While GOP Presidential Candidates are blaming the President, ordinary Americans are blaming oil speculators & manipulators for U.S. gas hikes:

Big Oil has been closing refineries, producing less gas, exporting it, and making record profits even as U.S. oil demand is down.

In the latest Bloomberg poll, two-thirds of Americans blame rising gas prices on: "oil companies and Middle East nations who are taking advantage of the situation to make more money..."

In a National Journal poll, 66% of us lay the blame on: '"the manipulation of prices by large energy companies" or tensions in the Middle East."'

Who wins when oil speculation drives up the costs of gas? -It is Big Oil, Big Oil and Bigger Oil EVERY TIME. While profits go through the roof, oil companies are receiving $7,610 a minute in taxpayer dollars ($4Billion). Instead of donating this century-old tax giveaway to the oil moguls, let's invest it into our future -- in clean energy innovation, new competitive industries and green jobs. Let's give the future of America a chance to take root and flower.

Good Morning Louis and Backhouse

What a wonderful way to end the week by stating the obvious!!!

Since Icky Ricky Santorum and Fox NOISE, the mouthpieces for the Republican Tea bag suckers, are always on the look out for weakness in Presidnt Obama how did they miss this?

GW Bush kissed Saudi Prince for oil

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR24kno8GEhaXEnNmvccQuUDMAleSTdZFldKuqXW4RbZKGgh8pGVfHXfKdygQ

Either way the Gop will not win and the will probably lose the house also.Politicians and their party's cannot alienate so many people and remain credible. The Republican Party has taken a gamble on a all or nothing stance and their ignorance has sent people fleeing by the bus load.

The latest to be driven from the ranks are women .Women are one of the most influential in the home and society. The men and their children and family members who love them will not take the latest assault on them and the women themselves will not stand for it from either party.

The Republicans have alienated so many segments of our country they cannot win.

Poor Bill. Still struggling to make his hero Rush Limbaugh correct about a misogynistic, vile diatribe against a private citizen.

I am glad, however, that Bill supports our position. To wit: You don't use that kind of language against women. Maher lost his television show and is now on HBO because of incendiary language. Don Imus lost HIS show for a real, beyond the pale comment, about a women's basketball team. Ed Schultz was suspended for what he said about a woman.

One must deduce that Bill joins us in our boycott of Rush's advertisers. Words have meaning. Decent people reject such language, no matter who says them.

See you all later at the Dew Drop Inn!

Louis J, so true. The GOP seems determined to repeat the same failed policies, they are determined to take the country backward. They have no vision for the future because they cannot think big or think beyond today.

Backhouse, well said. The republicans who defend the tax subsidies for big oil, whine about those for green energy claiming we shouldn't discriminate against oil companies ignore that those oil subsidies were put in place and intended to encourage competitive oil production in the US when oil from the middle east was cheaper. The tax subsidies for oil are no longer needed but those for the energy of the future are. Eliminating them for oil drilling and production does not preclude oil firms from expanding and investing in clean, renewable energy and receiving tax breaks for that effort.

I would love to see the "Million Woman March" against the GNOP to call them out on the GNOP attacks on women....Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned!

NewdayD, well said. It doesn't matter who makes the comments, it is just wrong. There is no comparison between Limbaugh, a conservative talker pushing conservative ideas, and Bill Maher, a comedian, but neither should be excused for making similarly insulting and disrespectful remarks.

Have a good time, Feisty! The weather is perfect.

Paul, like me, it sounds like you have been sent to the doghouse before as well... I love being married and I concur, "hell has no fury..." and the Republithugs would be forced to run back to their lava rocks with their pointed tails between their legs and their pitchforks rammed up their... ahh, you get it.

Joe in Albany

I sure do hope that the WaPo realizes it will be severely punished for calling Barry's propaganda "propaganda".

Your Obama Derangement Syndrome is taking a turn for the worse, there. You really need to seek help.

Just as Republicans are trying to move away from social issues, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R) this week was asked if an ultrasound bill being considered in his state goes too far. His answer is something that Democrats and women’s groups are now highlighting and attacking: "Just close your eyes." Here’s his full quote, per the Philly Inquirer: "I’m not making anybody watch, OK. Because you just have to close your eyes. As long as it’s on the exterior and not the interior." Folks, this is in Pennsylvania, a state Republicans are HOPING to be able to put into play.

Republicans can wave goodbye to Pennsylvania. They have incinerated their goose with Pennsylvania's women voters. Corbett will not be re-elected.

Kiss off, GOP!

Houston: Got any more "stock market history" fairy tales you want to share with FR?? You know, like the one from the other day when you told us GWB was a Democrat.

LMAO@U!!!!!!

Test

JoAnnaSmith1

The entire point of being a propagandist is to make it look like you're telling the truth when in fact you are telling lies, so Davie may be a truthful propagandist, but he's not a very good one.

Care to enlighten us on the "lies?" I hoe they aren't whoppers like the one Mittens told about Obama's non-existent "apology tour" and his claim that Obama "promised" to keep the unemployment rate under 8%, or misrepresenting a video clip of Obama as if he were talking about his own campaign when he was really quoting a McCain campaign aide talking about McCain. Those would certainly be outrageous lies.

Hey Paul...First, how did the Million MAN March work out? Not too well, did it? And I could be wrong but, didn't Santorum win among women in Alabama and Mississippi? Your "War On Women" is a myth and a joke. When will the DEms stop the War On Babies?

There is no War on "Babies".

Now I see why so many of these libs hate Christianity, they've made Hussein their God. lol

No, I see the "Christian" hypocrites like yourself.

One week it's a War on Congress. The next, a War on Women. Then a War on Drilling, followed by a War on Green Energy. Next is a war on Illegals, ehh, Immigrants.

For not liking wars that much, the Democrats sure have a lot of them to fight. Guess we'll keep seeing more "Wars" as Obama tries to figure out what or who exactly he's running against.

I'd rather be fighting these 'wars' than fighting 'real' wars in Syria, Iran, etc. like ole man McCain keeps calling for.

JAS1, you're wasting precious hours of your life here. You will not win hearts and minds with your hateful rhetoric.

As LouisJ so eloquently put it:

We have President Obama's back hell or high water. Deal with it.

Houston: Care to enlighten us on the "lies?"

Enlighten yourself.

Search keywords: Obama documentary Guggernheim Morgan

Note the quotes where Guggernheim is asked if he found any wrong in what Obama has done.

Joe in Albany

Houston: Got any more good "stock market history" fairy tales you want to share with FR??

It's no fairy tale that the inflation-adjusted DJIA reached a peak in 2000. But that's kind of beside the point that the market has risen dramatically during the Obama Recovery from the abyss of the Bush Recession. And that's what's really driving Joe into apoplectic spasms associated with the terminal stages of Obama Derangement Syndrome.

kaybeetoys,

This plague against women is spreading throughout the states. Pennsylvania?? The list grows daily: Mississippi, Virginia, Texas, Arizona.

I don't think an exorcism by the good St. Patrick will stop this.

It is time to take matter into our own hands and vote these pestilence carrying officials out of office . Let's clean house , women can do that in each and every state.

Enlighten yourself.

Search keywords: Obama documentary Guggernheim Morgan

Note the quotes where Guggernheim is asked if he found any wrong in what Obama has done.

Yea, make others search the internet to maybe find evidence (if it exists) to support you.

How about this? Link it yourself.

JoAnnaSmith1

Enlighten yourself.

Search keywords: Obama documentary Guggernheim Morgan

The only thing I learned by entering those words in Google is that Piers Morgan seems to think that Obama is supposed to use documentaries that portray him in a negative way. He is the first politician I've ever heard of being held to such a standard. Maybe it only applies to black presidents or something. In any case, I didn't see anything about lies, so it looks like you're the one who lied.

Jody, ...haf returned.... To your point about non-oil subsidies,

Ending the $4Billion subsidy will not affect the current, or any gas hikes. How can any amount of drilling affect gas prices when we consume 10 times more than we produce domestically? We need to stabilize energy prices and not just for tomorrow or the next day - we want to get onto a path of growth and new energy industries.

As you say, the oil industry has been subsidized by we, the taxpayer for roughly a century. Time to subsidize our FUTURE - biofuels, wind and solar energy, advanced batteries, electric cars -- time to give them a running start.

We need to think BIG because we have HUGE POTENTIAL. America has it ALL.

It's no fairy tale that the inflation-adjusted DJIA reached a peak in 2000.

____________________________________________

Yeah, it was called the "dot com bubble" and when it burst in March, 2000, the Nasdaq went from 5,000 to close to 1,000 and the DJIA went from about 11,600 to 7,300 over the next two years.

Oh look, JAS! has found a new word to use. Too bad she doesn't understand the difference between propaganda and campaigning. She's that old, I guess.

One thing JAS1 does know how to do? Propagate bull$hit. Once again JAS1, jump in and enjoy your harvest.

Making fun of the million man march? Classy.

I don't need psyho fake dems and fake republicans to show me how far a loser can go in losing, but like any peaceful movement, STFU if you don't like it and move to Iran.

