I do
Liberals do not get this wrong, it is the religious fundamentalists that consistently get this wrong. For example, the religious right think allowing abortions/contraception equates to forcing them into abortions or using contraception. Nothing could be further from the truth. The beauty of the constitution is that it allows the religious to practice their beliefs, without forcing the dogma of any religion down the throat of non-believers.
If Santorum is elected president, he will force non-believers to go to prison for having an abortion, he will force gender/sexual discrimination, all in the dogmatic pursuit of establishing his values over all. Fortunately, as Santorum surges, revulsion rises.
BrianB, you are asserting that there is no separation of church and state in the U.S.?
I'm sorry...I can't follow your twisted sense of logic.
There is no point in trying to convince some people of reality, it seems.
Do yourself a favor and take a long vacation.
Jan, I agree that both parties are not addressing the fundamental issues of our financial woes. We do need to increase revenue and decrease spending. But each party is playing games and stretches the truth. I dont believe the GOP wants to decrease revenue they just believe that revenue will increase as more income is earned by private investment. They are right sometimes like when Clinton reduced the capital gains rate in the late 90s spurring the internet investment boom and revenue increased dramatically to the highest percentage of GDP ever. Reagan reduced rates for a short period and through targeted tax cuts and accelerated depreciation for the real estate industry and investment tax credit for manufacturing, it worked and we had tremendous prosperity and he then raised rates to take advantage of that. Tax cuts like the Bush cuts or the small cuts in the stimulus and the payroll cuts are a waste of money and just increase the deficit and havent worked. But there is a fundamental policy difference.
On the spending side, neither party is willing to face up to spending reform and cuts. Obama acts like his budget cuts spending when in fact he is increasing spending by trillions. He calls a reduction in the rate of growth a spending cut. The GOP would do the same thing so neither party gets very good grades and instead we are on the path to Greece and a dramatically reduced standard of living for our kids and grandkids.
I would be the first to say that religion shouldnt dictate policy but I am sure most progressives on here dont want government to intrude on a woman's body. Whether you personally are religious, religion is a huge part of our culture and equally as important in terms of the way we feel individuals shouldnt be discriminated against. We dont allow landlords to discriminate against Jewish tenants or employers the same thing. So government intruding into religious tenets is equally bad. My issue starts with I dont understand why we are forcing any employer let alone religious ones to provide contraceptives for free as a lifestyle choice. If you are poor, planned parenthood will provide free contraceptives and so will a lot of charitable clinics. So if you can afford to pay for contraceptives, why should an employer pay for it? If its prescribed for medical reasons it should be covered no different than lipitor so to me this is just vote pandering for females.
Indie and Akeem, if you are going to provide some tax lessons, you should probably provide more detail. For example, you should make sure to explain our corporate tax system is set up to be a double tax system which in theory is the reason we have a lower rate on capital gains and dividends. You should also make sure people understand that whether GM or GE pay tax, its really just a less than transparent tax on everyone. You should explain that a tax on a corporation is a form of regressive tax on individuals as it the cash for the tax must either come from its customers in order to retain its profit margins and if its unable to pass on the cost of the tax to its customers, the tax expense just reduces the value of the corporation by the amount of the tax. Guess who owns corporations like GE and GM? All of us, and primarily union pension plans, endowments and 401k accounts through mutual funds. If its a private company, then the tax is just on the individual who created and owned the company. You should also point out that because of this double tax system, 70% or more small business owners and companys are owned through pass through entities to avoid this double tax system which is one of the largest contributors to why it appears that income has skyrocketed to the 1%. Before that income was earned and taxed and reported to the IRS inside the corporation--think Microsoft with Bill Gates and wealth was built through the value of the stock you owned. Now if Bill Gates started Microsoft, he would have earned all that income on his personal return skewing the comparisons to the past. Make sure you provide the whole story including the facts that progressives dont like to hear.
Ex TP Member....I'm still holding out just a little hope that Gov. McDonnell ends up vetoing the "personhood" bill once it lands on his desk, even if it is done for the express purpose of trying to get the VP nod from the eventual Republican nominee. I think he knows that signing the bill into law in Virginia effectively makes abortions illegal here, which will be the death knell to his aspirations of becoming vice president (like they have more than a snowball's chance in Hell of winning anyway).
My concern is that this could open up all kinds of litigation as far as charging pregnant women of manslaughter if they have a miscarriage. Case in point....woman is maybe 2 months pregnant....still physically capable of doing any sorts of physical things she's always done, as the embryo is maybe smaller than a bean and doesn't cause her to have to limit her mobility. She may not even know she's pregnant!! Anyway, she slips on the ice going to her car one morning, and her resulting fall causes her to miscarry. Involuntary manslaughter?? Possibly, if this bill becomes law here. The DA will be saying she took unnecessary risks by walking on the ice.
I don't think McDonnell is that stupid.....something I can't very well say about my district representative, Eric Cantor. Now there's a winner for ya!! /S
And BTW....happy to see you saw the Tea Party for what they REALLY stand for. I'm a reformed Republican, myself. Once you take those blinders off and begin to see the truth of it all, it can be an eye-opening experience!
Why would I divert the conversation from personal tax rates to corporate taxation? I was explaining the very simple concept of why RATES exist, as opposed to flat dollar amounts.
This diversion tactic you request is a common GOP debate tactic. You hear facts you do not like, facts that prove your initial thoughts were incorrect, so you divert the conversation... you change the subject, hoping that the initial topic will be lost of forgotten.
The initial discussion was (1) why we have tax RATES... and not a fixed dollar amount, as JoAnna loves to point out in regard to wealthy taxes. And (2) the difference between progressive and regressive taxes on individuals.
Corporate tax rates, policy, loopholes, and theory have no basis on the initial topic. Your attempt at diversion, in hopes of forgetting or ignoring the initial point, has failed. I have deducted 2 points from your total score, for the use of this pathetic Fox News tactic. Stay on topic.
Not only that, but this can lead the way to birth control bans, depending on when "conception" is defined and how the particular form of birth control works.
I never understood why the GOP is so intent on having a population explosion when (1) there are not enough jobs to meet current population demands, and (2) they do not like paying welfare entitlements. I am still waiting for any Republican... just one... to explain their logic of pushing for legislation that will increase the welfare population, while they are also against welfare spending. They want to increase the thing they are against. It makes no sense. I have asked this for years, not one single answer... not even a crazy conspiracy theory, just nothing.
As a wise WOMAN once said to me: You can lead a Horticulture but you can't make her THINK!
The "Pill" is available, mostly for free, in many clinics here in the good 'ole USA but the people you are talking about do NOT avail themselves to that service BECAUSE they get money from State and, subsequently, the Federal Governments to feed and raise these kids!
We can't do anything about the woman who ALREADY has those 11 kids but we can try to BREAK the cycle by nipping FUTURE welfare "wanna be" moms in the "bud" and stopping money for more than 2 or 3 kids. If they can rise a dozen on the money for 2 or 3, well, so be it!
It's the same thing they are trying to do with SS and other things. You have to "Grandfather" (or mother) those already stuck on the system but you can alter the path for the future!
Also, what kind of LIFE do these welfare babies have, anyway? Growing up in the "projects", introduced to drugs, violence and gangs by the time they can walk? Going to overcrowded schools filled with their social peers? That kind of life is HUMANE???
These "moms" are looking out for their kids? Helping them with their homework? Teaching them morals and values? Keeping them off the streets at night as they get to be teens? I say, almost to the one, NO!
Do these moms report who the "latest" daddy is so the State can get reimbursed? Not usually! Having said that, without a verifiable (DNA testing if necessary) "daddy", no support! She didn't get pregnant by herself!
I think the reasoning for keeping the tax break explains itself. Once again you posted inforamtion irresponsibly. You wrote as if there was no reason behind the tax break when cleary there was and it was even explained by the government. They wanted to make GM was attractive to investors in attempt to increase the chance the US investment wasn't a failure. Gee... I wonder how that turned out
__________________________________________________
Akeem: So far, the taxpayers "investment" in Government Motors has been a DISASTER.
The "new" GM IPO came out at $35.00 in 2010, its at $27.00 today after a record earnings announcement yesterday. For the taxpayers to break even on the original bailout BILLIONS, the stock price has to double to about $50. If you add in the $14 billion sweetheart tax deal, the stock getting to $50 only leaves the taxpayers in the hole $14 billion.
Stick your "posting irresponsibly" where the sun don't shine. The American taxpayer (ME) is getting screwed by Barry Obama and the lefty liberals in order to bail out the UAW.
Rick Scumtorum, sugar daddy said, put a aspirin between your knees to avoid contraception.
Indie, good try. I love that diversion is fox news and the art of personal destruction is MSNBC and progressive party. Why not just stick to discussing the issues rather than name calling so I guess I deduct 2 points for you for following the pathetic Alinsky school of politics. Now that we are even, I am sure you are smarter than your post. You realize that corporate tax directly impacts individuals and the rates. You must understand why we have lower dividends tax rates right? Because its previously taxed income so rates do matter. Second, you do realize that our current system regardless of JS discussion of absolute dollars versus rates is extremely progressive right? I am sure you have seen the IRS tables a hundred times so you know that the federal income tax burden in this country is extremely progressive. What it is not is fair. You really cant count payroll taxes unless you want to disavow that its not welfare. Its either a contributory pension system or its government assistance and payroll tax is a tax. I think its a contributory pension system that just happens to be unfunded and because you get it back its really not a tax at the moment. Eliminating that makes our system even more progressive.
So its nice that you try and give JS a lesson but you failed in that regard
Kirk,
Keep trying to divert the topic... Bill O'Reilly would be very proud of you, he is a master of that himself.
As to your question, of course our overall system is progressive. It would have to be considering the fixed "cost of living" threshold. If it was regressive there would not be enough revenue coming in to sustain anything, not to mention it would bleed the lower class dry.
However, when faced with the JS argument of fixed dollar amounts... the logical answer is to point out the fallacy in that belief. Similarly, when faced with the argument of a "consumption tax" one must point out the regressive problem with that. Basically, the entire GOP tax argument comes down to their desire to move us into a regressive tax structure. Every plan, whether it be a "consumption tax", or "9-9-9", or a "flat tax" is all regressive when taking the cost-of-living threshold into account. You can sugar coat it with words like "fair" or "money I earned" or whatever Fox News catch-phrase is popular today... but it all comes down to your desire to change the system into a regressive structure.
I get it... you want the poor to pay for everything because you feel superior to them. Yes, you are a better person, go give yourself a cookie for being so superior. We are all in awe at how great you are.
Poppa,
Can I ask what your credtials are that you have so much insight into poverty and those who live in it??? Or was your post just a vomiting of talking points???
From the National Coalition on Homelessness
http://www.anitra.net/homelessness/columns/anitra/eightmyths.html
Why, thank you for asking:
States Receiving Most in Federal Spending Per Dollar of Federal Taxes Paid:
1. D.C. ($6.17)
2. North Dakota ($2.03)
3. New Mexico ($1.89)
4. Mississippi ($1.84)
5. Alaska ($1.82)
6. West Virginia ($1.74)
7. Montana ($1.64)
8. Alabama ($1.61)
9. South Dakota ($1.59)
10. Arkansas ($1.53)
States Receiving Least in Federal Spending Per Dollar of Federal Taxes Paid:
1. New Jersey ($0.62)
2. Connecticut ($0.64)
3. New Hampshire ($0.68)
4. Nevada ($0.73)
5. Illinois ($0.77)
6. Minnesota ($0.77)
7. Colorado ($0.79)
8. Massachusetts ($0.79)
9. California ($0.81)
10. New York ($0.81)
Glad to help you out with that. By the way, the whole "welfare queen" thing ended with Clinton...try to keep up.
Indie, thats the problem with assumptions they never work out. First, I have never advocated a flat tax or a value add tax and wouldnt. Besides Cain, none of the GOP candidates and most serious GOP clearly want a progressive tax, just a more fair simple tax. The value add tax as you say is definitely regressive but it was put forth by Obama and has been a favorite of the democrats for a long time so dont blame that on the GOP. Again with the personal attacks but I never said I was superior or anything like that so it would be nice if you could keep to the topic.
The reason why Obama would prefer a value add tax is that is would be a tax on everyone and appear to be fair and not seen as an increase on tax to those who dont currently pay tax. The only way to raise enough revenue along with the spending cuts that are needed to fix our deficit and financial condition is to make sure everyone is paying in. Just taxing the wealthy isnt enough and I think Obama is smart enough to know that taxing small business owners is a jobs killer so a value add tax is much less controversial. I disagree as I hate the value add tax and would be much more in favor of a simple, fair and yes very progressive income tax in which all deductions, social engineering and loopholes were removed in favor of a reduced rate. I bet if you reduced the rate to 28% as the top rate but with no deductions, you would have a huge revenue increase and much fairer system. You also have to deal with the fact that 50% of taxpayers dont pay any federal income tax and bring those taxpayers above a certain wage into the taxpaying system albeit even if its a small amount.
Beverly in Chicago
Bev the bigot is now the voice of the liberal cause against religion! Bev, I did ask where and how you determined this to be true, asking for you sources of information. You continue to avoid responding to your religious bigotry.
As for your second statement, where in the Vatican or church law is this written?
Sharia law in the US? Only if liberals attempt to provide it, but I doubt if it will fly. So with your statements, are you condemning one religion by promoting another that shows women as second class citizens in this religion that seems to promote men over women?
In many of your posts you down-grade the white race, now you are out to degrade Catholics? Thank goodness you are a simple small-minded liberal in a sane majority nation.
GOPhers stand for Privatizing Social Security so Wall St can collapse again and but 10s of millions of American families in the Street, They want to get rid of Medi care so the elderly people that have built our Great Nation can just die on the side of the Road, They do not want women to have the right to control oneself body, They want the middle and poor people to pay more in taxes, They want a HUGE Military industrial complex, They dont believe in evolution, or climate change, and they want the Wealthy to pay ZERO in Taxes. No wonder the GOPHER party is dying, They sure as hell dont represent my or my families interests and I sure do believe the American populace is really starting to wake-up to these Baboons
ex teaparty--when you make such outlandish and silly statements, you wonder why many of us fiscal conservatives think you progressive types are off your rockers. No one is advocating the elimination or even cuts in Medicare. Personal accounts for social security in which the only thing its invested in is Treasuries would be equivalent to what you have today so not sure how that causes a collapse or millions of families on the street. Can you provide evidence of the wealthy paying zero income tax since they pay it all now I am curious as how that would work. Lets have real discussion not hyperbole
Moonbase - Apropr Screen name!
This is actually what Santorum said.
Being as the fed becomes in greater control, our education scores are dropping - he has a point, but one that won't happen anyhow.
On January 7, 2012, George Stephanopolis grilled Santorum for 17 1/2 Minutes trying to get Santorum to say anything that could be misconstrued as wanting to be banned contraception. Finally George asks "in theory, could states ban contraception?"
Santorum 'In theory states could ban contraception - but nobody wants to."