On the topic of the article. This long haul primary IS going to be bad for the Republicans, which is a shame for the thinking conservatives, but its the dupes in the party that are to blame. RINO supporters of Rick Santorum just don't know when to take their meds, and those RINOs are certainly democrats, as they try to destroy the Republican party from within.

I know, I know, but if you wave your flag hard enough, a fake Santorum conservative can hope nobody notices they are as anti-democracy as you can get.

ruken- Shouldn't you be out burning the flag or something?

That all you got Damage? You mad that you have no intelligent response?

Maybe you should go back to supporting bombing Middle Eastern countries.

Hi Bev! **Waves**

Re 'stating the obvious": Spike shocks have been foisted upon us every year for decades. And it is obvious the GOP/Koch Presidentials spin the way they do for their Big Oil benefactors.

1. Anyone who claims to be able to drop US gas prices to $2 or so dollars (see Gingrich of late) doesn't know what they're on about.

2. Global oil prices are beyond the control of US Congress, the US Administration and the US President.

3. Prices are affected by emerging countries using more cars (one million more cars in China) and unrest in Iran, Syria, etc, and the no-conscience speculation on Wall Street.

4. We produce 2% of the world's oil and use 10 times more, so we cannot drill our way out.

5. However, an All-of-the-Above strategy means we will continue to produce oil (now at and 8year high in the US), while developing alternative energies for future industries and jobs.

6. Our imported oil level is the lowest in 16 years.

Reducing foreign oil is how we will avoid being victims to Big Oil speculators every year. Currently it is down from 60% in 2005 -- down to 45% under this Administration.

Not a single Mention of Obama and Clinton both in the race till June 2008. The republicans have a few more months before they reach the level of in-fighting that the dems did.

Ruken- You ignorant slut. I ripped you a new one yesterday and you didn't even have the balls to come defend yourself. I have a task for you today; go down to your local USMC base and inform them that the American Flag is just some scraps of cloth. See what happens. Better yet, go do it at your local VFW. Those old men in Florida that showed those mindless Hussein worshippers what was up are heroes. I'm on THEIR side. Too bad you liberals aren't

Aw Damage is mad, of course if I were living his life I probably would be too.

Psst. Last I checked, the flag is a piece of cloth.

@Damage: Now, see, if you made fun of Farakhan first, I'd totally understand. So on that, I'll lay off my criticism. But like any other movement, Farakhan claims far more responsibility than he actually has. FAR more. I suppose it is partially because those who follow him have a cult like demeanor and there's enough of them to fill a TV clip so it gives the impression of even more.

Speaking of which, the modern protest only needs 100 loud people. Enough to surround a reporter on TV. Not a surprise, that's why all the extremists get the air time.

On flag burning: I really get more upset over a flag being burned by the so called people we are trying to help than any US citizen. But as far as burning it goes, I think its very simple: Yes, I believe you have the right to burn it. And I wouldn't do anything violent against a person doing it. However, I think it is not wrong to have pride in the flag based on what it stands for. I understand, as with any icon, that it is wielded often in a jingoistic way, and used many times to falsly give credit to something that isn't an American value at all. Still, however, those incidents are far fewer than the simple symbol of decency that it should represent. And if it doesn't, burning the flag isn't going to do nearly as much as getting involved, and making your politicians get in line so that you can look at it and like it again.

I think BrainDamage is constipated. He should try some Sara Palin "word salad"

"What we can glean from this is an understanding of why we are on the road that
we are on. Again, it's based on what went into his thinking, being surrounded by
radicals. You could hearken back to the days before the Civil War, when too many
Americans believed that not all men were created equal. It was the Civil War
that began the codification of the truth that here in America, yes, we are equal
and we all have equal opportunities, not based on the color of our skin. You
have equal opportunity to work hard and to succeed and to embrace the
opportunities, the God-given opportunities, to develop resources and work
extremely hard and as I say, to succeed. Now, it has taken all these years for
many Americans to understand that the gravity, that mistake that took place
before the Civil War and why the Civil War had to really start changing America.
What Barack Obama seems to want to do is go back before those days when we were
in different classes based on income, based on color of skin. Why are we
allowing our country to move backwards instead of moving forward with the
understanding that as our charters of liberty spell out for us, we are all
created equally?"

Excellent answer Derek!

It's good to have this Long Haul... They're like snakes eating their own tails.

Stay the course 'Newt' !

LouisJ,

People like Romney and his desire to support the suppressive hand of China by backing the surveillance of the people would do the same here in the United States.

SORRY THERE LOUISJ, President already beat him to it by singing the Patriot act TWICE and then took it a step further with the NDAA so he can detain Americans without due process as well.

You are pretty funny commenting on what a Republican MIGHT do to our civil rights while, at the same time, our president strips us of our civil rights at the most alarming rate in American history but you are A-OK with that huh?

Remember Obamas campaign promise not to sign the Patriot act before he betrayed his supporters TWICE?

Ruken: Yea, make others search the internet to maybe find evidence (if it exists) to support you

The Lefts total lack of curiosity is amazing. Guess they're just happy with the pablum MSNBC feeds them. That's a real pity.

BTW I am not a republican. I am an independent that is alarmed more every day by both Democrats AND Republicans that have let their "party hat" fall so far over their eyes they are blind to the destruction their own party causes and seem OK with it because, after all, it's "their party". The truth is there is very little difference between the two parties today. Most the members of each are more concerned with re-election than doing their job IE: doing what is best for the COUNTRY not their own personal gains.

Time to stop looking at the party and judge the individual.

The Lefts total lack of curiosity is amazing. Guess they're just happy with the pablum MSNBC feeds them. That's a real pity.

Guess it's your logic's day off.

It's up to the person making the claim to provide evidence to support it.

JoAnnaSmith1

Houston: The only thing I learned by entering those words in Google is that Piers Morgan seems to think that Obama is supposed to use documentaries that portray him in a negative way.

That's the point Houston, it's not a documentary, it's propaganda, and that's what it needs to be called.

You can call ANY campaign ad propaganda if you like, because they're all meant to display their candidate in a positive light or their opponents in a negative light. That includes Mitt Romney's and Rick Santorum's.

Houston: I didn't see anything about lies

That's because you're an official Obama Kool-Aid drinker. Ohh-yeaaah!

I was able to explicitly state some of the many lies told by Mitt Romney. But JoAnna can't name a single one in the Obama documentary. We're supposed to believe her that there are such lies and go hunt for them ourselves.

I think JoAnna is on something a lot stronger than Kool-Aid. Judging by the hallucinatory fantasies she describes, it appears she's been gobbling down right wing magic mushrooms by the bushel-full.

Ruken

The Lefts total lack of curiosity is amazing. Guess they're just happy with the pablum MSNBC feeds them. That's a real pity.

Guess it's your logic's day off.

Every day is JoAnnaSmith's day off from logic.

It's up to the person making the claim to provide evidence to support it.

Not in the far-right La-La Land that JoAnna inhabits.

Houston: I was able to explicitly state some of the many lies told by Mitt Romney. But JoAnna can't name a single one in the Obama documentary.

I did, but you ignored it. Ignorance is a right you demonstrate greatly. Spoon fed is what you apparently need, and it's no surprise.

I'm not sure if I'm watching politics or the NatGeo channel, with this primary. They look an awful lot like a snake swallowing itself. I can't help but grimace, turn up the volume and be intrigued. It's a shame, that instead of using their collective intelligence and their privileged positions to raise the level of discourse and put forth solutions, they've done nothing but chugged their hate train down the stupid track.

Moon Base, Ass Juice, Fat Cat... That's what they're allowing this to boil down to. A punch line. Thanks, guys, for denying our country the conversation it deserves.

In the meantime, I have to go with the words of the always elequent Young Jeezy... "My President is black..."

BIZARRE sign of cultist-like worship.

That like the GOP/TP's obsession with religion this election?

Sarah -- Throughout this primary I've felt cheated. They have indeed dumbed down discourse to a level of sound bites. And not very good ones at that. No platforms based on substance only rhetoric. What's scary is people will vote based on nothing, unless one considers a 30 second tv ad to be informative.

CAN OBAMA LOSE?

I don't think so. The GOP brand is so damaged, so tarnished, that only the hard-core, right of right RWNJ's will vote this November. We could see the lowest GOP turnout in decades.

I frankly do not think the President can lose this election. Period.

It would take something of biblical proportions, like California falling into the Pacific Ocean or the seven plagues of Egypt for this President to lose this election and even then, it would be very close.

We owe the Tea Party, Newt Gingrich and above all Newt's sugar-daddy in Las Vegas a BIG BIG vote of thanks for all the damage they have done to the GOP. Oh sure, they had help from Bachman and Perry and Cain and above all Santorum. But I think the Tea Party and the GOP over-played their hand and they are going to pay a big price for their greed this November.

The hole the GOP has dug for it's candidate once the primary is over and the general election campaign shifts to full power will be impossible to crawl out of in time for the election.