I actually found out the blogger who said this - no support, just opinion. There is a protestant "christian" group that says this, but Santorum is Catholic. BTW, I saw an interview by David Gregory with Santorum where Gregory was accusing him in questions of being sexist - Santorum started laughing at the ridiculous question - then proceded to refute. Before the interview, Santorum hired Michelle Bachman's presidential campaign spokeswoman to be his National Press Secretary. Any real journalist, given Santorum's public record on hiring would never have brought such a lame question like this.
Women should not serve in combat roles because of "emotions"
This is a grand butchering of what Santorum says. Santorum said that as long as they can meet the physical requirements they can serve in the front lines. He also said that there can be some emotional issues with men.
Better for kids to have parents in prison than to have gay parents
Not Quite - he was quoting a source here it is.
He may have a point here
Homosexuality = man on dog
I saw one of these incidents. Santorum was giving examples to college students in New Hampshire on how laws are evaluated as to whether a law is a good law or not and yes. This was over homosexual behavior being appropriate. His point was that if Homosexuality should be legal, as heterosexuality is, then do other sexacts and marriage types should also be appropriate such as man and a child, a man on dog.
If you think Iran should be permitted to have nuclear weapons - you have bigger problems than Santorum.
Yeah when he was consulting he was driving one for a few years - do you know why he would, I do, but I wouldn't and neither should that be a reason not to vote for someone.
I agree with you on one thing - you didn't make this up, someone you read did.
This deserves a repost...
David Walker [Comment collapsed by the community]
@ol_doc
Why do you assume federal spending per state equates to welfare? Do you accept that states raise taxes within their own borders and use the money for welfare? There's a link in this string of post, not from me, that points to California having the most welfare recipients. So it's nothing to do with how federal tax dollars are redistributed.
Sarah, why not do both? Time limit on benefits and having them retrain/work PT? Many others multitask and sacrifice to improve their lives or their families. Why accept excuses from those that just want to stay at home and receive government support? Even the handicapped can establish a sense of self worth regardless of ongoing government support.
Sorry mickey, he doesn't deserve a re-post. Apparently you don't realize that we can read what he says just by clicking on the box next to the collapsed notation..
I think a time limit of any sort needs to be done on an individual basis. If we would invest as much time and energy into ending poverty as we do on the war on drugs, imagine the resources we could provide.
Social workers that weren't overloaded with cases and could actually do their jobs, better GED/job training programs, help relocating if necessary, counseling....
DB,
We've already been over this. This is a straw man argument. By making it at all, you're saying that homosexuals have the same mentality as animals.
Remember, it's all about legal capacity. Children, animals, and inanimate objects don't have full, if any, legal capacity.
And remember, strict scrutiny??? The state has an uber compelling reason to ban across the board polygamy. It would mean rewriting, tax law, insurance law, probate law, family law, yada, yada, yada... And incest, is based in power control and abuse. Find me one case of immediate family members that know they're immediate family members, have no abuse in their histories, and still want to marry. I dare you.
If you think gay marriage is bad, don't get gay married, and you are perfectly entitled to that view, but enough with trying through these illogical arguments to make your position seem justifiable or force it on other people.
It's just utter ignorance.
The GOP keep on using absurd hypotheticals to back their arguments. So, according to Santorum's logic, we might as well take away women's right to vote, as eventually they will vote for contraception and abortion to be legal. We should also do away with the Constitution, because it gives "too much" power to the federal government and enables them to create taxes. We also ought to do away with the First Amendment, because it will eventually create a war against religion, and do away with regulations because eventually it will lead to an environmentalist takeover of the economy. See how absurd the GOP's hypothetical statements are???
And Sarah, you are dead right. I'm a Catholic heterosexual, and I have no problem with gay marriage. The Constitution gives us the right to pursue happiness within the law, and I don't see why the government ought to tell people who to marry. That, and if gays shouldn't marry, than women shouldn't vote nor poor people get benefits to stay somewhat afloat.
While I support a woman's choice to use birth control as she sees fit, I think it's morally wrong to try to force religious based organizations to support and pay for something that is against their core religious beliefs.
It should not be the government's job to impose their version of morality on people of faith - it clearly violates a church's constitutional rights by " prohibiting the free exercise thereof".
And if anyone is still complaining about the debt, here is a solution to calm them down:
I. Reduce the debt by $8 trillion over 10 years.
I am not joking. Check (http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3472). Just removing 90% of our tax code's loopholes and tax expenditures would save $947 billion a year. Maybe we ought to do that and simply reform entitlements and we'd have practically no debt by the mid-to-late 2020s.
II. Economic Recovery Package
AlanNJ,
The oft repeated refrain that the Democratic Party endorsed the Iraq War Resolution is simply propoganda. The House vote was 297 to 133 the Dems voted 82 to 126 AGAINST THE IRAQI WAR RESOLUTION. If left upto the Democrats it would have never gotten out of the House. Dems voted 61% to 39% against they endorsed narrowly in the Senate 29-21 with the vote being a done deal before the vote came up. If it had been voted down in the House there isn't a chance in hell it would have gotten a Democratic majority in the House. The Dems tried to amend the bill to limit power and were defeated in both Houses.
Backromm
Where can I collect my $1000?? Here are some voter fraud cases that ended in convictions.
Back in April, in a story that did not receive the attention it deserved, a Tunica County, Miss., jury found Lessadolla Sowers, who have been identified as a member of the executive committee of the county’s NAACP chapter, guilty of 10 counts of fraudulently casting absentee ballots in the name of others
The date of the article is July 29,2011.
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/peter-roff/2011/07/29/despite-what-democrats-claim-voter-fraud-is-real
Then there is this.
TROY, N.Y. - William McInerney, who resigned in disgrace from his job as Troy city clerk, pleaded guilty today in the ongoing voter fraud case and his plea could have great impact on the case.
McInerney's guilty plea is the first conviction in this long, long investigation, and it could blow the whole thing wide open.
McInerney avoided up to seven years in prison with this plea. In return for no jail time McInerney agreed to cooperate in the probe of forged absentee ballots.
http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S2257559.shtml?cat=300
How about this one??
The former mayor of the tiny municipality of Vernon and his wife were convicted Friday of voter registration fraud and fraudulent
voting.
Leonis Malburg, 80, who had been mayor of Vernon for more than 50 years before resigning this summer, and Dominica Malburg, 83, did not live in Vernon, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson found in a non-jury trial.
Leonis Malburg was convicted of conspiracy to commit a crime, being a public official aiding illegal voting, falsifying a declaration of candidacy, voter registration fraud, false voter registration, perjury under oath, fraudulent voting and assisting an unqualified voter.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/-Local-Politician-Convicted-of-Fraud-78576127.html
Like I said WHERE DO I GET MY $1000????
Ughh Roy-then a religious organization has the right to impose it's beliefs on its customers??? I'm Catholic, and I have no problem. I mean, if Catholic organizations get tax breaks, benefits, etc from the government, shouldn't they give their patients everything that a secular hospital would as the government would mandate??? They have obligations to their patients too. And technically, 28 states already do that. What is so bad when the feds do it??? Just because the Constitution is vague doesn't mean that states have more powers than the feds.
[Apparently you don't realize that we can read what he says just by clicking on the box next to the collapsed notation..]
"american"...and apparently you have confused me with someone who actually gives a rats ass what you think...and that's as nice as I can put it.
If you don't like what I post, or repost for that matter, DON'T READ IT...
It really is that simple. Or maybe it's STILL too complicated for you?
Witness the hypocrisy that is the GOP
Republicans want smaller government (except military and contraception)
Republicans want the deficit reduced (except when it comes to giving their masters (the Bush) tax cuts)
Republicans want tax cuts (except for the Middle Class)
Republicans want religious freedom (but only for their religion all Muslims are obviously terrorists)
Republicans want to destroy unions (because they are a major source of income for democrats)
Republicans want to destroy the teaching profession (making the populace dumber so they can continue to spin their lies, not to mention plenty of tools in case they want to start a war in Iran)
We know who you work for, and we're not buying your dog and pony show anymore.
.
That sound I hear ( listen! )...is that the sound of educated or street-smart women running away from the Republican Tea Party's social agenda...?
Bill, Fairfax VA
Bill, nice "on your own" piece at the beginning of this thread.
Just a few questions...
Given the economics of today, which can be argued to be a result of the policies you condone, how many of our youth are able to "go on their own" versus the youth of our day? My experience is that the ability to go "on your own" or to buy a house or to even get a job right out of college is severely diminished today.
Does "on your own" mean absence of a safety net like Unemployment Insurance, Social Security, Welfare, and Medicare? Many of those systems existed "back then" and, in fact, our tax rates were higher back in our days of "making it on our own"... how is that possible?
Do you seriously believe that reinstating 3.6% of the tax rate on the rich (which means $360 on a $100,000 project) and restoring just a portion of the investment tax rate flips us away from an "on your own" environment? I contend that it does not... at all. In fact, I contend just the opposite. I contend that a fairer tax code allows those "going on their own" for the first time a better chance of really making it... "on their own".
Adding 3.6% to a wealthy person's tax responsibility surely won't cause them to say: "I wish I hadn't gone on my own".
Joe DeMarco-3284896
Isn't it interesting that Bush grew the government more than most and went against virtually all the other points you list? And the beat goes on.
But I wanted to discuss a point about "smaller government" that never gets enough visibility. It's the notion of "starve the beast", which is just as damaging and illogical as "trickle down" (voodoo) economics... like pushing a rope uphill.
Republicans, in an effort to effect smaller government (to effect their larger agenda, but that's another story) NEVER drive process improvements or remove function to shrink government. What they do is simply reduce the funding to the various departments they think should be smaller... "starving the beast". This is a common (failed) practice in businesses that are shrinking when they don't want to reduce function but want to cut expenses.
"Starving the beast" never works. It does not drive an orderly organizational shrinkage, it instead drives nothing but dysfunction. "Try to do the same thing with fewer people"... how many times have we heard THAT one... never works.
Sooo, when these people "starve the beast", it causes government to become even more dysfunctional than it inherently is, and furthers their other agenda of pointing out that government "is the problem"... well, it IS... when the Republicans run it.
So let's just not forget that Bush not only grew the government in his favorite areas, he drove total dysfunction into those areas he and the Republicans wanted to shrink... regulators... auditors... watchdog groups... benefits support groups... environmental departments (EPA)... process improvement groups, FEMA, etc., etc., etc.
In other words, aside from war and security, the Republicans purposely drove dysfunction in the name of "starve the beast".
But I guess we're just all "okay" with that, because now we criticize Obama for trying to make it work by funding things "to work"... just can't seem to get our act together, can we?
Instead of trying to legislate sexual morality, wouldn't it be simpler and cheaper to fully fund planned parenthood and let those who want birth control get it for free and those that don"t for whatever reason don't have to go there. It is really none of governments business.
Regardless of what the religious right puts out there, less than 3% of what planned parenthood does is abortions. And most of that 3% is education.
Ok I am feed up. How the heck can anyone think ALL men voting on Women's birth control is acceptable. Ok how about we all vote on whether an ALL women council should vote on whether STD are covered for men. I found the question online at American's Elect online. By the way I should even the playing field. I switch my vote on American's Elect to Hilary Clinton. Good grief.
Lets see the ReD-Oh!blicans want to minimize women's access to all forms of health care, but specifically contraception. 2:The same ReD-Oh!blicans want to remove people who are on welfare having more babies off welfare. If we gave half of these people, the women, access to proper health care including contraception and held the missing ingredient, the men, who have to contribute half of whats needed to create a baby, responsible; maybe we could break the cycle of people staying on welfare forever.
The insidious Republican big government agenda marches on. The "outrage" manufactured by Republicans over birth control are the most egregious and disturbing example of government intrusion and religious intervention imaginable in this country. How does this help create jobs or boost the economy? It's a massive waste of time that has severe repercussions. That these morons would pick a fight on an issue widely seen by the public as uncontroversial is mind boggling. http://www.sunstateactivist.org
mattpfl, well said. First Read picked a perfect title for FT today--"Shades of Schaivo" because the GOPs objection to contraception is the polar opposite of what the polls say, just as was their stand on Schaivo.
Shades of Schaivo because the GOP is brain dead.
"Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum said on Wednesday that, despite his personal opposition to contraception, he wouldn't work to limit its accessibility if elected president.
"How do I feel about the issue of contraception? It should be available,” Santorum said during an interview with CNN’s Piers Morgan."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/16/rick-santorum-contraception_n_1282339.html
So Santorum and company believe contraceptives are “not good.” And sex is only for procreation. LOL! So then in Rick’s world the choice is: (1) keep having babies even is you can’t afford to feed them. So then these families either starve or get “food stamps” which of course is an “entitlement” they want to do away with or (2) stop having sex!
Get real Rick !
hs321, and you believe him? He's only saying that now because he stepped in a wiesel trap; not long ago he said he would grant states the right to outlaw birth control. For a man who claims he is consistent, how is it that now he says something different. Sorry, any guy who has that radical a view on contraceptives, if elected, would do everything in his power to eliminate it. One only needs to look at what GOP controlled states and Darryl Issa are doing to realize that Santorum would help them do it.
Rick Scumtorum called birth control pills "Abortion" and a evil act. This guy is Weird !!!
Yes, and he will not allow people the choice, strange and evil, the where conservatism and religion always leads.
Jody..."He's only saying that now because..." Because the political wind shifted that's why. Classical political move, but they all do it. Here's an example:
"And that's why if I am president, I will put the full resources of the federal government and the full energy of the private sector behind a single, overarching goal -- in ten years, we will eliminate the need for oil from the entire Middle East and Venezuela." – Barak Obama - 8/6/08, Elkhart, Ind.
Then Obama kills the Keystone pipeline which would have been the single biggest move towards fulfilling his campaign promise. (Based on his current progress, this campaign promise will never be fulfilled.) Why did he kill the Keystone pipeline? Because the political wind shifted.
I'm an independent who believes at this point Obama will be re-elected and who is totally unsatisfied with what we have to chose from.
Then why don't you all back off and quit trying to cram your leftist philosophies down our throats?
TransCanada said on camera to CNN that only a few permanent jobs would be created by Keystone in th United States.
The risk of leak and poisoning the land the pipe crosses is high. No alternative route identified.
The oil is, via a very big pipe, being sent overseas to the highest bidder.
It has been shown that the pipeline will cause gas prices in the US to go up, and delay freeing ourselves from oil addiction.
The pipeline is about making endless more dollars for Big Oil, not about making the lives of ordinary persons better.
Ordinary folks in Canada aren't happy either, about the production of the dirtiest, most carbon-producing oil (tar sands) on the planet.
Congressionals like Mr. Boehner have all kinds of large money investments in the Pipeline.
Rick-312779
So sorry, would to prefer our phallusophies instead?
Backhouse
A pipeline will be built however and with mucho US dollars from China's reserves westward through the Rockies. Albertans are not particularly Green. The Chinese are a pragmatic bunch and a long term association with unstable Iran and Iraq are not in their interest.
Patriotic American U.S.A. - Weird is an understatement. Ok... Santorum's Catholic and against contraception so then where are all these kids he should have? If he's a true Catholic then he should have a family near the size of the one with 19 kids. Where's the rest of the GOP contenders big families? Romney may have a few more then others but the math doesn't add up. How about Boehner who initiated the hearing in the first place. I don't see his family being a plus sized one. Gingrich for sure is in a league all his own with three wives under his cuff. Contraceptive drugs have a broader purpose then to control the size of one's family. These drugs address a host of women's health issues. Religious organizations true to their faith don't necessarily employ people of their own faith. This is not a Catholic or religious issue nor a political one. This is a womens health issue not an ideological issue as represented by the GOP. If GOP members go forward with this the risk of real harm to a women is a given. What happens when a women is denied contraceptive drugs to treat a non related contraception issue? If anyone thinks that it won't happen did I tell you I've a bridge for sale? No religious organization should decide how any womens health concern should be treated. No one only the patient and their doctor should be the one's to decide. Shame on Boehner and his cronies this proves why they need to be voted out.
"The risk of leak and poisoning the land the pipe crosses is high. No alternative route identified."
LOL!!! There are over 40,000 miles of pipelines in place now over the path of the Keystone pipeline. The risk is not high with current technologies to control pipelines, not too mention advanced remediation processes if there was a spill.
Please tell me where all the hoopla and foaming at the mouth was when all of the other 40,000+ miles of pipelines were installed? Oh, wait, which way was the wind blowing?
What most people tend to ignore is that they are not fighting to outlaw contraceptives, they are fighting against the government that is trying to make them offer something that is not within their belief system.
I am a right leaning moderate that believes abortion should be legal and available but only if circumstances permit (i.e. rape babies, BC didnt work, cant support a baby) and if the individual doesnt wait too long to get it done (also if that individual isnt a regular to planned parenthood). I also believe in contraceptives. Women (not girls under the age of 17) should have the right to have access to them but it is not MY responsibility to pay for it. If you wanna spread your legs to every guy that comes along, thats your prerogative, but it is not my responsibility to pay for your mistakes.
And guys, if you dont want to be stuck fathering a child from a woman of whom you know NOTHING about, put a rubber on it or keep it in your pants.
We are a nation of children with no concept of responsibility.
Everyone wonders why the 40's and 50's were so prosperous for the US. Yes we had high taxes and that probably helped us along but we were also a responsible culture. People back then understood what it meant to have sex with someone else. People nowadays think that there are no cosequences of drunken one night stands.
Planned Parenthood provides lots of other services besides abortion including typical OBGYN exams, STD testing, sexual education resources and counseling. Hopefully women who do not have access to good medical care ARE regulars at Planned Parenthood because it means they are getting the help they need to make the best choices. Women who aren't seeking medical care at all are more of a problem.
While there are some women who are easy, it only takes one time to have an accident. Not every girl who finds herself in an untenable situation is sleeping "with every guy that comes along."
hs321, the oil that would flow via the Keystone XL pipeline will be sold on the international market via a scenic trip across this country. The process of obtaining oil from tar sands is dirty, expensive and devastating to the environment. The pipelines others mention to justify Keystone have polluted land and water in this country. President Obama was not just talking about "oil" in Elkhart, he was talking about clean, green, renewable energy. You need to post the entire speech in order to understand the message.
Ideo,
I know P.M. Harper wants Canada to be #1 exporter of oil to China.
Nevertheless, he realizes that though convenient for him, it is entirely of no use to on our side of the border. Unless you are a Big Oil merchant.
But I have also read about the fear in the hearts of First Nations up there, their precious fragile villages and ecosystems will be seriously hurt - by another branch of the pipeline in Canada.
Tar sands oil production 3X as expensive to get out of the ground as any other oil, and filthier than we can imagine on our environment and our future.
Rick Santorum's Wife had a six and a half year affair with a abortion doctor. Could this be Rick's problem ?
Goodness, Rick! Are you tied up in front of your computer while a lefty with a gun stands behind you, forcing you to read our comments? Let us know right away and we'll call 911 for you.
Otherwise, we are doing the same as you are...exercising our constitutional right to freedom of speech. We have soldiers in harm's way out there fighting and dying to defend that freedom.
This is not force, Rick...it's gentle persuasion. Have a nice day.
As long as guys try to sleep with every girl they can get their hands on, nothing will change along those lines. Are we trying to legislate human nature now? Good luck with that.
Better to go after those guys who 'slam, bam, thank you ma'am', and don't take any responsibility for the care and support of their own children. DNA testing can prove paternity.
shay-477512
If the sole purpose of marriage is making babies, then maybe a President Santorum would outlaw marriages between all people who are past the age of child bearing, and force any younger people wishing to marry to take fertility tests to ensure that their marriages serve the purpose that God intended. If people can't have children, then that means they'd only be marrying for the purposes of immoral hanky panky. But I kind of doubt that even Santorum would take his extreme views on marriage to their logical conclusion. He's not much on logic, but he probably knows that he'd get approximately zero votes in all the remaining caucuses and primaries if he did.
P.H. -
Which is why I emphasized that we are a culture of irresponsibility when it comes to being prepared and using protection against unwanted pregnancies. I understand accidents happen (the condom broke) and I dont demonize those women.
I believe abortions should be available for those who cant support a child, got raped, have too many children, had an accident and so on. My point is that they shouldnt be available to those who frequently have these so called "accidents."
Also, my Planned Parenthood comment was just meant to be snarky, thats all.
mattpfl - I'll disagree with Jody... your post was a complete load of crap. How about not obfuscating what is going on just to suit your ideological slant? The liberal media and the liberals are all singing the same tune so therefore it's all BS! The issue isn't about birth control or reproductive rights. The left has shaped the argument to suit their needs of gaining control over something the president did that was completely wrong.
The issue is about religious freedom... period! The president, in an attempt to overstep his bounds again, stepped in it big time. He first comes out to say that religious based commerce has to provide contraceptives for their employees. That was nothing but him attempting to gain control over what he KNOWS is a violation of their tenants of faith. Then when the backlash occurred, he changed his position by saying that the insurance companies will provide the contraceptives for free. What a load of crap... nothing is EVER free. Now the liberals have completely warped the issue into a contraceptive battle and womens rights. Another load of crap.
The threshold issue is religious freedom... do religions have the freedom, as provided in the Constitution to conduct their affairs as they see fit without government intervening in their faith...
The whole issue has been warped by the left because they know if they change the rules, they will create a false controversy... as they have done!
hs321 - interesting that all of the GOP governors of the states the pipeline was to run through are against the pipeline as it is now proposed. The perfectly safe pipeline has GOP governors running scared! So, your "risk is not high" clearly doesn't resonate with them and they actually have facts!
Fair enough, Raff. Thanks for the clarification.
For the record, I agree that both sexes need to be more responsible when it comes to using protection (not just for pregnancy, but also for disease).
Brian: Trying to restrict access to birth control isn't about birth control OR women?? WHAT??? And you claim others are "obfuscating"?? No wonder independents are fleeing your party in droves.
I rarely read Sick of the Bickering, because he is not very bright. When I write something about the Founders, I write it because I know it to be true.
The particular quote from Jefferson I am referring to is this one: "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." This is contained in a letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush, remarkably enough about the First Amendment, how the religious right is fearful of Jefferson, and how the only thing they had to fear from him is eternal vigilance over the Separations.
If you want to make an argument that people fled here for religious freedom, you may, though that would not be true. A great deal of them came to make money.
Perhaps someday it will dawn on conservative candidates that when they poke their noses in the reproductive choices of women, they'll get kicked to the curb.
AP - What party do you speak of? Are you of the mind that I belong to a party? If so, there is nothing else to say other than you are completely off base.
Trying to restrict access to birth control? Who is doing that? Who is restricting anything? The issue is who is going to pay for it? Well, responsible people can pay for their own, or do you have a problem with paying your own way through life? Do you want everything handed to you? Do you want ME to pay for yours? If you do, go to hell, you pay for yours. How's that for simplicity?
Newday - Who the hell cares what Jefferson said, or wrote? We don't base our government on what he said or believed. Now you come along and quote him as if he was the author of this country and he can override our Republic. It's really nice that you respect the man, but in the overall scope of things, he means a twit.
To remind you, here's what the Constitution actually says: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech
Mary - the meeting was over whether it was legal for the Obama administration to force companies to provide contraception - not ban contraception
No one has any desire to ban it - what they are concerned about is people being forced to provide it!
Do you have any concerns about the administration putting federal agents into south carolina schools to enforce Michelle's new nutritional Guidelines? Ask the people of North Carolina who found out that the Federal Agent opened some kid's bag lunch and made the kid eat the school's lunch and charged the parents $1.25.
The Guidelines disallow a turkey sandwich with cheese in favor of chicken nuggets.
Geez, people are the puppets of the media.
Brianb: thanks for your comments...you are totally correct...it's interesting how this issue has been clouded with arguments that have nothing to do with the real issue. Republicans or anyone else that really understands this issue don't give a "rat's ass" about restricting birth control etc...this is not about woman's rights or woman's health...
I can live with government completely out of my reproductive life.....that means that they don't say it is good, or bad, they don't financially support it, they don't pay for anything that relates to it, and I don't give a rat's behind what any given male politician may or may not think about the subject of women, birth control, abortion, children, marriage.....that would be true separation of church and state-the government says and does absolutely nothing with the topic, at all, ever.
That day is near at hand, Christine. Mark it on your calendar: November 6, 2012.
I care. Thomas Jefferson was one of the greatest men in American history. You can keep Ronald Reagan.
@Joe in Albany
If you're going to be calling somebody a moron I suggest you stop being one yourself. I just love you sanctimonious, self important bullies. Good God you creeps have become monotonous. Between you and nojo and others there is enough pollution, lies and bad information to require super fund cleanup status.
You know, if your party was such a good thing you wouldn't need to lie, cheat and spread misinformation all of the time. You problem is simple, your product can't stand on it's own.
As for poor Shiavo, the lady was nothing but a paperweight and you sanctimonious Christians just had to make a huge deal out of her situation. You obviously have zero shame.
Please, please, please stop legislation morality. It's quite frankly, none of your da#n business.
Also, stop trying to ram your twisted religion down our throats.
Small government my butt. You get your way it'll be just as huge as you try to control us. Legislate your own stupid morality and leave the rest of us alone. We have our own issues to attend to.
Oh my God! Every time I think Brian can not appear more illogical or stupid, he manages.
Why do we care what Jefferson and Madison think? BECAUSE THEY FOUNDED THE COUNTRY AND KNOW WHAT THEIR INTENTIONS WERE!
Brianb-999431 - and your post - just a load of crap! (You really seem to like that word so I thought you would appreciate it!)
I believe that women should hold a conference on male castration. We will have an all women panel and men will not be allowed to participate. And, all the women will be ones who've had a very bad relationship with a man - recently. Sounds good, huh??
Now that makes as much sense as the House panel on birth control with no women!
Brian, DB, Juanita, no one is denying freedom of religion. You are free to practice your religion wherever you want. You are NOT free to tell me how to practice whatever I may believe. That is MY freedom.
No one is forcing anyone to use birth control. The issue is making available contraceptives and other health aids in a public and secular situation. Once religion steps outside the church, it is subject to secular laws and the wills and choices of the public at large.
If you want a theocracy, go somewhere else.
And Brian, you don't care what Jefferson said or wrote?! You do realize that he wrote the Declaration of Independence and had a hand in the Constitution, the Federalist Papers and the Bill of Rights.
If you have such disdain for the principles on which this country is founded, you really DO need to go somewhere else.
Do you suppose, fielden, that brian does not know that Jefferson was adamant about adding a "Bill of Rights" and that Madison actually authored them? Or would that still not matter?
Fielden
I don't think brianb wants to know since that wouldn't fit into his incredible narrow view of America. They keep saying founding fathers this and founding fathers that until the truth about what they actually meant and wanted is pointed out to them, then Jefferson isn't important. It's kind of like how they cherry pick parts of the bible and constitution hoping that people won't notice how dishonest they are.
With all the documentation that's out there it's hard to get away with making things up. They do keep trying though. I wonder if they think nobody notices. The funny part is that when you point it out to them they try to redirect everything. They've been doing that a lot lately.
Mary, Rick Santorum has seven living children. I think that is plenty. If each of them grows up and has seven children they will have made their personal contribution to the overpopulation of the earth. Fortunately, they can afford to raise them. Many of the women that he wants to deprive of contraception do not have the financial resources he does, so someone else will have to pay for them. You would think they would get the connection between contraception and unwanted children, but apparently not.
Dennis: exactly. The fringe right wing has myth where real people were. The Founders wrote a lot, Jefferson in particular, and if you read what they wrote, you learn how they shaped this country.
I do admit though...I am still laughing at brian's post. Funniest thing I have seen on First Read
1. the 1st amendment keeps the Federal Government from establishing one religion over another, as the King of England had done. It also keep government from interfering with any human's preference and participation in a religion, as the King of England and the Catholics had done. This Health care law does not establish one religion over another. It does not force any woman who chooses not to use contraceptives for religious or moral reasons to use them. There is no 1st amendment issue.
2. Republicans put the very same provisions in place under W in numerous states over the years. The Catholics had not one word to say then. Why? It happened because we all got tired of the fact that Viagra was covered and contraceptives were not. Even the Vatican was behind Viagra, woo-hooo. The only reason the GOP is kicking now is because they are losing on policies and issues and they think this will distract everyone. More redmeat, no more, no less.
3. Secularism is not a disease. It is a way to discuss the functions of humanity that are not part of religious activity. Since we want a government that does not put one religion over another, it must necessarily be secular. That doesn't keep every human working in government from having and practicing a religion devoutly. Also while I'm at it, "liberals" are good people, not demons and Obama is an American.
4. Fascism is occurring when someone in power forces their values on everyone through laws and violence that target not just actions but beliefs. Santorum wants to do that to you, Obama has not done it to you.
5. You don't look to the morally bankrupt for morals, that includes the Catholic Church (Remember the crusades, the abused children? Ask a Native American how moral the church is) and self-serving, philandering politicians such as the GOP offers. Look to your own God for your own self and let everyone else do the same. Laws are to protect and preserve the Nation, not to force us all to live any certain way.
I have not completely decided where I stand on the requirement for Catholic employers insurance policies to cover birth control under the preventative section of the Health Care Reform Act but I would like to point out something to those who steadfastly think they should not have to. Jehovah Witnesses do not believe in or allow blood transfusions for their members. If they have employees covered under a group insurance policy through there employement, should they be allowed to not cover needed blood transusions for their employee's regardless of the employee's religion. And I do realize that a blood transfusion is a life saving procedure and birth control is an elective item but the principle is still the same.
@Newday
I have to admit, BrianB is elevating ignorant to previously unheard of heights. If he would bother to actually read a little bit he might find many, many FACTS that he never knew and possible gain a little insight into what Jefferson and the other founding fathers were thinking.It's actually fascinating, but he'll probably never know that.