After so many years of creating successful wedge issues, swift-boat ads and other election shenanigans the GOP chickens have finally come home to roost, with a vengence. Our challenge will be to make sure the public remembers the negatives about the GOP well into 2016 and beyond.

The GOP has swung to the far, far, right and they have unfettered propagandists daily spewing lies and half truths on the public airwaves. These are frightening times we live in. That we are able to compete at all under these conditions has got to be some kind of miracle.

But we've got 2012 in the bag. Our President will be re-elected. I do not think he can lose this election. But to protect the America we all know and love for our children and our children's children, we've got to start looking to 2016 and beyond or all the good that has been done by President Obama will be for naught. IF we don't take back the House and Senate and win the White House in 2016, America in 2020 could be a very frightening and very different place.

Vote for your children and your grandchildren and start planning now for 2016.

Obama/Biden 2012

JoAnnaSmith1

Houston: I was able to explicitly state some of the many lies told by Mitt Romney. But JoAnna can't name a single one in the Obama documentary.

I did, but you ignored it. Ignorance is a right you demonstrate greatly.

You did no such thing. You hollered about "lies" but didn't state a single claim in the Obama documentary that was untrue. Now you're hallucinating that you actually did back up your nasty allegations. You really need to cut down on those magic mushrooms.

FYI, I know a lot of Dems as well as Repubs who weren't thrilled at all with the President's face on the flag. And yes, most of them say it didn't matter who it was, Bush, or if it was a candidate like Romney, doesn't matter. This nation is certainly greater than whoever sits in the Whitehouse. And to those who think otherwise, putting a Presidential face on a flag does more harm for the person you are supporting than good. I say this because it was clear the flag was donated, and whoever hung it should have known better.

JoAnnaSmith1

Piers Morgan of all people

You mean the Piece Morgan who's friends with Rupert Murdoch - the guy who called Murdoch the "victim" of a witch hunt???? Yeah, I wouldn't take Morgan too seriously- he's up there with the Hannity's,the Beck's (whatever happened to him?), the O'Reilly's .

Skip - Obama has a negative approval rating in almost all of the swing states. Sould that continue - he loses.

Just saw an actual bumber sticker on a vehicle which read "Don't Re- NIG in 2012".

Oh and the GOP says race...what race? This has nothing to do with race just policy!

Oh and yeah, this is the "Christian right"? I shouldn't be surprised but..... I do continue to pray for "Hope and Change" in America (pun intended) clearly it is still needed. God Help us!

Obama 2012!

DB,

I beg to differ. You need to look at women and hispanics. You can't win without those two demographics, and let's just say the GOP hasn't been too kind to either of them.

"President Obama has not only developed policies that have helped save this great country, but has also changed the format for which many conventional methods have failed in the past"

If by using the word "save", you mean destroy the USA and put it under UN rule, you are correct. If by "save" you mean "put our country under UN Dictatorship" (President Obama sent a letter to John Boehner, Speaker of the House where he asserted the “Authority” of international powers over and above the US Constitution. Panetta and Obama have openly declared that they no longer represent the American people and instead are representatives for a global dictatorship that has usurped the sovereignty of the United States.) you are correct.

The Pentagon, Gen. Martin Dempsey & POTUS Obama along with the US. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta have been trying to declare a Coup D’etat (takeover by a foreign entity, person, or nation) on our Constitutional government by giving the United Nations "Supreme Authority" over the US. Over his almost 4 years in office, since Obama was Chair for the UN, he and his administration has routinely cited the "Authority" of the United Nations over the US Constitution, the United States of America.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta gave testimony asserting that the United Nations and NATO have "Supreme Authority" over the actions of the United States military. At the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey brazenly admitted that their authority comes NOT from the U.S. Constitution, but that the United States is subservient to and takes its marching orders from the United Nations and NATO.

If by "save" you mean destroy our natural rights that in OUR US Constitution is a written guarantee that no one serving in any branch of our government can do (Bill of Rights puts LIMITS on our government, refusing them the legality of ever being able to, for any reason, to weaken or take our rights away).

If you mean by "save" the ability to indefinitely detain US citizens and those legally allowed to be here on US soil for no reason, no representation, and no crime committed then you are right. Or to have us tortured, or sent to a foreign nation to torture, or to murder us outright for no real reason beyond what we are typing here, you are correct.

If by "save" you mean give himself the power to assassinate Americans on US soil, you are correct.

Then there are things like his face on the American flag like the dictators usually have all around their country.

But then, he did make us a dictatorship with no rights, and we did allow it to happen.

Oh yea, and Voter Fraud - 12160.info/video/just-how-corrupt-will-the-united-states-voting-system-be-in-2012?xg_source=shorten_twitter

Well, not all of us. A lot of American citizens are DEFENDING our nation, our Constitution, our Freedom from the domestic enemies who are attacking us from within. They are easy to recognize:"Domestic enemies pursue legislation, programs against the powers of the US Constitution. They work on destroying and weakening the Rights of the People guaranteed by the Constitution. Plus they create laws, amendments, etc that goes against the restraint on the three branches of our government by the Constitution. They are also those who support those in action, or by inaction; vote, voice, money, etc who are going against or trying to weaken the US Constitution and the Peoples written guarantee of those Rights"

I charge that Barack Obama has not done the duties required of the President of the USA as defined by the US Constitution. He actively and knowingly went against the duties of the POTUS; and needs to be impeached, charged with criminal and civil crimes, arrested and prosecuted. That he ran for and went into the Office of the president of the US knowing that we had the US Constitution which is the blueprint for how our government operates. Knowing that the US Constitution also guarantees that no one within our federal government may take away from, or do away with any Rights. That our federal government is a three-branch government and that the POTUS blueprint lies in the executive branch; not in the legislative or judicial branches. That he also knew before running as a candidate that our US Constitution puts limits on the federal government that cannot be legally put aside. The reason that I say he “knew” before running and then taking office these things is because he represented himself to the voting public as a Constitutional law professor before he became a senator.

Then he needs to be charged, arrested, and held for prosecution, as he is a flight risk.

I am an American citizen under the Constitution of the United States of America and I want this self admitted traitor (on video and in writing), domestic enemy of the USA, who actively and knowingly has gone against the US Constitution and the citizens of the United States arrested as such. Who has conducted himself in the office of the US President in a manner seriously incompatible with either the constitutional form and principles of our government or the proper performance of the duties of the presidential office which is an impeachable action. Did not keep the Oath required of him by the US Constitution which is an impeachable and prosecutable action, Misused of the powers assigned the executive branch by the US Constitution - which is the blueprint for our gov, Denial of natural Rights to American citizens and those legally allowed to be here, etc (37 pages).

Presidential Oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States”

Solemn: “marked by the observance of established form or ceremony”, “legally binding, Common legal phrase indicating that an agreement has been consciously made, and certain actions are now either required or prohibited”, “The other requirement for an agreement or contract to be considered legally binding is consideration - both parties must knowingly understand what they are agreeing to”. (American fully expected a president who followed the US Constitutional definition of how our government operates. Part of his “why he was better candidate” brought up many times while running was that he was a “Constitutional Professor”

“Bound - Being under legal or moral obligation; To constitute the boundary or limit of; To set a limit to; confine”.

The three branches of our government, the military, all law enforcement, the heads of the States, all federal employees are required to take an Oath to Support and Defend the Constitution and not an individual leader, ruler, office, or entity. Once given, the Oath is binding for life, unless renounced, refused, and abjured. It does not cease upon the occasions of leaving office or of discharge.

The meanings of the words in the Presidential Oath: “I”- an individual, person, citizen, one member of the whole, officer; “do” - perform, accomplish, act, carry out, complete, achieve, execute; “solemnly”- legally binding, Common legal phrase indicating that an agreement has been consciously made and certain actions are now either required or prohibited”, somberly, gravely, seriously, earnestly, sincerely, firmly, fervently, with thought and ceremony; “swear (or affirm)” - vow, pledge, promise, guarantee; “that I will” - a positive phrase confirming present and future action, momentum, determination, resolve, responsibility, willpower, and intention; “preserve” - to keep safe from injury, harm, or destruction; “protect” - to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction, to maintain the status or integrity of especially through financial or legal guarantees, to provide a guard or shield; “and defend” - protect, guard, preserve, secure, shield, look after; “the Constitution of the United States.”

President Obama had/has taken an oath to uphold all the laws and he had/has violated his duties as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer.

Which was part of the impeachment charges against Clinton, as was lying, and a few other things. So because you have no real idea of what our US Constitution does or says, and because you do not have an idea of what powers a US president has does not mean all Americans are that way.

Please realize that giving the UN "power" to rule the US is not something any president can do.

Paris,

I saw the same thing! Disgusting! I'm so ashamed that things like that still go on in this country! I can believe it because I live in one of the most racist areas in the country so I hear things like that but it's just so blatant to put it on a bumper sticker. Usually these things are mentioned in closed company and snickered about. I hate what religion does to people (I feel like they're related but it's a long explanation).