We already know this based on Santorum's record, for example his involvement in the Schiavo fiasco (good to see this mentioned in the article). But the overreach we are seeing now from Teapublicans far eclipses the Schiavo case.
In regard to GOP controlled states, look at what is going on in Virginia with forced ultrasounds. (BTW, who's supposed to pay for this "mandated" purchase, the woman or the tax payers? And how is this not Big Government?) Understand that Virginia's governor, Bob McDonnell, who plans to sign the POS into law is being considered for a VP position.
Look at the Blunt amendment, which was co-sponsored by Scott Brown of Massachusetts. This took the so-called attack on religion to an incomprehensible level:
There is nothing in the constitution about morals:
Wow, nothing like a really broad definition -- You have bad human character, so your health care is denied!
When any of these douche-bags are interviewed, they are clueless on top of it all. Romney, when questioned about the "Personhood" legislation, he did not seem aware of the affect it would have on contraception. Foster Friess didn't seem aware of differing statements Santorum has made about contraception. Scott Brown not only was an arse-hole during his interview, but had the audacity to say that the interpretation of the Blunt amendment would never be abused, because it would result in lawsuits.
But the Kangaroo Court held by Issa and his band of merry men really topped it off. Originally it was a panel of ALL men, mostly religious, and they denied Dems at least one witness (which is never done). We would love to have a Democrat panel of ALL women, mostly feminists, review coverage of Viagra and vasectomy in comparison, wouldn't we? No doubt men are okay with women making decisions about their health care and reproductive rights -- Hmm?
Enough with the lies and assaults on the Affordable Health Care Act and President Obama. As usual, there is no fire -- only smoke being blown up our arse.
Heartlight3 -- My sister also has seven children, and had to have her tubes tied to keep from having more. But the funniest is Rush Limbaugh, who has been married four times with no children -- ZERO. Unless Limbaugh is shooting blanks, the ditto heads should question him on statements he has made that are similar to Santorum's-- that sex is for procreation, not pleasure. Really?! What about masturbation, I suppose they don't do that either? LOL!
Db in Akron - do you even read what you write? You expect everyone to believe that we have such a surplus of Federal Agents that they have placed them in schools in SC to monitor lunches? Really???? That claim is so stupid it is beyond belief! But, you put it out there like it's a fact!!! Aren't you just totally embarrassed??? Go crawl back under your rock for the rest of the day!
PH-3046605 -- Further to your comments, the right-wing propaganda machine not only started lies about Planned Parenthood, they tell GREAT BIG LIES. First Senator Kyl of Arizona on the floor of the Senate, and now repeated by Senator Hatch of Utah:
Abortions for poor women is only about 3% of what Planned Parenthood does, which isn't even 1% of abortions nationwide. Those familiar with the movie "Precious" -- This is typically girls subjected to repeated incestual rape, which often results in deformed fetuses.
Why have Teapublicans targeted Planned Parenthood health care for women, and where do idiots like Bachmann get this sh!t about them being the Lens Crafters of abortion?
TruePatriot - you answered yourself - Bachmann just makes things up. We've seen her do this over and over. Whatever she can say to rile up her supporter (I meant it to be singular) she says. There is no rhyme or reason to her lies. She just likes to hear herself talk.
DB Akron, do me a favor. Look in the mirror and say that line again.
LMFAO!! John-537378.....I'll see you in hell okay!! Oh that's wrong and funny at the same time!! XDD
RafftheGreat -- Glad to hear that like most Americans you don't favor making abortion illegal, especially in ALL cases. But you still don't get it.
We are talking about Laws of the Land, so yes, government is involved, and no, religions can't do what ever they want to do (animal sacrifice, polygamy, refuse blood transfusions to children, etc.). In this case it is about labor laws in which employers cannot discriminate in regard to what health insurance covers. What about coverage of Viagra or vasectomy, or anything, like being denied care because you smoke or are obese?
And most of all, birth control is used for many medical purposes, not just birth control. The witness that was not allowed to testify at the Issa Kangaroo Court was to talk about a woman who was denied birth control coverage to prevent cysts on her ovaries, who is now in the hospital with serious complications. In regard to the Affordable Health Care Act, insurance companies cannot be allowed to come between you and your doctor, any more than religious institutions can be allowed to do so.
Do you get it now?
True Patriot - I agree with everything you've said about Planned Parenthood and the important services that they provide. While I do not swing predominantly left or right (I'm an independent), I am thoroughly disgusted with how extreme conservatives continuously want to impress their religious and moral beliefs on others.
About the 4 year old have her lunch examined.
It was a state mandate and state official who did the deed - not federal - my mistake. There are a number of reports that it was government official, I substituted federal by mistake.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/15/school-lunch-guidelines-p_n_1278803.html
State mandates have nothing to do with Michelle Obama. Do you understand the word "State"??? And, it was NC, not SC. Unfortunately the "State" chose to go way overboard. Nothing to do with Michelle Obama.
Brian: get a clue. WOMEN pay for their birth control through their health insurance. This isn't taxpayer funded. No one is forcing anyone to take a birth control pill who doesn't want one. This is about whether the Catholic church can prohibit women (all women in their employ, not just Catholics) from getting birth control even when they pay for it themselves.Churches are exempt. These are NON religious institutions--public institutions. (And is someone forcing you to take your Viagra which is included in your insurance?) HALF of all women in their life time will experience an unplanned pregnancy. There is a REASON that health insurance companies already provide birth control in their plans (and legally HAVE to in 26 states)--It's a heck of a lot safer than pregnancy. This is a LOSING issue for the Republican Party. Game. Set.. Match.
Brianb, your argument is ridiculous at best. The rule is applied to institutions that are NOT churches. And is it fair for the Catholic Church (and for religious institutions in general) to deny their patients or employees the medical coverage they need on religious grounds??? I don't think so. The Constitution may protect freedom of religion, but it also insures the rights of ALL Americans. That includes equal treatment. Why should someone have to be subjected to another person's beliefs??? Does that mean a religiously conservative employer ought to deny medical coverage to his employees just because he doesn't believe in medicine???? There is a fine line between freedom of religion and abusing that freedom. You conservatives keep ranting about abuse of welfare, entitlements, and benefits, but you don't mention a damn word about abuse of freedoms like religion. Why is that so???? Maybe because you don't want to alienate a key constituent (the Christian Right) Don't try building a fortress without checking for cracks.
Oh and by the way, I am not an atheist. I'm Catholic (just to hold off any atheistic remarks).
Oh and Beverly, please stop the anti-Catholic jokes. I like your comments but please don't rub salt on wounds. It just makes things worse.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
GOP EXTINCT 2012
The Right Freaks Out As GOP Poll Finds 20% Of Republicans May Vote For Obama
By Jason Easley
A major freak out is occurring on the right as a new poll released by a Republican polling company has found that 20% of Republicans are more likely to vote for Obama
The poll done by Republican polling firm Wenzel Strategies for World Net Daily found something similar to my own recent analysis of state polling data that the 2012 election is beginning to look like a replay of 2008. The Wenzel/WND poll turned up the surprising statistic that no matter who the Republican nominee is, one fifth of the Republican voters surveyed are leaning towards voting for President Obama.
The only Republican candidate who doesn’t lose at least 20% of GOP voters to Obama is Ron Paul, and he loses 19%. The poll found that 54% of those surveyed believed that Obama had exceeded or lived up to their expectations, and 47% said that he had not. Sixty percent of Independents thought Obama has met or exceeded their expectations as did 52% of moderates. In the head to head match ups with all voters polled Obama leads Romney, 48%-41%, Gingrich, 50%-36%, and Santorum, 49%-34%. Ron Paul fares best against Obama and he trails the president, 44%-40%.
Needless to say the right wing is freaking out over this poll. They realize that if 20% of Republicans defect from their party to support Obama, they will not win in 2012. Some on the right are claiming that the improving economy is helping Obama. Others are blaming the ugliness of the Republican primary for making all of the GOP alternatives unelectable. Most of their blame is being directed at Mitt Romney, as they use this poll to call for more conservative non-Romney candidate.
We also can’t dismiss the wing nut theories that the 20% of Republicans are really Democrats who are being paid by George Soros, and that white guilt is motivating one fifth of Republicans to possibly support the president.
All of these theories range from the logical to the bizarre, but they all overlook something. The majority of the American people personally like Barack Obama, and the Republican candidates really suck. It isn’t just the candidates’ fault though, the root of the problem rests with the positions of the Republican Party
The GOP has taken unpopular positions on raising taxes on the wealthy, killing Medicare, creating jobs, birth control, and just about every other issue (minus the deficit) that matters to the American people.
The years of Republicans taking positions that show that they don’t care about what the vast majority of Americans want has not only alienated Democrats and Independents, but also a portion of Republicans. Raising taxes on the wealthy is a popular position with a sizable percentage of Republicans. The GOP has ignored these members of their own party, while at the same trying to nominate a candidate who embodies the one percent. In contrast, Obama has taken the appealing position that taxes need to be raised on the wealthy. Raising taxes on the wealthy is the sort of issue that make some Republicans think twice about voting for Obama.
The truth is that the far right is freaking out because they don’t understand how so many of their fellow Republicans could consider voting for a president that they can only see through their Marxist/Socialist delusions about him. The reality is that the imaginary Obama they see isn’t the same as what the rest of America sees.
The right is melting down because they are realizing that not only that Obama may get reelected, but members of their own party may help him do it.
http://www.politicususa.com/en/republicans-support-obama
___________________________________________________________
There. That ought to hold you’ll Yahoo’s till I find a rope to tie you with.
If you’ll pardon me I’m just going to go over here in the corner and giggle at you while I wait on Jody’s most excellent wrap-up to appear.
mattpfl and Independent Redneck Va.
You have done excellent jobs describing the clueless right wing.
IR, you said it!
When folks take the time to follow dayto-day how hard this President works, how well he listens, how consistent, determined, how brilliant, successful, caring and focused he is; AND see how authentic and truthful:
It is a NO-BRAINER and that's a fact.
IR, excellent way to end the week--a republican poll showing republicans are losing their own and grasping at straws to find reasons why. Love it, especially your added humor.
Castle Law passing in states so individuals may defend themselves. Wisc just signed by the Gov.
How is that state debt Bev? Drowing yet?
IR-- Wow. I think the more the politicians campaign this trend will continue. Thanks for posting!
IR:
You've sure been on a roll, the past few days. Thanks again. What the article shows is that there are still some honest Republicans out there. They're not all crazy.
Great Post IR. I have four Republicans friends that say they will not be voting for a Republican in the general election, and two of them have President Obama 2012 bumper stickers on their cars.
Buck Naked Sr
Castle Law passing in states so individuals may defend themselves. Wisc just signed by the Gov.
How is that state debt Bev? Drowing yet?
I think you should ask that cross eyed badger in Wisc how does it feel being a recalled governor and going to jail along with his crooked staff?
jail, oh balancing a budget and living within your means is against the law now? only in the north
...Only the way you RWNJ's practice it.
"I, Me, MINE!!!"
and how do they practice it?
It's those darn RINOs -- the GOP needs to be purged, obviously, and to make all RINOs extinct. At least this poll gives the elephants a clue as to how many are left lurking in the wild.
Buck Naked Sr
and how do they practice it?
For one, Gov. Scott Walker To Use Foreclosure Settlement Money To Balance His Budget, Not Help Homeowners
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/02/10/422744/walker-settlement-budget/
Two, Gov. (Scott) Walker has yet to create a job, he gives away millions to his friends, and he raises taxes on working people." By taking out funds from the Earned Income Tax Credit, Walker has raised taxes on "working people
http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/may/09/lena-taylor/wisconsin-sen-lena-taylor-says-gov-scott-walker-ha/
Scott Walker's "Extraordinary Session" includes a Utility Company Land Grab
http://weirdloadreboot.com/blog/2011/06/14/scott-walkers-extraordinary-land-grab/
Lean forward and put your face in the blueberry pie. Take it for what it's worth.
IR - what % of democrats are there that won't vote for obama?
Given Obamas approval rating is 50% and going up, I would say democrats are going to vote for him. General elections have never been about the people that vote on party lines, its about very moderate types and independents. Whoever can win them, wins the election. Although according to studies, the only thing that matters for an incumbent is the trend of the economy, as long as it keeps improving a president will be reelected.
Take for example Bush sr, he had a 91% approval rating the year before he was voted out, when the economy tanked he lost. Bush jr, had low approval ratings and a solid economy at the time, he was reelected.
And right now the economy is improving, most economists I have heard feel like he will be reelected unless something drastic happens.
Jan, may want to check that again. Newest number just reported................43%.
Is that an overall or on the economy? His overall approval ratings are usually higher than the economy one but in the end he is still beating all of the candidates the republicans are putting up and pulling ahead even further. At this point their best chance is it going to the convention and the republicans pulling someone completely different out, someone like Jindal or Christie possibly? I think its too soon for another Bush despite the adoration the republicans have for Jeb.
Oh why even speculate on that, pray for another stock market crash, as long as the economy keeps improving he will win. That is the basis for every incumbent president, trends of the economy. Which is why Bush Sr lost and Bush jr won, despite the overall popularity was far higher for Sr.
Talk to the Hand - wrong - newest numbers are above 50%. You're looking at FAUX new again, aren't you? Wistful thinking on your part and - you're wrong!
Jan
Obama's approval going up. Let me help you!
Neutral Pollsters
Gallup 2-16 Appr 46 - Dis 48
Republican leaning
Rasmussen 2-16 App 48 - Dis 51
Democrat pollsters - democracy corps - 2-14 App 50 - Dis 46
News media
CNN 2-13 App 50 - Dis 48
CBS / MYT 2-13 App 50 - Dis 43
Fox News 2-9 App - 48 - Dis 45
Reuters 2-6 App - 48 - Dis 49
ABC 2-4 App 50 - Dis 46
Notice how the news media and democrat poll almost all say about the same. News polls are made to make news, not make results.
Gallop is probably the better indicator
The U6 numbers on the unemployment rate are 15%. I dont know how you can not count the people who have given up on looking for jobs.
Great post Job1.
I too have friends and many of them are Democrats. They all tell me that they are disatisfied with the job Obama has done. They are now sprorting ABO bumper stickers. Some have even traded in their handguns for rifles. Hmmmm, not sure what their plans are for that.
I guess that settles it, I have some friends that don't like Obama, so he is not going to be re-elected. I didn't realize it was actually that easy to figure out how the country is going to vote by simply checking in with a couple of friend.
Bev, How do Governors creat jobs?
By reducing taxes and allowing them to do business!
reducing taxes doesn't create jobs: That's what George Bush the FIRST correctly labeled "voodoo economics". Jobs are created when demand goes up. How many go arounds does it take?
Beverly - the truth on Governor Scott Walker
You make it sound like he used all of it. While you are being so "every jot and tittle" How about if you go after the former governors of Louisiana who took every penny of federal levy improvement money to improve the tourist parts of New Orleans instead of updating the levee's that broke during Katrina. That theivery cost the US Billions.
Your comment is about as good as one I saw the other day claiming the majority of Wisconsin residents were against Walker
Marquette University Poll - Walker 50, Barret 44, undecided 6
Marquette University Poll - Walker 49, Faulk 42, undecided 7
What a waste of money, just to satisfy special interests.
AP - really?
So why is obama so gung ho on reducing taxes, particulary payroll? Quite a disconnect wouldn't you say?
Well, AP and you american are half wrong. Yes, reducing taxes can produce jobs by giving more money to people, but that doesn't always work. It will work if it is targeted at real jobs creators (middle class, investors), but should only be used as a temporary economic stimulant unless taxes are too high. The payroll tax cut goes mostly to the middle class, and they will spend that money, generating demand. But tax cuts have a limit; go too far and you drain resources for the government and increase income inequality if targeted exclusively at the upper class. Both of those can act as a drag on the economy. That is why the Bush tax cuts didn't work; they boosted demand, but they hurt us in the long term by increasing income inequality (damaging the economy through lower salaries and middle class economic power) and running large deficits (forces government borrowing, which can crowd out private investment when the economy is healthy). Tax cuts can work, but only if applied correctly. The GOP has been shooting from the hip, with quite a lot of casualties.
Oh, and reducing regressive taxes give the lower classes more money to spend, while reducing progressive taxes can give the wealthy more money and more power over the economy than the middle class (hence income inequality increases).
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
"And that's the way it is"......this week.
CPAC was in full red-meat tossing glory for three days. It had a White Supremacist, Peter Brimelow, sitting on a panel discussing why multi-cultural-ism is a failure. Was Pat Buchanan there? Iowa's own racist panel member, Steve King, happily declared the multi-cultural-ism is "a liberal tool". Way to go, GOP; surprised the participants weren't wearing white robes and pointy hoods with eye holes. Conservatives, ....be proud.
How do you know that the GOP has crossed the Bigot Line? When flame-thrower Bernard Goldberg protests Brimelow's inclusion and declares that the bigotry in the republican party is "too much...it's out of hand."
DeMint kicked off the CPAC gala stating that Super Bowl teams not working together is why the GOP should not compromise with democrats. Well, that explains the GOP's inability to effectively govern--they think governing and government is comparable to a football game!
Rick Perry said Reagan was looking down from heaven thinking about reincarnation because President Obama is Jimmy Carter. Oh, how I've missed Perry's brain cell gap--Jimmy Carter is alive and well, and living in Georgia thus no reincarnation could take place!
Herman Cain tossed out "we must outsmart liberals...stupid people and ignorant people are ruining America." Yes, they are and CPAC put them on display for three days!
Mitch McConnell painted conservatives as victims of "liberal thugs"..."I think the President of the United States has higher priorities than picking on FOX News." Who knew Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog were "liberal thugs"?
Marco Rubio stated he didn't "know what's in the South African Constitution" but he does "know what's in our constitution." Honestly, Rubio, if you're going to blow a dog whistle, please study geography--Kenya is not part of the country named South Africa.
Rick Santorum preached that his vision is about who we are as Americans, that "rights don't come from government but from a higher authority." Anyone see God's signature on the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution?
26 times Romney said "conservative" stressing that he was a "severely conservative" republican governor. He really should not go off script--it's "severely" painful to watch.
Sarah Palin gave us, "we don't want an economy built to last, we want an economy built to grow." Growing up, Palin missed the moral of the Three Little Pigs, two of which built their homes for cheap, quick shelter and one built his house of brick so the big, bad wolf could not huff and puff and blow the house down--that "build to last", smart pig wasn't eaten for lunch.
Grover Norquist told CPAC the GOP only needs to "pick a republican with enough working digits to handle a pen to become President of the United States." What a revealing remark, all the GOP puppet masters want is a warm body that can mark "X" on the dotted line of the rich and powerfuls wants.
The Maine GOP announced that Romney won the caucus despite not counting all the votes; Paul cried foul. Romney won the CPAC straw poll; Santorum said Mitt stacked the hall with supporters. Maybe "other" really won both.
New Hampshire state GOP Rep Hoell is proposing a bill to eliminate the 30-minute lunch break required after five hours of labor. And we worry about how China treats its workers???
Rick Santorum questioned women in front-line military roles because "other types of emotions are involved." LOL, the GOP male chauvinist gift that keeps on giving.
Alabama GOP Representative Spencer Bachus is being investigated for insider trading--he welcomes the opportunity to explain himself. I'll just bet he does.
Paul Ryan threw a dart and missed the board when he blamed Congress's 10% approval rating on the Senate--poor fella, pretending the GOP Senators who block and filibuster aren't part of the problem not to mention the Tea Party's multiple near government shutdowns and their self-inflicted debt ceiling debacle.
Catholics United, "President Obama has shown us that he is willing to rise above the partisan fray to delivery an actual policy solution." No word on what they think of the GOPer partisan War on Women.
Senator Roy Blunt, one of the GOPers still aflutter about contraception, introduced legislation to allow employers not to cover birth control and upped the ante by allowing any employer to deny any health service if they object to it. For the GOP, the birth control nontroversy is not about religious freedom, it is about the powerful, private insurance industry and denying women's reproductive rights while undermining the Affordable Care Act.
Governor Scott Walker plans to use Wisconsin's portion of the $25 billion foreclosure fraud settlement, about $140 million, not as intended to help those who were harmed by the fraud, but to plug a hole in his budget deficit which two days before the settlement was announced, Walker said was balanced. Liar, thief, crook, con artist--take your pick. Wait, not so fast Walker, the Milwaukee Mayor also met President Obama on the tarmac Wednesday and the good Mayor "outed" Walker's plan and said he would contact the President's staff with the details!
The Governor of Washington state signed same sex marriage into law Monday. Opponents plan to fight the law just as they have everywhere--nothing like those standing on the First Amendment's religious freedom dictating the civil rights of those with whom they disagree.
Natural gas drilling is declining; the prices are too low, so for now "drill baby, drill" isn't that big of a deal.
Mitt Romney has a new take on his previous several positions regarding the auto industry loans--the auto loans were successful but a failure because of President Obama's "crony capitalism". Huh?
Valentine's Day gifts to democrats came in the form of two democrats elected to Oklahoma state seats and a democrat winning a seat in Maine.
Customer outrage forced Apple's hand. It announced a third party audit of its China supplier facilities. Despite what an Apple exec said about Americans not caring about the working conditions in China as long as they got a good product, the public did care. Bravo, Consumers!
Arizona state GOP legislator Klein introduced legislation regulating the language of teachers; requiring they abide by the FCC rules not just in school but everywhere. Small government GOP style, anyone?
The Virginia House passed "personhood" legislation which bans birth control among other things. To top it off, VA passed legislation requiring an unnecessary, invasive, transvaginal ultrasound for any women seeking a legal abortion to be done without permission of the women or without regard for the doctor's opinion. George Orwell was right only it's the "small government conservative" religious zealots who are Big Brother and who are destroying personal freedoms and civil liberties of everyone else.
Darryl Issa held a hearing called "Lines Crossed..." to investigate President Obama's contraceptive decision and allegedly his attack on religious freedom. Ironically, Issa and his anti-women's rights team only had men testify on the first panel and two women who agreed with him on the second. Where were the women, Mr. Issa; where were the opposing opinions? Issa's version of this hearing more closely resembles the Salem Witch trials, an era some GOPTP males likely prefer.
The last of the FEMA trailers left New Orleans Wednesday; they'd been there since Hurricane Katrina.
On the one-year anniversary of the Sleeping Giant's awakening in Wisconsin, President Obama visited Milwaukee and Masterlock. Governor Walker met him at the airport and was gracious, no finger wagging; then Walker feigned the flu. Yes, he probably was ill--that happens when thinking about facing a plant filled with union workers and your agenda is to bust unions. He would have fainted when President Obama told the employees that Masterlock "proves what union workers and employers can do when they work together." Cheers to Masterlock and its executives who in-sourced all the jobs back from China, and are now running at full capacity and are just as profitable.
Rick Santorum told an audience in Fargo that he wants to pull all federal and state money out of public education. For the doubters, be warned that the GOP wants to eliminate public education. They have been slowly starving education for 30 years; make it appear a failure and they can justify eliminating it--just as they have done to government, social security and medicare.
GOPer Pete Hoekstra's "Tokyo Rose" propaganda ad backfired, he dropped in the polls. Democratic Senator Debbie "Spend-it-Now" leads 51% to 37%.
Arizona's union busting bill hit a road block--republicans who refuse to go along with it!
Rick Santorum's "sugar daddy", Foster Friess, rendered the unflappable Andrea Mitchell (and viewers) speechless when he said the country is too focused on sex; in his day birth control was an aspirin between the knees and it worked fine.
The Bachmann "Chitspa" Award this week goes to Michele Bachmann for "when you go to the general treasury and open the door to that vault, only moths and feathers fly out..." She should know because she and her fellow GOPers robbed the vault leaving only "moths and feathers" for President Obama then they have the "chitspa" to blame him for finding their moths and feathers!
what is shady is fast & furious and the lack of truth coming from DOJ, but on the positive side Castle Law gets passed in more states including Wisc, that should make the libs scream and shout.
Wow and gosh Jody,
Another one for the Ages! Where else can we print your posts? It is time.
Your ref. to heaven and comment about natural gases, made me think about something Rochelle Lefkowitz (Pro-media Communications) said:
She called coal, oil and natural gas "fuels from hell". And wind, hydroelectric, solar power, biomass and tidal energy "fuels from heaven".
Wonderful as always Jody.
Rick Santorum told an audience in Fargo that he wants to pull all federal and state money out of public education. For the doubters, be warned that the GOP wants to eliminate public education.
Our Teapublican governor, Paul LePlague, just changed the rules in Maine, so that taxpayer money can go to fund religious schools. So much for the separation of church and state. The Catholic church doesn't have to pay for birth control coverage in it's health insurance, but my taxes can go to schools that teach a religion I don't support.
Castle Law? Is this because self defense was not doing the job? Here in Wisconsin, we wonder how some people ever managed to get the courage to go outside before concealed carry. Thankfully, this law has reduced the incidence of street crime perpetrated on white conservative males down to near zero, down from the previous level of, near zero.
An armed society; is a terrified society.
Jody:
As always, a fabulous wrap. I have e-mailed a copy of it to Alice. It will cut her travel expenses to Wonderland.
I would like to add a point to the Virginia legislation you noted. Forcible penetration of a woman's body without her consent is a crime in ALL 50 states in the United States.
It is foolish to imagine this insanity can be addressed in a civilized manner. These insane legislators must be removed from office at the earliest possible date. No self-respecting human being can stand by and watch this travesty go unchallenged.
Sorry, I mistakenly posted this elsewhere. I suppose twice doesn't hurt though.
Great as always Jody ... thank you.
Former Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said Wednesday that a brokered Republican presidential convention was a possibility and that if it happened she "would do whatever I could to help."
Thanks, Jody. Well done as always. Hubby thinks that all Americans should be required to carry a 10 lb dog with them. Our Papillon stopped an attempted entry of our home by a burglar. He was caught up the road in another house.
I was home and watched in amazement as this little tiny bundle of outrage would not allow me to approach the door, and stopped the guy in his tracks. He left when he saw me dialing my phone.
Poor, Buck, the best he has to offer is Darryl Issa's witch hunts.
Amy, typical GOPTP twisted logic--the separation of church and state only applies for contraception; otherwise, they claim the Constitution doesn't separate the two.
Thanks, what a week. Could have posted a novel with all the crazy this week.
As always Jody--good stuff! It would appear that the TPGOP is over-reaching itself--and many are noticing. I hope all of this translates into action. Backhouse--I love the quotes about fuels! Happy Friday everyone.
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly
Jody, Iowa
"And that's the way it is"......this week.
Jody the weekly reports just keep on getting better. Too bad the GOP Tea Party doesn't. Once they go I don't ever want to see them again.
The word demon comes to mind when I hear, see or read about them.
Great post Jody!! An enjoyable mix of facts and humor, thus a fun read. Your Friday posts should have a greater audience.
Fox's Hannity Does Not Understand "NO"
Courtesy of News Hounds...
~snip~
Most likely author Jodi Kantor had never spent a moment watching Hannity before she agreed to appear on the show to discuss her big-selling book, The Obamas. Otherwise, she would not have looked so utterly bewildered last night as Sean Hannity first praised her work then argued that she had missed the “hidden,” radical Obama and lectured her to “do your investigative work in the future.”
Kantor said she interviewed 33 “current and former White House aides and a lot of the Obamas’ closest friends.”
But, apparently, no research can match what Sean Hannity can just “glean.” He said, “I look at the people that the president has surrounded himself with.
…Why do conservatives like me look at his background, look at (Tony Rezko), look at the people – Jeremiah Wright, look at this inner circle and say I find he hung out with radicals his whole life, Bill Ayers, Bernardine Dohrn, and there’s a part of his life that he hides. I don’t think he’s honest with the American people.” Hannity went on to tie Valerie Jarrett to Media Matters and said, “What are we to glean from Ayers, Wright, Jarrett, Media Matters, and I see this as a conservative, as an outspoken conservative and I said there’s something not right. Am I off base?”
In a word, yes. Way off base. I’ve written many times about just how off base Hannity has been about Rezko, Ayers, Dohrn and Wright.
The look on Kantor’s face spoke volumes, too, about just how off base he was. She said, “To be honest, I don’t even know if Valerie Jarrett and Jeremiah Wright actually know each other… I’ve interviewed Jarrett and the president’s closest friends extensively and I don’t think there’s anything necessarily radical about them.” She also said that Ayers “was a kind of tangential guy in the president’s life. I’ve looked into it and there’s no evidence that they had a particularly close or formative relationship.” She said that Jarrett was more of a mentor than Ayers and that Jarrett has “a pretty conventional background as a business person. I don’t think there’s anything radical about her background.”
Has Hannity interviewed any of them – other than his browbeating “interview” with Wright? Done any independent investigation into Obama's friends and associates? No. But that didn’t stop him from pretending to know better than the author who had. Hannity said, “I do believe, and I would urge you as you do your investigative work in the future, I think what’s missing is I think he does not, he’s not been honest in his portrayal of who he is and what he really thinks of the American people.”
Actually, it’s Hannity who is not being honest in his portrayal of Obama. President Obama has never been a radical, he has never been close to Bill Ayers and Hannity’s refusal to recognize and admit the truth says way more about him and about Fox News’ continued tolerance for those falsehoods than anything he’ll ever say about Obama.
http://www.newshounds.us/hannity_lectures_the_obamas_author_jodi_kantor_for_not_portraying_obama_as_a_secret_radical_02162012
Being a Chicagoan, it never ceases to amaze me how this unrepentant bigot just won't let his lies go. It has been almost 5 years since the campaign; yet Hannity keeps insisting President Obama has a connection to Bill Ayers. . So does that Michelle Malkin. I have not read her book and don't intend too. I would like to know, however, what people did Michelle Malkin interview here? Those of us here in Chicago who know the truth wonder what will it take for them to stop this damn lie?