DB...the negatives are temporary and largely due to high gasoline prices, something that the President has NO control over whatsoever. But the good news is gas prices will go down at the end of summer and the President's approval rating will rise. Not even Jesus could raise the GOP from the dead.

Sarah, thanks for watching my six on that one.

Paris and Mgates, I have not seen the bumper sticker to which you refer and I hope I never do because that is one bumper sticker that would drive me to vandalism. I would rip that thing off that vehicle so fast the driver wouldn't know what hit them.

Yeah, no racism on the right. None whatsoever. And the Nazi's didn't murder six million jews, gypsies or other "untermenchen" either.

These are very scary times we live in and we have got to make sure the public remembers what George Bush and the GOP nearly did to this country.

Obama/Biden 2012

The media interpretation of winners and losers is a real joke. Did they not have any math clases at journalism school?

REAL Scoreboard: Most current contest: Romney wins 2 of 4, Santorum wins 2 of 4. Romney's 2 wins are by huge margins. Santorum's wins are barely accomplished. Romney wins in delegates among the 4 contests = 40 for Romney and 34 for Santorum. Romney widens the gap between him and Santorum. Percentage wise Romney picks up 18% more (6/34) delegates in this past week's contests.

In order for Santorum to have a chance he has to come out of each of the remaining contests winning close to 75% of the delegates from here out. Because Romney has a solid base of over 30% of the conservative electorate Santorum, and Gingrich as well can do nothing more but try and be spoilers and therfore work to the favor of Team Obama.

Even if by some miracle the nomination is not made before the convention and even if Santorum had exactly the same delegates as Romney the Convention will choose Romney because the point is to elect a Republican that can beat Obama. Romney will still show as the most likely to beat obama. He has more support, more boots on the ground and more money to fight a nationwide election against Obama.

If Santorum were to be choosen his one line in the history journals would read, "Rick Santorum, the Romney Spoiler who lost to Obama in the 2012 Presidential election." It is time for Santorum and Gingrich to put there support behind Romney so the party can have enough time to heal before the General Election.

Albany Joe:

Check out the following Slate article.

[ok so it won't let me post the link, i have never been able to post a link like other people. google "narwhal, obama" and read the slate article, it's the top of the results]

Basically, the campaign project (called Narwhal) is aimed to "fuse the multiple identities of the engaged citizen—the online activist, the offline voter, the donor, the volunteer—into a single, unified political profile."

They are not data-mining people's privacy. They are connecting their own databases, the information they have gotten from online registrations, normal voter databases, donor/volunteer sites, phone inquiries, neighborhood canvassing, etc., and are putting it all into one connected database so they can cross-reference, instead of having pieces in several different places. This helps to avoid calling someone they've already contacted online, or whatnot.

"They had records on 170 million potential voters, 13 million online supporters, 3 million campaign donors and at least as many volunteers—but no way of knowing who among them were the same people."

"Permanently linking the campaign’s various databases in real time has become one of the major projects for Obama’s team this year. Full data integration would allow the campaign to target its online communication as sharply as it does its offline voter contact."

This "would bring new efficiency across the campaign’s operations. No longer will canvassers be dispatched to knock on the doors of people who have already volunteered to support Obama."

There is no "digital snooping," they are making a collaboration of the info already available to make it more efficient and usable.

It's not quite the Orwellian drama you've made it out to be. Nice try.

Bill, Fairfax VA

But It's Different When We Do It

Bill,

Your (collapsed) comment was spot-on my friend!

I love it when these hypocrites are exposed for what they REALLY are! Bill Maher is one of the worst. A liar and hater to the bitter end.

Additionally, Obama's attack on Rush and absence of comment on Maher exposes him for being one of the worst a well!

Keep up the good work Bill, Fairfax VA!

(show me the clown nose, fisty!)

Hey who's this Knine person? Do you believe this "interesting" bit: "Panetta and Obama have openly declared that they no longer represent the American people and instead are representatives for a global dictatorship that has usurped the sovereignty of the United States"? Wow. Jumped off into Never-never Land on this post.

"Hannity was having tea with Santorum"

We start off every week with paid bloggers spewing the same old lame Democratic Party talking points, and end it the same way. Tax baby tax, borrow baby borrow, and spend baby spend is all the Democrats have to offer. How original. The party of what is in this for me today, and who cares about the future.

Constitution, Democrats don't need no stinking constitution. Federal budget, Democrats don't need no stinking budget. So take the House, take the Senate, keep the presidency, after all in just the last three and a half years you have set this country on a path of no return. We might as well get the inevitable over with and start the process of picking up the pieces. Who you going to blame then?

So take the House, take the Senate, keep the presidency

We will. And we'll do it because we care about the future.

If you don't understand that the Republicans are "[t]he party of what is in this for me today, and who cares about the future", then you are as ignorant as you sound.

Oh, I forgot, you're the Viet Nam Vet who was crying because he wasn't treated well when he returned home. Get over it. It was 40+ years ago.

Gee Rick: where's the sign up for the "paid bloggers" thing...do you have to be an Obama hater or just not well-versed in facts? Do you get paid by the word? I didn't know that was a career...interesting.

Meanwhile, here on planet earth..."just close your eyes" and "vaginal probe" Republicans have now gone so far around the bend with their obsession with controlling women's reproduction that I expect Egyptian style virginity tests will be their next rallying cry. Gentlemen, and I use the term loosely, start listening to the very few women in your caucus. Your determination to commit political suicide by imitating the Taliban is painful for the entire nation of grownups around you and humiliating to American reputations worldwide.

LouisJ

That rant sounds like racism to me. Wanting (while you still have breath) to have Obama for another four years just because he is half black is the reason we are in the economic mess we are. The idea of voting on the basis of a person's skin color rather than their ability to do the job or their character as Martin Luther King would have said, is the most racist action one can take.

The long haul for this GOP/TP Circus is nothing like the Dems in 2008. I hate to agree with Ann Coulter, but all these clowns have been in the race for themselves -- No core convictions, no true desire to make the world a better place for all of humanity, not even to advance their own Party. It's all about me, me ME (especially Gingrich).

Here's a prediction. Ron Paul has been quietly amassing delegates, particularly with caucuses. He aligns with Romney more than the other candidates, and will negotiate (probably on behalf of Rand Paul) for those delegates. What Romney should be concerned about is all the delegates he has won technically and how many will really be bound to him come convention time.

So when the Mitt Romney/Rand Paul ticket goes up against the Obama/Biden ticket in the general election, conservatives will vote lock-in-step for their Party as they always do, perhaps in smaller numbers, but enough to make it a close race -- Even with the loss in the Latino and women's vote and those earning less than 100K.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R) this week was asked if an ultrasound bill being considered in his state goes too far. His answer is something that Democrats and women’s groups are now highlighting and attacking: "Just close your eyes."

Oh no he di-ent! He didn't really say that, did he?!

Carrying on with the Occupy protests regarding the 99%, women really need to be out protesting across the nation -- Especially younger women who weren't around in the days of the ERA and NOW movements. The reality is that women still don't earn what men earn; they still face discrimination such as health care inequality, and are not represented in government or at the C-level in Corporate America. Hillary Clinton talked about the crack in the glass ceiling. Ladies, a crack is not good enough--break the damn thing to pieces!

Don't let the Flat Earth Society turn back the clock on rights. Throw the Teapublicans out -- Obama/Biden - 2012!

P.S. Don't get too hung up on symbolism like the flag (or flag lapel pins!) either. This is a slippery slope to fascism, you know like the Swastika. True patriotism is shown with actions, not symbolism.

Rick - what an outrageous accusation! You and JoannaSmith related? Neither of you make any sense. And, Knine - what universe to you live in? I love that you right wingers just make up things and think if you write enough - some ignorant buffoon will believe you! Sad, really. But, go ahead. Oh and Joanna, the kool aid comment is always a tipoff that whoever is posting lacks intelligence.

Obama/Biden 2012

Skip, I wish I could agree with you that Obama has the race wrapped up in November. Unfortunately there are lots of low-information, misinformed, hate filled white wingers that have been spreading lies for the last three years. Many of my friends are in the ABO crowd and there is no reasoning with them. They will vote against their own interests and the best interest of our Nation.

DB, it’s not just Obama’s negative numbers that you have to look at, it’s also the negative numbers of the pack of charlatans that are running for the GOP nomination. Just like the democrats stayed home in droves for the 2010 elections, the GOP could stay home this time. We’ll have to wait and see.

Between the GOP Senators yesterday, and the VA, PA, and AZ GOP legislatures, the Republican wars on women and the elderly continues. If you are an non-white, non-christian, elderly woman, if the GOP gains full contol of the government, you may as well go out and kill yourself, not that any of the GOP would care.

If the AZ anti-contraception law does pass, the incidence of acne requiring contraception medication amoung women aged 10-75 will increase 50,000 %.