I was listening to local talk radio where one retired reporter said he has interviewed and followed the corrupt politicians in Chicago. Never once did he and the news station or papers he worked for find a need to label President Obama a crook.
Maybe now that Jody Kantor spoke the truth will Hannity cool out? That remains to be seen.
My other comment ended up below--who knows how.
Thanks again for the wrap up and for keeping the Chitspa award. How fitting that it go to its founder this week. It takes a lot of chitspa to be critical of what President Obama and the Democrats have done to get this country out of the dire straits that the Republicans put us in, especially when the Republicans have obstructed recovery efforts at every turn.
Jody -- Thanks and excellent as usual!
David Walker, your comment was worth repeating.
Thanks to those adding some extra goodies! Imagine Sarah Palin thinking that without doing the hard work of campaigning, she would gladly accept the nomination.
NDD, good grief, that's scarey; the princess should be promoted to Queen.
Ron Indiana
Great post Jody!! An enjoyable mix of facts and humor, thus a fun read. Your Friday posts should have a greater audience.
They always are Ron. I love the humor. Ron, I'm still clearing my mail box out. Hopefully, I can finish that task this weekend.
Jody: Yep, it was scary, hence the big dog in the house now. The Papillon agrees with you, but thinks she should be considered Empress. All hail her Imperial Highness, Jolie!
we don't care about that book either, nor the obama book, he came from a broken home, his mom banging an african she was 18, really? is that who we should be looking up to? she was out there. living all over the world, left her kids with her parents to raise, really? no wonder Chicago has the problems it does.
Backhouse
Wow and gosh Jody,
Your ref. to heaven and comment about natural gases, made me think about something Rochelle Lefkowitz (Pro-media Communications) said:
She called coal, oil and natural gas "fuels from hell". And wind, hydroelectric, solar power, biomass and tidal energy "fuels from heaven"
Backhouse, Did you see this?
Tell Koch Brothers To Testify About XL Pipeline
"Why will Charles and David Koch produce a video about their position on the Keystone XL oil pipeline and not testify before Congress about it? The Koch brothers have refused to answer questions about how they stand to profit from the Keystone XL pipeline, a 1,700-mile long boondoggle that would cut through six states and damage American homes and farmland."
http://www.newshounds.us/robert_greenwald_tell_koch_brothers_to_testify_about_xl_pipeline_02162012
It is time for all the Koch addicts to kick the habit. Otherwise; get Koch mouth from the filthy Koch bros. People are loosing their teeth from these polluters. Let's not forget fracking.
http://exiledonline.com/radicals-for-corporate-pollution-the-koch-cartel-the-heartland-institute/
Buck Naked:
You do understand that we are all Homo sapiens have our roots in Africa, don't you? All of our mothers were banging men whose ancestors came from Africa.
Come on now, you can stop advertising your ignorance. We're convinced.
David ... I think you hurt Buck's feelings when you annointed Damage "King of the Trolls" earlier.
David,
These words of yours are terrifyingly real for every woman and should wake up every caring male who has sisters, moms and daughters:
"Forcible penetration of a woman's body without her consent is a crime in ALL 50 states in the United States."
(On Governor McDonnell (R-VA) ready to sign the measure on forced transvaginal ultrasound.)
Careful Buck, your white pointy hat is showing; I'm just surprised you've managed to keep it hidden since you reincarnated yourself.
I wish my relatives had picked their own cotton.
You know white pointy hats are worn my religious leaders in Spain, those pointy hats?
Buck naked wouldn't know about humanity, he crawled out from under a rock. His happy place that makes him climax is fantasizing about a president's mother being banged in Africa. We used to lock these people up in a room with padded walls, but conservatives think they are better released on the street to spread their foul stench. Go get some clothes and dress yourself Buck .. your posts and your family jewels are offensive to all.
I never said "in" Africa, try reading it again
Buck Naked Sr: Stop using flip flop psychology and code words to belittle people and don't you know that over 80% of the plantation owners in the south were illiterate and lazy and did not know how to work? Get off of that crap because looking at tv and fox news will never tell you the real truth about history. As for you mentioning the Ku Klux Klan undercover they could not pick their own cotton because you need will power and knowledge, they also needed to not be so lazy which has always been a problem with them. Looks like a free hand out is all your kkk buddies are looking for and with the intellect that you have should which is way below low level you can see why cowards hide their face's with sheets, and are afraid that their kkk women would not hang around if they found something bigger than one half an inch and was not smelling like moon shine.
the hypocrisy of the right rears its ugly head... The right-wing-nut (FALSE) assertions that Obama is forcing things upon people has been upstaged by the Va legislature who now is going to force women seeking an abortion to submit to, what is effectively, rape by an ultrasound machine. In addition, they will have to pay to be "raped". I see some folks on here are from Fairfax... I grew up in Fairfax Co. (I moved thank god/allah/buddha/Jehova/NO GOD) and am ASHAMED to call myself a Virginian. What a travesty, the morons/fascists/theocrats/a-holes/dumb-arses in Richmond have now TRAMPLED on women's rights and basically outlawed abortion (ignoring FEDERAL LAW).
I can't help it they are misreading my comments.
I have never been a member never attended a meeting, never met anyone that was a member that identified themselves as one, never financially supported them so I am not sure where you get your info hawk.
Get ready for more of the same and worse. The better the economy gets, the more crazy spin we're going to get from the conservative pundits about Obama.
It must frustrate the hell out of Republicans that Mr. Obama has such a clean record and such a sterling character. Instead of rejoicing that we have a great man in the White House, all they want to do is drag him down so they can restore what they consider to be their rightful place on the throne.
We're on to them...ain't gonna happen! :)
Uh.... maybe from your posts and your stated postions.
Looks to me like Hawk et al just call 'em like they see 'em - and I happen to agree.
Yep, Pete is toast and to top it off the actress who played the part well read it for yourselves:
Great weekly wrap up, as usual, Jody. Thanks for all your hard work I look forward to it . It is one of the highlights of my FR week.
If you'd actually read any history, multi-culturism has helped (not completely caused, but helped) large countries collapse. So there is some truth to that since we're human are don't learn from history, we just repeat mistakes. Also, to clarify, not being multi-cultured does not mean kicking everyone out of the country that isn't white (since I know you lefties are going to go there). It means that people from other cultures need to assimilate into our melting pot instead of trying to keep their own culture. This helps with understanding and abiding by the same laws, speaking a common language so that communication is always fluent through work, the law, etc, and also learning the same pride in our country. That is part of what has made America great.
When you have everyone in their own sand box (which is happening more and more), then you are no longer one people for one country. You end up with people fighting against each other trying to make the country what they want, and along the way, the division causes the collapse of the country.
But, that's the road we're already on...
@Jody
I kept waiting for the CPAC Fools to just get it over with and light a cross on fire and dance around it like it was a May pole. All those good Christians and patriots...NOT. Patriots don't want their country to fail just so a president can fail. To say otherwise is being dishonest and bald faced lie.
AlexM
The main reason different cultures for clusters is to protect themselves from the likes of you and people like you. All of you do nothing but wish harm on them and they know it. I have a feeling that you're going to come after them in the dark of night and I frankly, don't blame them.
Right as Rain, Jody, in Texas after a Rick Perry induced drought,...
Thanks!
Jody; Excellent wrap up. a campaign issue over contraceptives???? As though a war on women is going to win them an election?? This is turning into a fund-raising bonanza against these wing nut zealots...
to AlexM - Um, which culture is it that others are supposed to melt into? The native peoples'? The white usurpers'? The slave descendants'? The codified one (there isn't one)? Obviously, you think your culture is all that, but the rest of us are not all on your team, Friend. I personally would vote for the Native Culture that was found here by our Founders, they've had the most time on this here island, seniority rules and all that......
Wow, I love how quickly the lefties drop to insults! You guys are way too easy :)
@Dennis,
I have some tinfoil in the kitchen if you need to fix your hat. I'm honestly not sure where you saw that I wished harm on anyone, but go ahead an take another puff!
@NC,
If you don't live in America (which I'm guessing you don't from your obviously ignorant post) then you really don't know what you're talking about.
But, like I said, we're human so we'll repeat mistakes.
I think the funniest part about the lefties is because they think their world would be better than the righties. Here's a clue... you're both wrong, and both of your worlds are screwed. Neither of you parties would know compromise even if it kicked your nuts into your throat. But good luck!
Jody,
Three weeks ago, you gave an excellent wrap-up for the week, My thought were that you should get a job in the news media somewhere because you were very fair and balanced.
The last two weeks it has pained me to see some of the rhetoric thrown about the vine slipping into your wrap-ups is there a reason? or, are you just getting caught up in the emotional surge?
I usually love your weekly post and look forward to it, but the last two weeks have been a little disappointing....
Still looking forward to next week though! ;-)
Buck Naked - You're really jealous of Chicagoans aren't you? You bring it up all the time. A little envious? It is a Great City to live in - tons of cultural activities; great restaurants; great diversity; one of the favorite places Europeans love to visit. We, fortunately have a great city. Too bad you can only envy the people who live here!
@Alex
I'm always amused when I'm dealing with a self involved pompous supposed know it all.
You say
But then you call somebody ignorant. People like you while not a joke are mildly amusing.
I didn't say you specifically but there are factions that take a lot of joy in targeting different immigrant groups. They cluster together as a form of self defense. Do a little research. You'd be surprised what you'll learn. Personally, I don't blame them. The right has been spending a lot of time demonizing different cultures and there are many that take that as permission to try to do them harm. These so called patriots seem to think it's OK. Well, it's not.
Alex M - what a bunch of garbage. Large countries that have collapsed have not done so because of multi-culturism but because of ignorance - the kind you are spewing! Stupidity caused their collapse - stupid people who could not see the value of others - but only noted their differences. Stupid people who encouraged dislike of people who were not just like themselves - the kind of crap you spout. No one in this country thinks laws should be different for different people. Speaking one language is essential - but learning multiple languages only makes a person smarter. Europeans are bi-lingual and do well. We should all strive to speak more than English - but keep it as our national language. But, learning each other's culture - not expecting everyone to adapt to ONE SPECIFIC culture - makes people grow and learn. I would think a "history student" like yourself - would know that!
SeekingSanity,
I wholeheartedly agree with you, Historical, Cultural and Societal measures of course, our DIVERSITY make us stronger.
We have always been an inclusive nation, it is one of the things that pains me so much to see both sides fail to remember this very important piece of the American puzzle.
@Egilman
I so agree with you. It's this diversity that actually makes us interesting. I can't imagine a mono-cultural society. It would be so boring. I'm ashamed of how some people act towards different cultures. They have zero idea what they're missing.
WHAT THE F***!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RICK SANTORUM WANTED TO DEFUND PUBLIC EDUCATION??????????????????????? What the hell is wrong with him????? Public schools are an IMPORTANT part of our education system; they give low-income parents a free option for educating their children and have been an integral part of American society. And Santorum wants to do away with it??? What the hell???? How can a supposedly conservative and respectful person actually propose eliminating the one thing that all people say that the government should support?????? Damn him. DAMN THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!! Is this what they want??? 1920s America?? Where immigrants were spit upon, the poor begged on the streets, and strikes were settled by private security forces opening fire on dissident workers??? These conservatives are insane. Remove public education??? These people are INSANE!!!! My God, if we elect these people we are DOOMED. DAMN YOU RICK SANTORUM!!!!!! DAMN YOU NEWT GINGRICH!!!!!!!! Damn you Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, Grover Norquist, Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Ann Coulter, Ron Paul, and all you right-wing NUTCASES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh and thanks for the info, Jody. Very informative.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
SAVE AMERICA FROM RIGHT-WING MONSTERS
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS 2012
LIBERALISM 2012
TO HELL WITH FASCIST GOP
I love to visit the Windy City
The battle over Obama’s 2013 budget during the run up to the general election will be little but bitter partisan sniping and little if any resolution will be achieved. Which side wins in November will be the one that wins the taxation argument. Currently that fight is being won by Progressives. In the meantime, America loses as both sides cannot even come to an agreement on what they do agree on …
By Bruce Stokes, Senior Transatlantic Fellow for Economics, German Marshall Fund
January 26, 2012 New America Foundation
In his January 2012 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama called for cutting taxes for companies that produce in the United States, especially high-tech manufacturers. He proposed eliminating deductions for firms that move jobs abroad. And he suggested a minimum tax on all multinational corporations.
The suggestions echoed, but were less sweeping, than Obama’s proposal in his January, 2011 State of the Union that Congress should, “Get rid of the loopholes. Level the playing field. And use the savings to lower the corporate tax rate for the first time in 25 years – without adding to our deficit.”
Both appeals were shrewd political maneuvers designed to appeal both to progressives, who have long complained about corporate manipulation of the tax code, and to conservatives who have long fretted that high U.S. corporate tax rates undermine the competitiveness of American companies in the global market.
And the president is not alone. GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney advocates cutting the corporate tax rate, as does his Republican opponent Newt Gingrich.
Despite such advocacy, reform of corporate taxation is all but dead in an election year. An overhaul now seems unlikely before 2013 at the earliest, as part of a rewriting of the tax code. Delay may be inevitable, but it is still a mistake. Corporate tax reform could level the playing field internationally, promote the competitiveness of U.S. companies, and create jobs sooner rather than later. Done right, it could also distribute the tax burden more fairly, create jobs, and generate revenue that would help reduce the budget deficit.
Progressives need to make corporate tax reform – not simply corporation bashing – a cornerstone of their economic agenda in the 2012 election campaign. It is good economics, good politics, and the right thing to do.
Excellent post, Ideology. Great points. Thank you.
Ideology, terrific post. A complete overhaul of the tax code is necessary but, as you said, it won't happen in 2012. Moving the mountains of lobbyists who want to keep those special interest loopholes is probably the biggest challenge; too bad, they don't realize that in the long run, everyone's taxes could go down.
In a way it is a response to a ludicrous series of questions by JoJo yesterday. I have yet to see her comment. Perhaps she fears to respond in like to my questions to her regarding women's rights? The male righties need to glue their lips shut on this issue unless they have a horde of female followers on this site to back them up.
Time to walk the dog ... maybe I will change my avatar for a pic of him ...
Thanks Ideo,
More on this ...
Ideology,
WOW!, Every republican should be having a wet dream over this, if you "For" business this is the way to go! The tax code need a complete overhaul.
My only problem this this article, he doesn't mention that Dr Paul is also for tax reform and tax cuts for business.
Excellent Post!
Rick Santorum is a freak of nature. Their isn't one redeeming value in that mans body.We as Democrats absolutely need to encourage the G.O.P. voters to vote for him at any cost or for any reason. If you have followed the primaries you have seen the Republican turn out has been the worst it has ever been. They (the Republicans ) are saddled with two candidates who have nothing to offer the United states of America it's citizens or any other country in the world .The people who are voting in these primaries are the disenfranchised part of the Republican party they do not in any way represent the mainstream Republican view or ideals to the point that they would warrant enough votes from their party to win.
Make no mistake about it this is a gift from the god they cheat on
Skeesh, slip for for a drink and someone drives your post off a cliff.