Through ALEC, Global Corporations Are Scheming to Rewrite YOUR Rights and Boost THEIR Revenue

Through the corporate-funded American Legislative Exchange Council, global corporations and state politicians vote behind closed doors to try to rewrite state laws that govern your rights. These so-called "model bills" reach into almost every area of American life and often directly benefit huge corporations. In ALEC's own words, corporations have "a VOICE and a VOTE" on specific changes to the law that are then proposed in your state. DO YOU?

Mich

You can take this one to the bank, Obama will win in November and it could be by the largest landslide in this nation's history.

My analysis:

Romney will be the nominee and he will lose because he will do very poorly in the South. The right of right wing and evangelical voters in the South will not vote for a Mormon Moderate. They will stay home in droves. That cinches the win.

The landslide occurs because the GOP continues to use their own feet for target practice. On Social Security, Health Care, Abortion, Immigration and on and on and on you take a rating that is already in the basement for congress, topped that with 80% of those polled blamed the GOP for the gridlock and finish it off with the continuing circular firing squad that is the GOP primary and you get a Democrat landslide.

Place your bets Mich and bet the whole farm because, barring a catastrophe of biblical proportions this one is in the bag.

I promise you. Take it to the bank.

Just look at the pitiful, weak responses from the usual RWNJ suspects on this blog. They've got NOTHING and they know it. Most of them have laid their ears back, tucked their tails,slunk back into their little holes and are hoping for better times in 2016.

Obama/Biden 2012

"The Tea Retard supporters are lashing out like wounded dogs"

Sarah, the exit polls show that more women are voting for Santorum than the other two, and the polls the past week show that Obama is losing the support of women - despite the BC issue the Dems threw in everyone's face.

dzaffina -- You know what ALEC is? A conspiracy, and an incidious anti-democracy one at that.

What is the difference between a fetus, corporation, and a woman? A fetus and corporation are people.

Michigan

This is a pocket book election. And gas prices is the bogey. Job approval is going to trump likeability. Ask Jimmy Carter about that.

Bill Maher is correct, the right really is fighting against a fictional version of Obama as the evidence suggests on these vines. I guess when you don't have much that is the only thing you can do. Build a strawman.

TruePatriot-445959

What is the difference between a fetus, corporation, and a woman? A fetus and corporation are people.

That is one of the best quotes I've seen in a while. It made me laugh. How well does it summarize the Republicans of 2012...or 1912...or...1812.

Rick-3416939: “Tax baby tax, borrow baby borrow, and spend baby spend is all the Democrats have to offer. How original.”

And you say that same sentence in every single post I see from you. Sounds a bit like spewing the same old lame Republican Party talking points doesn’t it? Very original. LOL

@Damage

I've read your hateful little posts. I love the fact that like your candidates, all you can do is spew hate and offer no solutions. I'm beginning to think that innovation and imagination travels to the conservative side to die. All you seem to do is keep repeating the same lame tea party talking points and that's about it. In the entire time I've been reading your disgusting little posts I have see nothing to indicate that there is even a whisper of a brain at work for you. If you are as lacking everyplace else as you are intellectually I feel sorry for anybody unlucky enough to be married to you. I just hope you didn't reproduce.

The ECONOMY is what the people of the United States want this election to be about.

The Democrats will try to deflect to other issues but the number one issue is the Economy. Only one candidate has stayed on that message during the entire campaign cycle that is Mitt Romney. Maybe it is because he is the only one qualified to tackle the problem.

The others do not want to draw attention to their weaknesses in this arena. So they will talk about social issues, abortion, birth control and such. None of which will save this country from the financial disaster looming ahead! Get on message!

Look! Romney has fixed every problem he has been confronted with from the business sector, to the Olymics to one of the most Liberal States in the Nation! Let's give him a chance to fix this nation! I don't care about his religion. I don't care about how many homes he has or where they are located. I don't care that he had a health plan in his state. I don't care that he isn't interested in having a lunar colony. I don't care that he doen't eat grits every morning. Or any of the other nonsense out there. All we should care about right NOW is fixing our financial house Let's deal with priority number 1 then we can put our attention on other issues.

DB Akron-- There is a poll showing that if Santorum is the nominee, a lot of Republicans will vote for Obama to ensure that Santorum does not become POTUS.

Fundamentalist women socialized from birth (brainwashed) -- such as the woman who submitted the legislation in Arizona for women to provide proof to their employer that their prescription for contraception is for medical reasons and not for birth control or can be fired -- are an infliction upon their own gender. It has been a hard enough fight for equality, but with "friends like that, who needs enemies?" Just move to Afghanistan and leave fellow American women alone!

As for the men, thank goodness there is legislation now to help guide you in your health care decisions, such as Viagra. These requirements are for your own good, and are only mandated because your government cares about your well being. If you don't like the tests, just close your eyes.

West Coast Bruce -- Who is responsible for all the anti-abortion bills and:

Voting against the Lilly Ledbetter legislation?

Trying to defund Planned Parenthood, Title X, and other health care services for women?

Barring a woman from testifying at a hearing about contraception (Daryl Issa)?

Trying to pass the Blunt-Rubio amendment?

Blocking passage of the Violence Against Women Act?

Etc., etc., etc.? Yes, there is an orchestrated War on Women by the Teapublican Party, and these issues are a major part of the platform for the GOP/TP and religious radicals like Santorum running to be POTUS. The reason Teapublicans aren't talking about the ECONOMY is because they have NO solutions.

As for Romney, until he can be honest about the success of Romneycare, I trust him as far as I could throw him.

True Patriot - only the news media sponsored polls really show what you say. Look at the demographics they are using in those polls - they are not representative of America and especially those who actually vote.

LouisJ

The Republithug Party watch FOX News and know no better. They are like zombies mesmerized by that Villainous news station... do FOX Viewers actually watch television? No need to answer that... it was rhetorical.

Actually, Louis the Fox bots are just like the robotic Mitt Fobney. Watching tv would depending on which remote control Roger Ailes uses. Usually, Ailes hits Blonde #1 for the old male pales. For the rest of the idiots Alis will hit his slick misleading graphics on his remote.

Barely Literate? How Christian Fundamentalist Homeschooling Hurts Kids

The Religious Right touts homeschooling as the "responsible" educational choice. But what about the kids whose parents opt-out of the system -- and out of educating them, as well?

March 14, 2012 |

Alternet By Kristin Rawls

Bottom of Form

In recent weeks, homeschooling has received nationwide attention because of Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s homeschooling family. Though Santorum paints a rosy picture of homeschooling in the United States, and calls attention to the “responsibility” all parents have to take their children’s education into their own hands, he fails to acknowledge the very real potential for educational neglect among some homeschooling families – neglect that has been taking place for decades, and continues to this day.

While the practice of homeschooling is new to many people, my own interest in it was sparked nearly 20 years ago. I was a socially awkward adolescent with a chaotic family life, and became close to a conservative Christian homeschooling family that seemed perfect in every way. Through my connection to this family, I was introduced to a whole world of conservative Christian homeschoolers, some of whom we would now consider “Quiverfull” families: homeschooling conservatives who eschew any form of family planning and choose instead to “trust God” with matters related to procreation.

Though I fell out of touch with my homeschooled friends as we grew older, a few years ago, I reconnected with a few ex-Quiverfull peers on a new support blog called No Longer Quivering. Poring over their stories, I was shocked to find so many tales of gross educational neglect. I don’t merely mean that they had received what I now view as an overly politicized education with huge gaps, for example, in American history, evolution or sexuality. Rather, what disturbed me were the many stories about homeschoolers who were barely literate when they graduated, or whose math and science education had never extended much past middle school.

Take Vyckie Garrison, an ex-Quiverfull mother of seven who, in 2008, enrolled her six school-age children in public school after 18 years of teaching them at home. Garrison, who started the No Longer Quivering blog, says her near-constant pregnancies – which tended to result either in miscarriages or life-threatening deliveries – took a toll on her body and depleted her energy. She wasn’t able to devote enough time and energy to homeschooling to ensure a quality education for each child. And she says the lack of regulation in Nebraska, where the family lived, “allowed us to get away with some really shoddy homeschooling for a lot of years.”

“I’ll admit it,” she confesses. “Because I was so overwhelmed with my life… It was a real struggle to do the basics, so it didn’t take long for my kids to fall far behind. One of my daughters could not read at 11 years old.”

At the time, Garrison was taking parenting advice from Quiverfull leaders who deemphasized academic achievement in favor of family values. She remembers one Quiverfull leader saying, “If they can do mathematics perfectly but they have no morals, you have failed them.”

The implication, she says, was that, “if they’re not doing so well academically, well, then they can catch up on that later. It’s not such a big deal. It was a really convenient way of thinking for me because I wasn’t able to keep up anyway.” This kind of rhetoric, Garrison notes, provided a “high-minded justification for educational neglect. I would not have gotten away with that if I’d had to get my kids tested every year.”

Over time, Garrison lost faith in her fundamentalist ideology and became aware that her children’s education was being neglected. Eventually all but one of her six younger children ended up entering and excelling in the public school system.

Why did she stick with homeschooling for so long, despite her difficulties? “We were convinced that it would be better for our kids not to have an education than to be educated to become humanists or atheists and to reject God,” Garrison says. “We became so isolated because the Quiverfull lifestyle was so overwhelming we didn’t have time or energy for socialization. So the only people we knew were exactly like us. We were told that the whole point of public school was to dumb down the children and turn them into compliant workers – to brainwash them and indoctrinate them into this godless way of thinking.”

The rest of the article can be read here http://www.alternet.org/education/154541

These are the examples of people who vote based upon what they have been told by misguided preachers and then are preyed upon by the likes of Rush Limbaugh and other demagogues of the far right to further indoctrinate them into hating all others who may look or think differently. All the while learning little or nothing of the world they inhabit, yet can influence elections thereby the effect on real world and its needs.

Joe in Albany

1984, Obama style.

Out of one side of their mouths, Barry’s admin is preaching internet privacy. Out of the other side of their mouths, his campaign is using the internet to invade people’s privacy.

Hypocrisy, thy name is Barry Obama.

From Politico:

Obama's campaign is watching you

As usual, the idiot in Albany links without thinks and praises his beloved GOPolitical website for their coverage.

Enjoy Joee, Thou are stooopid.

Today’s Bloomberg poll found 66% of Americans blamed, “oil companies and Middle East nations” while 23% blamed the Obama administration’s energy policies.

We’ve reported that both Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal and Koch-fueled Cato Institute agree: “It’s Not Obama’s Fault That Crude Oil Prices Have Increased.”

And yesterday it was the National Journal survey that found 38% singling out “the manipulation of prices by large energy companies” and 28% citing “tension in the Middle East, particularly over Iran and nuclear weapons,” whereas only 14blamed “the policies of President Obama.”

http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2012/03/14/444430/poll-blame-big-oil-and-mideast-countries-for-high-gas-prices-blame-obama/

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

Like I said Icky Ricky and FOX NOISE will say and do anything to blame President Obama for their failures and LIES.

Santorum Blames Obama For Gas Prices

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY_PMCvAXXk

GM, a portion of the Homeschooled in the Republican Party obtain their education from old 1800's text books and FOX News... I'm not saying it's not education but more akin to eju mah cayshun.

A small bloc of those homeschooled are likely going to start some militia group in the woods of Montana and South Dakota waiting to start their little Revolution.

In their minds, the Civil War is still going and blacks are supposed to be in shackles... not the White House.

Gingerbread Mamma, Very interesting, and insightful article...No wonder people like Sanatarium want to keep people uneducated and fearful of God's wrath!

It's much easier to manipulate the uneducated "followers"!

Gingerbread Mamma, excellent article. While not all home-schooling is equal, fundamentalist home-schooling is not an education. The article makes a strong case for standardization of home-schooling programs and that all home-schooled children must be given the same tests in all subjects as students in public schools.

Good Morning LouisJ, It is as if they are taught just to the mindset and it is troubling. We see similarities here all the time, there is such a resistance to learning in all its aspects, yet I have known of families also home schooled by qualified parents and have turned out great kids, but they seem to be the exception.

Love your posts LouisJ.......enjoy your weekend.

GBM -- We are on the same page this morning! Reading Jody's recap, and the limiting birth control to other things beside birth control measure, it struck me as an agenda to keep women home, teaching pre-approved material. Now I read your post and I'm fully convinced this is the objective with some of these men and their legislation. A patriarchal society and government, with the help of some women it seems! Unbelievable.

The sad part of this story you tell is the children who were neglected. They were robbed of an education.

Thanks for posting. It's a real eye opener.

Jo-An and Jody, thank you. To me, some of these children so 'schooled' are victims of a subtle form of neglect. To me, the mind is a dreadful thing to waste, when trained properly, it can truly accomplish wondrous things to help all mankind.

gingerbread,

Your article reminded me of the experiences of many pioneer women who had to school their children out of necessity. What is the necessity now? Fear, lack of understanding?

But as soon as there were a group of farmers, they sectioned off land for the school. Hired a teacher and made sure all their children received the best education they could find.

DCIA........Thank you. Yes I believe you are correct in your assessment. We appear to have our own version of the Taliban. We have to keep connecting the dots, and as it is all about control of women, it is up to the women and the great men who support them to keep doing so.

Everywhere in a controlled environment where we have a dominance of men, we have inequality and a lack of respect for what we as women do and can do, and that in turn spills over to all aspects of everyday life.

It has got to stop.

I'm worried the most about voter suppression. The Republican plan is to stop the American people from voting.

Job1,

WI-R Gov Walker was hoping to save his job by disenfranchizing tens of thousands of voters - blocked for now.

Pennsylvania is next to become the next Republican-run state to attack voting rights. If the new voter suppression law is passed (Gov Corbett-R), Pennsylvania would become the 16th state in the nation to require a voter ID.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, lt will stop five million elderly, low-income, and college student voters from voting in November and cost around $4 million to put in place in Pennsylvania.

Gingerbread Mamma

That was a very revealing article on the home schooling.

My computer crash so I had to go through that whole rebot think before I could respond.

I think this article is even more astonishing.

FOX NOISE uses Bible For Reference☺LOL

"The Memo is the Bible"; it is documented. LOL

"The roots of Fox News Channel's day-to-day on-air bias are actual and direct. They come in the form of an executive memo distributed electronically each morning, addressing what stories will be covered and, often, suggesting how they should be covered. To the newsroom personnel responsible for the channel's daytime programming, The Memo is the bible. If, on any given day, you notice that the Fox anchors seem to be trying to drive a particular point home, you can bet The Memo is behind it."[4]

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Fox_News

=============================================================
But, but the Sauds own half of FOX NOISE; crazzy

The jingoists @ FOX NOISE are psychos; period!!!

The tragedy of home schooling is it being used in lieu of a public education. I advocate home schooling as a necessity that is a supplement to public education, for only then, can you achieve a well-rounded balance.

Gingerbread

Thank you for the article on "Home Schooling". We will need janitors and window washers in the future. Not everyone will get to be doctors or engineers.

It makes me sick that parents will purposefully doom their children to poverty, never able to attend a real college or university. When these children apply for work what is going to happen to them?

Happy Saint Paddy's GBM

Let the Guinness flow.

I also appreciate the home schooling article - my sister is homeschooling her grandchildren, this article makes me wonder what kind of education they will get. I know they will get a healthy dose of religion, but I'm not sure how much technical science based learning there will be. On the positive side they are a very loving family, but will they get a well rounded education to be able to compete in the modern job market?

highland and Red- Usually I am of the mindset of to each his own. But when it concerns education a well rounded approach is indeed warranted. In today's world children need to be well educated and well adjusted to compete and be successful. It's a hyper competitive global market out there that requires expanding one's horizon not limiting it. So if one chooses to educate their children at home it is my hope they do so with a plethora of knowledge based curriculum in addition to any religious studies they seek.

DCIA and Gingerbread Momma:

I don't know if you saw the speech Hilary Clinton gave (I forget where, I only saw a clip on a news show) but she put it well and in a way that I've been pondering myself. The gist of it was: What is the deal with women? No matter where women are there are people [men] who want to control them, tell them what to wear, what to do and what not to do. The United States must be an example to other countries and men must not be allowed to place their demands on women anymore.

I honestly don't know what it is about us that makes them want to control us but I say it's high time we show them that there's no controlling these feminine creatures. We have the responsibility to future generations to stand up to these bullies and not keep our mouths shut about it! I for one am totally tired of the treatment I get as a woman.

I don't know if you've heard me mention it but I live in one of the most male dominated areas of the country and I've had employers (men) ask me repeatedly about me having a child. Not only that but I had a sexual harassment issue at work once and my boss (a man) actually yelled at ME! "What do you want me to do about it?" I'm not the suing type but that company/man is so lucky I'm not because there are cameras all over that place.

I have to deal with people staring at me all the time and I can't wear certain things or I'm being "suggestive". I worked at a hospital where it was a requirement for women to wear skirts in the office! A SKIRT!!!!! Are you kidding me! I almost quit the moment I found out about that one!

The long haul for this GOP/TP Circus is nothing like the Dems in 2008. I hate to agree with Ann Coulter, but all these clowns have been in the race for themselves -- No core convictions, no true desire to make the world a better place for all of humanity, not even to advance their own Party. It's all about me, me, ME (especially Gingrich).

Here's a prediction. Ron Paul has been quietly amassing delegates, particularly with caucuses. He aligns with Romney more than the other candidates, and will negotiate (probably on behalf of Rand Paul) for those delegates. What Romney should be concerned about is all the delegates he has won technically and how many will really be bound to him come convention time.

So when the Mitt Romney/Rand Paul ticket goes up against the Obama/Biden ticket in the general election, conservatives will vote lock-in-step for their Party as they always do, perhaps in smaller numbers, but enough to make it a close race -- Even with the loss in the Latino and women's vote and those earning less than 100K.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R) this week was asked if an ultrasound bill being considered in his state goes too far. His answer is something that Democrats and women’s groups are now highlighting and attacking: "Just close your eyes."