Ideology,
Watch out for the usurpers, they wanna take over everything!
(how's that for a conspiracy theory?) ;-0)
Right on, Ideology. Did you know that we lose $1.1 trillion a year in tax expenditures (with a t). Now if we simply eliminate just half of those deductions, we would save perhaps $5.5 trillion over the next decade. Unfortunately, I will bet that the overhaul won't occur until at least 2013...
Oh and Egilman, Ron Paul maybe for reforming the tax code and lowering taxes on businesses, but he isn't even looking to raise revenues. His main aim is the shrink government (insane), and you don't raise revenues if you want to minimize the government. He will continue to cut taxes (even proposed to eliminate the "unconstitutional" income tax) until revenues are small and spending will go down as well. That is a TERRIBLE idea, especially in a recession. The small government rhetoric doesn't go on very well among Americans, as they don't trust the "free" market to keep the water clean and the air pure of pollution. Neither would I.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
Tell me again about Republicans believing in smaller government. But then -- when you can't run on the economy or national security, when you haven't had a new idea in 30 years, when you have no solutions and nothing to offer -- why see if you can make birth control an issue.
When I saw Romney speak at a rally in Maine he went from decrying the size of government and federal spending, to calling for increased military spending so that we, once again, are capable of fighting two wars at once. He said he wants to buy more destroyers, more fighter jets, and increase the size of the army. (FYI Bath Iron Works builds ships for the Navy.) And Newt wants to colonize the moon (speaking in front of NASA employees.) Republicans are such panda bears.
Amy---I don't suppose Romney mentioned how he would pay for this mighty military build up, did he? Especially when his tax plan would further lower taxes on the 1% and eliminate the estate tax.
Charlie, terrific post earlier and you certainly are right about the GOP here, too.
Romney's tax plan harms everyone except the very rich. He talks big but as Amy and SF said, how he will pay for his "most powerful military" in the world, able to fight two wars, and leap tall buildings in a single bound is not mentioned.
Well the economy has begun to recover...employment is up...the wars are ending...gosh, what's a Republican to do but return to their long standing hobby of emulating the Taliban and have big government "help" women make such difficult decisions as whether to use birth control!
Amy - not nice. Panda Bears are sooo cute. I think we can compare Republicans to - oh wait - Newts!!! Sorry but it so fits and they're not really all that cute!
Sure hope nobody tells my wife she can't have sex with her knees together. She might stop doing it.
it's kind of hard to keep her knees together when her ears are pinning them back behind her head
mrkarnes thanks for the chuckle
Hey Buck Naked Sr........
get dressed!
Everyone is sick and tired of seeing it.
disgusting!
The "Return Of The Culture Wars" is NEVER a BAD idea for the GOP as long as they go ALL OUT. The American public generally disagrees with the liberals on cultural issues and HATES what the liberals have done to American society and culture. Common Sense Americans know instinctively that it is a BAD idea to allow murderous convicts like liberal hero, Willie Horton, out for a weekend pass. We know that it is an atrocity to MURDER a baby that is one month away from being born. We know that it is a HUGE offense when liberals like Hussein tell us that, if our 14 year-old daughters have an abortion, we shouldn't be notified. Bring on the culture wars, idiots.
dreaming wide awake, again?
Get real... if that's even possible.
lmao
Yes...Republicans want "Smaller Government"...apparently a government so small it can fit in a woman's uterus.
I think it's just the oppsite. Most independent Americans dislike the self-righteous morality of the far right. They tend to think they should be able to be intimate with their partner without the fear of an unwanted pregnancy or STD's.
Just as GOP way, way over-stepped on the Shaivo case, they're doing the same thing now with women's heath issues.
Not that liberals are completely OK either, but at least they rely on individuals instead of a collective mandate to abstain from life rather than living it.
The American public generally disagrees with the liberals on cultural issues
Put your crack pipe down. Even 98% of Catholic women use birth control, gay marriage is becoming more acceptable each day and a majority of the population wants abortion to remain legal. But hey -- I want Republicans to run on "social" issues. I want Rich Santorum to be the Republican nominee. Remember -- the people in PA tossed Rich out by more than a 2 to 1 margin.
Go ahead and laugh. Myself and millions of others don't think it's funny when a baby is a month from being born and some doctor pulls him/her partly out, pokes a vacuum tube in his/her skull, sucks out his/her brains, collapses his/her skull, then pulls him/her the rest of the way out (have to do that after the brain killing so him/her won't be technically "alive") and leaves him/her on a table to die.
Now, you people can go ahead and collapse this post or have it deleted but that won't stop you from thinking about what I wrote, or the fact that our "president" supports such things.
Fascinating...I don't recall anyone here thinking or stating that it was funny.
I don't know any woman who wakes up one morning and says, "I'm bored. I think I'll go have an abortion today."
For people to object to Heath Care Reform calling it huge government overstep into the personal lives of citizens but to then turn around and support bans on contraception and abortion...THAT is hypocrisy.
One way the GOP can win the culture wars is by tying Hussein to Hollywood and trial lawyers. Let's face it, nearly ALL Dem pols are lawyers by trade. That means they are usually pro-crime and anti-police. Crime is down at the moment because of 3 strikes laws and mandatory minimums. These are things that Hussein is against. They need to tie his dumb ass to some criminals or wait for him to slip up like he did with that dumbass professor in MA. and make an anti-police statement.
Hollywood speaks for itself. How many days now have these morons been glorifying yet ANOTHER dead drug addict? The American public can't even allow their children to watch prime-time TV anymore on a Sunday night without seeing the worst of what the Hollywood liberals want us to see. Hit em' where it hurts and don't be scared to criticize Hussein just because he's Black. Go all out. Just my opinion.LOL
Yes, I'm sure President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, et al are in Washington right now chanting, "Go, Murderers, go! Go, Murderers, go!"
It's ok, Pizza Man. You and your kind continue to believe that comitting an atrocity like that is simply a matter of a woman choosing what to do with her uterus. You said so. Any wonder why the value of life is so low in our society?
"Damage", plain and simple, who are you...who am I...who are any of us to decide for others?
Damage, few people with a conscience espouse abortion, and I'd suspect it's an extremely difficult decision for a woman to make, but the bottom line is that you can't well mandate what a woman does with her body.
Moreover, requiring a poor woman give birth to a child for which she can't afford adequate healthcare is a bit hypocritical, isn't it?
"Pizza Man says....
Yes, I'm sure President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, et al are in Washington right now chanting, "Go, Murderers, go! Go, Murderers, go!"
You don't think so? How many idiots here just a few months ago were calling for the release of Troy Davis? How many liberal and far-left dimwits call for the release of Mumia and Leonard Peltier?
http://news.findlaw.com/wp/docs/abortion/2003s3.html
There is a Federal law banning partial birth abortions as well as numerous state laws banning them. Try again, Damage.
Mark, PLENTY of women have babies they can't afford and don't think twice about having YOU AND ME pay for them. Don't want a baby? Keep your damn legs closed.
The culture wars get no one a job. Willie Horton? Really? Contraception by the way prevents pregnancy, thereby preventing our 14 year old daughters from needing abortions and stopping the unfortunate termination of late pregnancies. But the right wants to have this argument about providing for women's health, not the left. Real philosophies are consistent in their trajectory. They have integrity because they include beliefs that can be reconciled. But contemporary American conservatism has none of these characteristics. It is comprised of values that are contradictory, pro-life and pro death penalty, anti abortion and anti contraception, anti entitlement and yet pro-corporate welfare. They go on and on about the importance of individual freedom and yet they want to deny Gays the freedom to marry. They make no sense and make very little attempt at reconciling these contradictions. They do this in large part through the same kind of blind, unthinking faith they put in their religions. I have yet to hear any conservative voice that can intellectually make the arguments for this strange,conveniently inconsistent, world view.
...or get some aspirin, yes?
So friggin' what, Cat? That doesn't stop Hussein and other liberals from being in favor of the process, does it? A federal ban is all the more reason to pin it to Obama and his ilk. If it's just a matter of "choosing", why the federal ban?
Oats. If you put an unborn baby side by side with a 28 year old man who raped and murdered an old lady, and YOU see the idea that one deserves to die and the other doesn't as a contradiction, then you're an ignorant fool. Or a liberal. Or both.
Damage.."keep your legs closed"? That's your solution?
We're no longer in the 18th century.
Wow Damage!!!
How many times have you been pregnant? How many times have to had the decision to have a termination because the embryo is in the fallopian tube or that the embryo has implanted outside of the womb or that the baby's brain is outside the skull (anencelophy) or that the baby developed without a brain, or that it is not a fully formed baby and has no chance of living outside the womb....Please don't talk about things you know nothing!!! What about the rape of an eight year old child that resulted in her father's or brother's or uncle's child?
Damage: I'm still waiting for your post advising men to keep their peter in their pants...or do your criticisms only apply to women?
And you never will, oats willy. There is no logic to it. There is no rational argument for it. Conservatism in America in 2012 is all about selfishness and control, coupled with intolerance and hypocrisy.
It frightens me that a large portion of the population has been brainwashed to buy into it. They don't seem to realize that they are only too willing to sign the death warrant to our democracy.
Outlawing contraception and outlawing abortion are not the same as saying that I don't want to pay for somebody else's reproductive freedom. I can agree that you have the right, but I shouldn't be compelled to pay for it, and if you put the responsibility on the insurance companies, I will pay for it in the form of higher premiums to cover these costs. I will pay for it in higher costs at the health care provider when they try to make up the difference for all these mandated free treatments. I am not saving money on children who are not conceived or not born, but I am still paying for all of those who do come into our world without parents who are able or willing to step up to the responsibility of being parents.
Rebbie33......I am a Mom, and I have been pregnant, and the extreme cases you outline are simply that-extreme. First of all, it is highly unlikely that an 8 year old child will conceive due to sexual abuse, and I certainly do not condone the abuse of anyone-particularly a child, but as a justification for abortion, it is really a poor choice and reaches well beyond plausability.
Secondly, you mention ectopic pregnancy, which is also not something that is statistically high in relation to the number of pregnancies, or even the number of pregnancies which are ended by abortion.
As for potential birth defects, I have been alive long enough to see many children with perfect test results throughout pregnancy be born with some sort of deformity or malady that just wasn't found in advance....likewise, I have known parents who were prepared for the absolute worst case scenerios to have children born who were not severely affected at all, beautiful, bright, happy babies that by your definition would be discarded due to the threat of a medical or mental issue. In many ways, perhaps our viewpoint on pregnancy and children is a victim of too much information. A dear friend of mine had a baby born, and that baby had all of their vital organs reversed inside their body-everything in the opposite position of where it should be, and yet nothing indicated that this was the case during the pregnancy, however, once born and no longer attached to Mom, the baby's system couldn't cope on its own with circulation, respiration, digestion and it only lived for a few days, but if you ask those parents, they wouldn't have traded those few days for anything, and they certainly wouldn't have ended the pregnancy, thereby never seeing and holding their son.
Is that the reason? It's interesting to note that the crime rate started dropping after the full effects of Roe vs Wade (fewer children being born into poor economic circumstances) started showing up. Once the full-generational numbers declined, there was fewer 'unwanted' young adults to commit them. You can check this by the fact that the four states who liberalized their abortion laws a few years before the national rights came into being saw their crime rates drop earlier than the national rates by the same number of years. For more information, look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legalized_abortion_and_crime_effect
Sue: you are misinformed. You don't pay for another woman's reproductive freedom. No tax dollars go for abortions (and haven't for a long time, thanks to something called the Hyde amendment). And contraceptives are paid for by the individual woman through her insurance (I presume you are not a donor to Planned Parenthood and aren't interested in making sure poor women have any access to birth control.) You do however , as a member of society, pay for the repression of other women, as has always been the case of those with their head in the sand. Why a woman in particular would advocate the submission of other women to government will in the year 2012, and argue against other women having access to safe and legal contraceptives and abortion if she so chooses, at her OWN expense, is completelly beyond me. I've heard however that masochism does exist.
Damage, @8.7
It's getting more difficult every day to tie the President to Hollywood, there is dissension in the generally liberal Hollywood ranks....
I'm going to repost my list of Celebrities supporting or favorable to Dr Paul here since Damage brought it up....
I have been keeping a list of Celebrities that have endorsed or intimated they like Dr Paul over the last few years, It has grown to a pretty substantial list and I felt this would be a good time to post it.