Oh no he di-ent! He didn't really say that, did he?!

Carrying on with the Occupy protests regarding the 99%, women really need to be out protesting across the nation -- Especially younger women who weren't around in the days of the ERA and NOW movements. The reality is that women still don't earn what men earn; they still face discrimination such as health care inequality, and are not represented in government or at the C-level in Corporate America. Hillary Clinton talked about the crack in the glass ceiling. Ladies, a crack is not good enough--break the damn thing to pieces!

Don't let the Flat Earth Society turn back the clock on rights. Throw the Teapublicans out -- Obama/Biden - 2012!

P.S. Don't get too hung up on symbolism like the flag (or flag lapel pins!) either. This is a slippery slope to fascism, you know like the Swastika. True patriotism is shown with actions, not symbolism.

TruePatriot - uggggggh - you said the "coulter" word. But, your post is spot on. We should be out protesting and I believe as we get closer to the election you will see that happen. I'm still stunned that any woman would vote for the GOP knowing how little the men there think of women as a whole.

MGates73 -- I did read an article on Hillary's speech. She's one smart woman! We know that a healthy relationship involves mutual respect both at work and at home. Unfortunately, we all continue to encounter these exceptions, or relics, as I like to call them, that think otherwise. And we most certainly have to speak up and out against those that wish to control us. It's called girl power!

Keep on keeping on girl!

My cousin has been homeschooling her 4 children for almost 10 years now. I've never linked homseschooling to religion. thanks for the information!

sure enough, she and her husband are religious fanatics as they've constantly driven everyone else crazy with their religious talks. good thing is that they're not as crazy and blind as most far right nutcases. my cousin does try her best to provide a roundabout education for her kids, but the main subject is still the bible. I give her credit that she doesn't just teach them the old testament, but also the gospels as well (I have a strong feeling that Jesus Christ is totally ignored by most of the right wing so-called christians). still, what we've noticed is that the kids are shy and they have absolutely no social skills. the only people they deal with day after day are members of their own family and people in the church on weekends. they truly don't have much interaction with the outside world. what I don't understand is why would any parents want to narrow their kids' world to such a small and tight circle. how are they gonna deal with the outside world when they grow up? they are really living in a world of confinement with hardly any communications. as the entire world is getting more and more global and dynamic in such a fast pace, I don't see how these kids could cope with the dynamics of the rest of the world. what exactly are these so-called conservatives doing to their own kids and to their own country? they may live in a cocoon and ignore the rest of the world and feel safe for the time being, but the rest of the world are moving on and advancing fast. they will very soon be totally eliminated by the rest of the world. this is the most self-elimination and self-destructive thing I have ever seen. do they really think their god will halt all progression of the rest of the world for them? simply unbelievalbe!

The GOP/TPig's feel the race for the Presidency slipping away from their greedy little hands, maybe they should learn how to treat Women like Lady's ?

Jody, thanks. Outta the Park!

Personal fave above: '"In Hawaii, Romney's son Matt said "I'm not here to talk about President Obama, he's great..."'

McConnell as Magoo, ha, yes!

But how about how about Elmer Fudd to WI Walker? -"Say yaw pwayers ya wascally wabbit."

A top of the morning to you Jody. I thought on the occasion that I would bring out dear St Pat and bless this weeks fine endeavor. Away ye snakes of no fine critical thoughts. Away Damage 123 ye scurrilous wee slivering ferkie.

Another excellent recap, Jody. Thanks for all your hard work distilling the absurdity of the week.

I love how nice your fellow Iowans were to the confused Republican. You'd have thought he would have known he was in the wrong place when he saw so many people who weren't angry.

It breaks my heart to think of the 86 year old veteran making an effort to get to the polls at his age and not be allowed to vote. Where is the outrage about the Republican over-reach with these laws?

Jody--great wrap-up as usual. I look forward to reading your wrap-ups every week--you just can't make this stuff up! It is really entertaining to watch as the TPGOP candidates go mountain climbing over mole hills in their pursuit of the nomination. I especially love the "Chitspa" awards! By the way, we haven't heard much out of Michele Bachmann lately--I wonder what she is up to these days?

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

Thanks, Jody! Enjoyed reading the recap. And congratulations for your question being selected!

YeeHaw Jody!

Gonna have to reread it when I get time! ;o)

Good thing the recaps isn't too far down the page, wouldn't want our friend David Walker getting nervous! lol

Many of you were in fine, lefty form yesterday. We had people defending the defacement of the American Flag (no surprise there.) We had people supporting the idea that the USA change forever into a country that speaks several languages, is divided by many different cultures and customs etc...In short, they called for the final death of the Melting Pot, which worked so well for 200 years but is now almost gone, thanks to you liberals. Division and turmoil between culyures will surely follow.

Jody -- Nice recap! Does not compute about sums up Romney!

Women must prove they are taking birth control for any reason but birth control??? Yikes! Next thing you know they will be legislating women must have a certain number of kids, stay-at-home, and be the educator's of pre-approved propaganda!

Great Jody, you are so good with the delightful humorous comments, it makes a great post even better.

Just a little note, this morning I heard an interview with Romney, where he allowed the economy is getting better albeit a little slow.

Allowing that everyone, including the President, would like the recovery to happen faster, where does the great business man now go with his main talking point, that the economy failing was all the President's fault? Poor Mitt.

Jody: I had to take a break to read your outstanding post. Great as usual. Now back to some chores.

86 year old man denied the right to vote in Ohio? Nope.

Phony ginned up headline.... The old fellow didnt bring proper ID as required....He was offered a provisional ballot, but refused! How could he be denied the right to vote, if he refused to vote?

Meanwhile, in Vermont, with no ID requirement, zombies were allowed to vote.. James O"Keefe was able to get multiple ballots to vote., using the names of dead people.. routine procedure for Obama's Chicago Democrat machine, but we dont want it nationwide...

Thanks Jody - as usual you make Edward R and Walter proud! There must be a lot left on the cutting floor as well - I can't wait for the book to come out of all your weekly "and that's the way it is!" It's bound to be a best seller and a must read!

President Obama was trying to take the country back to pre-civil war days, back to slavery

OMG, Jody! I saw that clip of Sarah Palin on You Tube last night, is she insane or what? When you consider this woman was almost a heartbeat away from the Presidency, it's chilling.

Love your update - especially like the note about WI Walker. When even the Firefighter's Union is saying you've gone too far, it's time to check out.

I agree with Paul - there's a book waiting to be published here

Thanks everyone. There was plenty on the cutting room floor this week. Matt Romney's "he's great" was priceless.

Ideology, appreciate the Irish effort to ward off "wee slivering ferkies". PAUL, NY, a book would be fun--wonder if it would be sold as fiction or in the current events section at the bookstore.

Jody, Iowa:

As always - fabulous. I have to tag your recap with really important information. I was at the Wichita, Kansas V.A. a few weeks ago and ran into a vet with an identical story to the fellow in Ohio. He no longer drove, he didn't have a proper I.D. and he was quite concerned he couldn't vote. This did not set well with a number of veterans and in short order we had an intervenor.

It seems that most V.A.'s have a liaison who handles such problems. I am told she is checking into this situation for other veterans. That's particularly sweet as Wichita is home for the Koch Brothers.

Oh, but there's more. I checked at my County Registrar's office when I got back. An EXPIRED Drivers' License IS acceptable as I.D. and so is the Veterans' Administration I.D. You should be able to get a list of valid I.D.'s from your local registrar's office.

One final tidbit that I'll bet most of us don't know. The WWII vet who started me on my little trek was discharged at the end of the war. When the Korean War broke out, he was recalled to active duty and was not discharged until the end of that war. Drafted once, recalled once. And he has to worry that he might not be able to vote.

How anyone can vote Republican is beyond me.

Great as always Jody! As for Sarah's "President Obama was trying to take the country back to pre-civil war days" comment, I thought she was confusing the Civil War with Civil Rights. But then again, maybe she was confusing it with the Revolutionary War, or the Alamo, or the Iditarod, or that view of Russia, or ... dang, now I'm getting confused trying to follow her thought process.

Way to go Jody. GREAT!

Jody ... we need a title for your book. "Truth is stranger than fiction" and "Ripley's believe it or not" are already taken, so maybe we could improvise. How about "Jody's unbelievable truths about the 2012 Republican primary" or maybe "A perspective of women by the old men who know better".

TOG, I've never really been able to figure out what Sarah Palin says and I doubt even her fans know either!

David W, thanks for adding that about the Vets. They should be concerned. An 86-yr old man thought he had proper ID with him but it wasn't good enough. It just points to the bigger problem of this, a precinct worker can deny anyone the right to vote and later claim, he/she didn't understand the rules. Another Marine Vet in Ohio purposely went to vote in the primary to protest the Voter ID law; he refused to show ID even though he had it with him.

The US Constitution guarantees the right to vote to everyone. No where does it say that in order to exercise that right, individuals must jump through hoops to do so. The Voter ID laws are a modern-day poll tax on voters.