Particularly check out the last one. ;-0)
Celebrities Who Love Ron Paul
Vince Vaughn,
http://runronpaul.com/economy/vince-vaughn-to-introduce-ron-paul-at-conference/
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/09/vince-vaughn-ron-paul-presidential-campaign-federal-reserve-/1
Oliver Stone, Obama supporter '08
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/filmmaker-oliver-stone-would-vote-for-ron-paul-over-obama/
http://www.politico.com/blogs/click/2012/01/oliver-stone-id-vote-for-ron-paul-112040.html
http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2012/01/12/director-oliver-stone-on-history-and-america-jim-morrison-ron-paul/
Bill Maher,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEHJ--XLzY0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUYDt7kC3Z0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDIwpT6X4tU
Kelly Clarkson,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmq5IicW-D4
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/29/idUS387502053320111229
Snoop Dogg,
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/31/us-snoopdogg-ronpaul-idUSTRE80U04220120131
http://www.thegrio.com/entertainment/snoop-dogg-endorses-raun-paul.php
Juliette Lewis,
http://www.politico.com/blogs/click/2012/01/juliette-lewis-rooting-for-ron-paul-110481.html
http://www.hollywoodsconservativeunderground.com/2012/01/juliette-lewis-latest-celeb-to-support.html
John Mayer,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vssZ1gkhKTE
Speech, Of the Hip/Hop group Arrested Development, was doing campaign spots for Obama in '08,
http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-02-10/politics/31044949_1_obama-ron-paul-partisan-rifts
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade/2012/02/arrested_development_rapper_speech_obama_ron_paul.php
http://current.com/community/93657822_arrested-development-rapper-speech-im-disillusioned-with-obama-and-i-would-vote-ron-paul-for-president.htm
Brad Pitt,
http://ology.com/politics/brad-pitt-sorta-supports-ron-paul-video/02022012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkAc_Cwd4ig
Clint Eastwood,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUFbvUWbA_0
Phil Donahue
http://youtu.be/ks7VdvPFrlo
Joe Perry
http://www.dailypaul.com/199614/tweet-of-the-day-guitarist-joe-perry-of-aerosmith-1-3-12
Tony Pashos,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD2K8djLYiU&feature=youtu.be http://ronpaulflix.com/2012/01/tony-pashos-offensive-tackle-for-the-cleveland-browns-endorses-ron-paul/
Peyton Hillis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViRKe2I2Yik&feature=youtu.be
Juliette Lewis
http://www.politico.com/blogs/click/2012/01/juliette-lewis-rooting-for-ron-paul-110481.html
Aaron Lewis
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2011/12/q_a_aaron_lewis_of_staind_talk.php
Michelle Branch
http://www.mediaite.com/online/michelle-branc/
http://www.billboard.com/news/kelly-clarkson-michelle-branch-unofficially-1005762552.story#/news/kelly-clarkson-michelle-branch-unofficially-1005762552.story
Joe Rogan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKi_VrYbeBg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuFW264OKag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux3NcPAl8S8
Gerald Celente
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U4HaiNP2DY
Chuck Baldwin
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcZ7Xo7kbnQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X82wsqCNUkc
Adam Kokesh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ4PKwBu9wE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdXLSgZXH9U
http://ronpaulflix.com/2011/12/adam-kokesh-endorses-ron-paul-for-president-2012/
http://youtu.be/O176h7e_rLI
Juan Williams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn4GnPqgF7Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmwopGnYNEU
Jim Rogers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga2IXi_I_Sw
Geddy Friedman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPyF_tNcYVU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7G6x2xMkb8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-r9igJ4YF4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO7344KCGU8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crCVQVVjzlk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=R32qPjC-SxM
Glenn Beck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyyI1EC5i2U
Doug Stanhope
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1fLYAt36_o
Willie Nelson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg-RqGvD0P8
Thomas Woods
http://www.tomwoods.com/ronpaul/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oaI26gY-eQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqZbbqK2KzA
Stephen Colbert
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/88505/june-13-2007/ron-paul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNIOGQveWmE
Ronald Reagan
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/02/when-ronald-reagan-endorsed-ron-paul/70913/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmsP95Bl9pM
Peter Schiff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqnrD5NjJ-Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1TM9ionWl4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZycwrCW5iM
Penn Jillette
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y1AAOZh9wc
Glen Jacobs AKA: Kane
http://karmarogue.com/2008/01/12/wwes-kane-endorses-ron-paul/
http://www.nationalledger.com/pop-culture-news/wwe-monster-kane-talks-politic-495259.shtml
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH16xHo34ng
Judge Andrew Napolitano
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=narQJhj5VAE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IgTFHsUjoY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-HUNRfJTkw
http://youtu.be/g2zuRo1jKS8
Jon Stewart
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-june-4-2007/ron-paul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW4EdVh4TeY
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-september-29-2009/ron-paul
http://gawker.com/5831167/jon-stewart-why-is-the-media-ignoring-ron-paul
John Stossel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK65eVjPqpQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9LZCTZRHTM
Jack Cafferty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dblWqKh7De0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG2PUZoukfA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlgWboXV4Vo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oULpsuoEY7c
Jesse Ventura
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmMujwzSl4Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYroLIBw0rA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DuUOxasxKM
Hutton Gibson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h_bnOD3ez4
Howard Stern
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvec2zQxnNs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B9mfV2tw3Y
G. Edward Griffin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-Dhv59JYpA
Gary Johnson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD5uctRxDmg
Gary Franchi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_387Vk43Pc
Dylan Ratigan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNRXzVC_E5s
Dennis Kucinich
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py8cXlLyX18
David Letterman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY5BZzOFtt4
Chuck Norris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGUcUuMEXVc
Cenk Uyger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qag-UeWIZgs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wur6BH5i0so
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpc_HXx5bjE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Er5nGfX2ek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQRmML09Ybo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGPDTkeYjFs
Barry Manilow
http://www.dailypaul.com/756/barry-manilow-is-a-ron-paul-supporter
http://www.ology.com/politics/ron-paul-receives-coveted-barry-manilow-endorsement
Barry Goldwater Jr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7r27Az_Mns
Alex Jones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qr1ZZ-x5hE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhfGQAEnq7o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrj9-gHpQsw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqVQ5oUkU6w
Aimee Allen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk53Lxuq2Ws
New Hampshire Democrats
Scroll to the bottom and tell me that Dr Paul will not pull democrat votes....
http://www.sos.nh.gov/presprim2012/DemSummaryPres.htm
I think we've all realized - long ago - that Damage is truly "damaged." The rants get crazier and more outlandish every day.
Egilman - sorry but your post isn't correct. Some of those still support President Obama - Brad Pitt for one. And, frankly, does anyone care who any of them support? I mean, does Kelly Clarkson's support for a candidate make you want to vote for them? And, Chuck Norris, Glenn Beck? Really? Who cares??
SeekingSanity,
Unfortunately, from the levels of attention that programming from "Hollywood" like "American Idol", "Suvivor Series", and any of the reality programs not to mention daytime programming shows,
MANY American do actually care for what the celebrities opinions are, worthless or not. A good example is the Chrysler Halftime ad during the superbowl, how many people before that ad knew that Clint Eastwood is a libertarian? Not many in my opinion, but they ALL know now...
It DOES make a difference....(whether or not you or I think it is irrelevant)
So...Danger, you and I share a few beliefs (may be a bit hard since I am a liberal). I hate abortion. I don't like it one bit. However, I don't oppose giving women the option when NECESSARY, like with problems that could kill both of them. And don't accuse the president (and other pro-choice people) of supporting murder. Nobody likes abortion. But some people think that it is a necessary evil. Just like you think the death penalty is a necessary evil, even though it is technically murder. And what the hell is with your insulting??? Are you that anti-liberal. It's social ultraconservative wackos that make me hate the GOP.
Oh, and I think you've been trying that GOP kool-aid. Most Americans (if you check the polls, even conservative ones) support liberal positions like gay marriage, contraceptives, abortion (when needed), and equal opportunity for all Americans, including the LGBT. The GOP will DIE if they start a culture war. Americans are a lot more liberal on social issues than you think, danger.
Oh and having the government define marriage between a man and a woman is unconstitutional.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
LIBERALISM 2012
CONSERVATISM=FAIL 2012
Actually, it has become amusing to watch the t-gop self destruct, implode and expose itself for being.., well, a pathetic group of self-righteous, religious right, RACISTS, and subversives...
Who can we thank for it? ALL OF THEM...
Hey, let's give all the t-GOP women a bottle of aspirin... it'll help stop the "spread"... of non-sense.
LMAO
My fear is that in about 19 years, we're going to have to contend with a huge number of new right-wing voters...the products of all this anti-contraception B.S.
Is that the real reason why the Catholic church and the religious conservatives want nothing to do with birth control?
Be afraid...be very afraid.
When it comes to a child conceived during a rape, Rick Santorum offered the following:
"I believe and I think the right approach is to accept this horribly created - in the sense of rape - but nevertheless a gift in a very broken way, the gift of human life, and accept what God has given to you."
My question for Mr. Santorum is this...
If you believe that a child conceived during a rape is a gift from God does that mean you believe that God condoned that man raping that woman?
Yes, this is the God of the Catholic Church, if you are raped, then God wanted you raped, its your punishment for being a woman, so shut up and take it because God says so. If the church tells you it was Satan, just remember. according to the church, Satan has no powere except that which God grants, so its still God that wanted you raped, he just enlisted Satan to help.
The religious right argument is that everything is all part of God's plan, so you accept it as a test of your faith and it makes you a better person.
I only hope that in November, when Obama wins, they also accept that victory in their own view of life as God's plan and Obama being the candidate that God chose over the rest. They need to also accept same-sex marriage and lots of other concepts they are opposed to in the same way.
If any of them have a problem with that, then shop for another religion. Most of the religious people I know have been members of several flavors until they found the one that appealed the most to them and their current beliefs. The cafeteria Catholics just find the parish with some priests who take the Vatican as guidelines instead of edicts or just ignore the parts they don't accept. And if the religious sects that continue to hold to their old values start losing members, they'll surely soften their stances to stay in business. A few kooks can keep a small denomination afloat, but the big ones need members and cash and will have to evolve or continue to become even more irrelevant to the point of nonexistence.
Steve, the Catholic Church certainly has its flaws at the moment -- mostly due directly to the current leadership and not actual doctrine or the support of the vast majority of its members -- but let's keep it in perspective. The Catholic Church does not condone rape. If nothing else, rape is sex outside of marriage -- a major no-no.
Saddened: guess that depends on your version of "condone". If the Church believes and instructs and works to prevent a woman who is raped from obtaining the morning after pill to prevent conception, then a different major no-no is occuring in this country that is not a theocracy.
Trust me - if one of Santorum's children is raped and she gets pregnant - he will take her wherever necessary to have that pregnancy terminated. He would never consider it God's gift.
We all think self protection is a good thing Buck. Why do you assume we would think otherwise?
How many weapons were lost under Operation Linebacker? Why does that not bother you?
When are you going to fill us in on HB4646?
google it and write your Congressman to stop it.
Does the bill have any co-sponsors Buck? Did the bill not die in committee in Feb 2010? Why do you and you kind always play the scare game?
Buck, you have no credibilty. Quit believing those e-mails from those rabid righties.
fast & furious what happened?
unsustainable spending
Message to the GOP: Get your hands off my body and your noses out of my bedroom.
Siestasis, that pretty much says it all in one brief sentence!
"it’s a fairly positive ad – calling Santorum “father, husband, a champion for life, the leader with a bold plan to restore America’s greatness.” The republicans destroyed that possibility many years ago. It will take at least 10 years before we regain any respect around the world. But one major problem, we still have enough republicans that have one agenda of destroying the US (so their business contributors can keep control of the government).
The Interior department announced today that it has allocated $1 billion to carve President Obama's face onto Mount Rushmore.
Fast check before you post satire as fact.
Thermen Merman, was that story printed in The Onion? It sure sounds like one of their witticisms. Wonder how many more times right-wingers will be conned by such stories. Remember when President Obama was going to sell off all the gold in Ft Knox to pay down the debt--and the right-wing Heritage Foundation jumped on the bandwagon and added selling off government land until they realized they'd been punked.
Therman Merman----After reading some of damage s ravings, we should carve Alfred E. Newman s head on Mt. Rushmore.
Therman Merman----After reading some of damage s ravings, we should carve Alfred E. Newman s head on Mt. Rushmore.
thermen merman , you are an idiot, yet, on second thought, you could be a poster child for abortion.
Jody:
As always, a fabulous wrap. I have e-mailed a copy of it to Alice. It will cut her travel expenses to Wonderland.
I would like to add a point to the Virginia legislation you noted. Forcible penetration of a woman's body without her consent is a crime in ALL 50 states in the United States.
It is foolish to imagine this insanity can be addressed in a civilized manner. These insane legislators must be removed from office at the earliest possible date. No self-respecting human being can stand by and watch this travesty go unchallenged.
Seems to me that the only thing the GOP is good at is stirring up sh#+, telling lies, and buying branches of government.
These clowns have had 3 1/2 years to present their plans for America and come up with a credible candidate to run for President, and instead we get some jacka$$ who thinks it is HIS place to tell me how to run MY uterus . . . hey Rick . . . haven't you got enough uteruses in your own household to manage . . . how 'bout you just focus on that? Who died and left you in charge of other people's genitals? Where does the Constitution give you the right to impose your opinions on everyone else? What exactly do you think "pursuit of happiness" means . . . that everyone has to play board games that you approve of?
Is this really the best the GOP has to offer, a self righteous zealot and a Wall Street money lauderer? Then I say we should all be very ashamed. I know I am.
Feel free to run YOUR uterus with YOUR money. The Constitution doesn't say your "pursuit of happiness" will be free.
Mr. Spock . . . seems like YOUR uterus may be the bigger problem . . . I got this, mmmmkay?
Amen, Nash. I'd like to know how much money was wasted on yesterday's worthless hearing conducted by Rep. Issa. Of course we know it was a waste of time, but they don't seem to spend any time focusing on the economy or immigration reform or any of the many pressing issues we face. And now they are going on YET ANOTHER vacation.
LOL So you have no Constitutional arguement to present....mmmmmkay Can I get a free lunch to go while Obama is handing out "free" stuff?
Mr. Spock, holler at me when you actually have something to say.
P.S. That "free" talking point has expired . . . you might wanna check in at headquarters and get a new one. The only "free stuff" you need to worry about is how in the hell did Mitt Romney squirrel all that money away by buying companies so he could steal their assets and then dump the broke employees on the rest of us in the form of unemployment benefits and pension rescue funds.
Or if that is over your head, you could just kiss my ___________________________. (Ask Damage what goes in the blank . . . he knows very well! ;oP)
Wow..such hostility. Typical of the "left" when they don't have a Constitutionally based arguement to present.
Questions conservatives can't answer:
How did Mitt make all that money?
What has Dick Cheney ever done for anyone other than himself?
How come ya'll were FOR the individual health insurance mandate before you were against it?
How come ya'll were FOR not "cutting and running" in Afghanistan until President Obama supported it?
How come ya'll PREACH sexual chastity for OTHERS but PRACTICE whatever the hell you please?
Just askin'
P. S. Sorry if I hurt your feelings Mr. Spock . . . how 'bout you put two aspirins between your knees and call me in the morning? :o)
Mr Spock: women do pay, through their insurers. If you want to join Santorum's crusade against birth control, you'll have to find another way to do it. Good luck with that.
I'm wondering, Nash, why Mitt thinks it is sufficient to release one actual tax return and one estimated tax return. Where are the rest of them?
Nasville
That is why this female FORMER republican has seen the light. The Teabaggers have destroyed the two party system. Keep you sick hands off my rights. Woman are Not going to stand for this crap! Bet if it was Viagra...the right would be howling how it was Needed.
Mr. Spock, women pay their health insurance premiums or a portion of it or their employers do; the only part of contraception that isn't already covered BY LAW is the co-pay--we're only talking about the "co-pay" here, that's all President Obama changed. Remember Viagra, Mr. Spock, where in the Constitution did it say that insurance companies must include it in their plans? Oh, by the way, the folks who passed that were the republicans who controlled Congress in the late 90's. They had no problem with Viagra and then when women rose up and demanded that IF Viagra was covered, why not contraception--so, republicans agreed with democrats and birth control was also required coverage.
P.S. Think Bob Dole and his Viagra commercial.
Nash - Ricky boy thinks Uteri Management is a job skill that qualifies as presidential material. His version of relaxation is getting out the binoculars for some peaceful Zygote watching. Swimming with sperm is his favorite physical activity. He lives a world dominated by immaculate conception.
RedDev---let's not forget that Rick Santorum is originally from Western Pennsylvania---home of the Steelers and Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception." Maybe that historic play has inspired him.
Remember kids, when Conservatives say its 'free' remind them that the individual employee is still paying their insurance out of their paycheck.
Amen RedDev....women have the sole right to determine what happens to their own body. The Republicans need to find another issue (if they have one). This contraception issue is the "poison pill" for any candidate. Try another issue. Like how you let 27 of 30 of Obama's bills die with not even a vote. That should help your base. No way a Republican wins the White House. They should write a book on "how not to win the presidency".
David: you got it. That book should be titled: "How to snatch defeat from the jaws of Victory" and co-written by the group of moral midgets trying to win the Presidency by waging war on women.
That's right, praysalot.
They need their Viagra...cain't do nuthin' without their Viagra...
Steeler Fan, I'm happy to inform you that Rick Santorum was born in Winchester, Virginia. The home of The Steelers was not his birthplace.
He fits in better in Virginia, don't you think?