The irony, to me, is this drive to suppress the vote will one day backfire on the Republicans, as some of the least capable people I know always vote Republican.

I found this out when I was collecting signatures to repeal Maine's same day registration ban. Plenty of Republican voters wanted to repeal the ban!

The rules for gathering signatures say the signer must be registered to vote in the town where they live, but lots of folks had moved and not registered in the new town, so I knew their signatures would be rejected. If these folks didn't get it straightened out before voting day, it's possible they wouldn't be able to vote.

Damage, go outside and fly a kite or something; take your mind off how crazy your party has become because obviously, seeing so much wacky in one spot sends you into hissy fits.

TOG, we could take suggestions to name the book. "And that's that way it was...the year when politics ran headfirst into whack-a-do" might work.

Amy, great point. When I wrote about the College Republicans free cupcakes to Iowa lawmakers if they could provide the valid ID required in the GOP House proposed law, even the state-issued lawmakers ID didn't meet the requirements meaning those republicans couldn't vote with it.

Jody, Iowa

What else can I say but brilliant?

@Ron I emailed you and your wife a few minutes ago.

@ Newday glad to see you this morning

To all my other lefty friends I'm off line. I finally caught Feisty and Clara. I will met them in a little while. We will then be off to have a great day in Chicago.

Maybe we will drop by the DEW DROP INN; dunno.

If not Happy St. Patrick's day to everyone

Meanwhile, in Vermont, with no ID requirement, zombies were allowed to vote.. James O"Keefe was able to get multiple ballots to vote., using the names of dead people.. routine procedure for Obama's Chicago Democrat machine, but we dont want it nationwide...

Everyone with a half of a brain knows what a lying piece of crap James O"Keefe is. I thought that bastard was still in jail.

Ames - some of the least capable people I know always vote Republican.

As opposed to the very capable folks that vote Democrat based on a smile or a "Velvet Voice", eh there Ames?

Ok what is with you Obama supporters that talk about civil right infringement and defending our civil rights and our right to privacy? Haven't ANY of you heard of the Patriot Act and the NDAA? Why aren't you screaming about how these bills strip us of our constitutional rights? Instead you complain about what the Republicans MIGHT do? REALLY?

Why don't you join us independents in calling the fouls BOTH sides are making and actually help stop this assault on our civil liberties instead of complaining about one side and ignoring the atrocities "YOUR" side commits thereby enabling BOTH sides to get away with it?

WCA: As opposed to the very capable folks that vote Democrat based on a smile or a "Velvet Voice", eh there Ames?

Ames has quit responding WCA. She must have the new record for people on ignore. Now she's unleashed and just babbles on about what ever clinks around in her mind.

What wave length do conservatives hear beneath those tin-foil hats?

Beats me. The way they have been acting the last twenty years you would have thought their hats were made of lead.

Another outstanding wrap up Jody! Love it! You just seem to get better every week. Wow!

Now she's unleashed and just babbles on about what ever clinks around in her mind.

JAS1, Nice one. What? Yep, that's what we've been saying about you for ever. I see you've got the GOP pivot and project thingy down.

retesting

DAMAGE: "Division and turmoil between culyures will surely follow."

What are "culyures"?

[What are "culyures"?]

Damaged has the troubles where spelling is concerned, yet he likes to criticize others for it...go figure...

Ye oudid yerself lassie . . . thanks for making my St. Paddy's Day in advance!

JoAnne in PA

And a blessing on your fine poem lass ... a bonny rhyme.

Sure and begorrah tis a fine poem you've written, lassie!! Just love it. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all. Looking forward to the Wearing of the Green party at the Dew Drop Inn tonight! I heard our own Irish darlin is making genuine shepherd's pie.

And I hear tell the shepherd was a fine meaty young lad.

Awesome poem! Thanks for the laugh JoAnne!

Brilliant JoAnne, thanks for great laugh. Enjoy your St. Patrick's Day.

Did somebody say shepherd's pie? At great personal sacrifice, I have made it my life's mission to find the ultimate shepherd's pie in our fair land. The current leaders are Jessop's Tavern in New Castle, Delaware and a small take-out place in Bar Harbor, Maine whose name I've sadly forgotten who made it with a tomato paste base and served it in a paper tray. I have faith that our own DDI lassie can out-do them all, but should any challengers show up this evening, I'll once again volunteeer to judge all comers.

Go raibh maith agaibh!

JoAnne,

For a great shepherd's pie, I can recommend my daughter's. Her husband is a very finicky Englishman and loves hers. She got the recipe last spring when she was in England visiting the in-laws. Even her very Irish father loves it! (Must remember to keep the son-in-law and father seperated tonight. The son-in-law doesn't care for Irish Catholics and St. Paddy's day, while Dad is all that!)

Side note: Happy Birthday to my baby! Honey, I am making the food you requested for the party now!

JoAnne, PA. Top O' the mornin' to ya faire lass--excellent! Big Iowa smile. The best I could do is borrow "may the bird of paradise fly up their noses".

Thanks for the morning smile JoAnne, and "here's hoping that the clovers smile on you, and that no one ever again confuses you with Joanna".

I'm getting really tired of all these Irish stereotypes. In fact, after this drink I just might get up and punch somebody.

JoAnne -- Thanks for topping the morning off with a good laugh! : )

I'm getting really tired of all these Irish stereotypes. In fact, after this drink I just might get up and punch somebody.

Drink? I thought you should be at work. After all, you're one of those hard-working taxpaying Republicans that never ever take government assistance.

Ahh, Damage me boy.....tis your sunny disposition and your grand sense of humor 'twould be missed should ye ever decide to no longer favor us with your wit and wisdom.

Sure, and there's a fine mirror above the DDI bar should ye truly be looking for someone to have that donnybrook with!

My very Irish husband's grandfather has always wondered why Americans like to ruin perfectly good beer by coloring it green.

Joanne, top of the line.

If I hadn't just met meself coming back, I'd have written it my own self.

(So true -today has been whacky!)

Hi phine

My very Irish husband's grandfather has always wondered why Americans like to ruin perfectly good beer by coloring it green.

because it tastes good ☺

Happy St. Patrick day. I have training tomorrow so I be won't on line. I trust you are making soda bread, cabbage and corn beef???

The clown car is in Chicago.

Emanuel assails Mitt's 'character'

http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/03/emanuel-assails-mitts-character-117612.html

Gee whiz JoAnne:

This just doesn't seem fair. The left has the best poets, the best sense(s) of humor, and clearly has a lock on brain power.

Outstanding! That made my day JoAnne!

O'Bama / O'Biden 2012!

Love it! Well done!

Ahh, that's true, David me bucko.....but tis the Romneys, the Santorums, and the Gingriches who provide the divine inspiration. This humble poet could never have come up with the lions and the chipmunks on her own.....let alone Newt's "tiny things" from yesterday!

..

aaaaaaaahhhhhhhmen! ;o)

Amen and hallelujah, Chris!

St Patty Day Conversion... oh goodie.

Amen, Chris! Darn, I forgot to add it to the wrap this morning.

Obahhhhma! Obahhhhma!

Chris: and all the right wing nuts answer "vaginal probes!" and "just close your eyes"...How's that "midnight in America" thing working for the scarlet letter party...The gender gap big enough for ya yet? ...losing by 20 points so far among independents (that's the BEST number if it's Romney)...wanna make it 30? 40? Can I get an aaaaayyyyyymeeennns from the old angry white guys?

JoAnne---when I saw that clip of our governor, I thought to myself---here's someone else JoAnne and I will have to apologize for. You just can't make this stuff up.

I am wondering about his role in the Penn State scandal as attorney general. That investigation sure took a long time.

Gov. Corbett says "as long as it's exterior, not interior" - is he saying that only an exterior ultrasound is required to have an abortion?

Or is this like the Virginia law - you must undergo the exterior ultrasound

but if it can not prove the gestational age of the fetus,(and experts say an exterior ultrasound can not set the age conclusively)

you must be (verbally) offered the transvaginal probe

but they refuse to say whether you can be denied an abortion if you politely decline their invasive rape.

Sneaky way to spin it. Does anyone know if the Pennsylvania law is similar?

Katheryn -

From the Wall Street Journal:

"The “Women’s Right to Know” Act would require any woman seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound, with a nearby screen showing them the image. Women would be allowed to avert their eyes if they wish.

The bill, which can be seen here, would also require women to hear the fetal heartbeat. Since most abortions are performed in the first trimester, the most likely type of ultrasound would be the transvaginal procedure, PennLive reported."

Hmm.....but apparently the bill is facing some delays - and some breaking of the ranks:

"The bill has lost several sponsors in recent days, including state Rep. Scott Perry, a Republican, who said “I don’t know that I’m against it,” referring to transvaginal ultrasounds, but added: “I’m not sure it needs to be mandated. A – I’m not a doctor. B – I’m not a woman,” the York Daily Record reported."

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2012/03/13/pennsylvania-postpones-debate-on-abortion-ultrasound-bill/

"I'm not a doctor and I'm not a woman"- finally, someone willing to admit the obvious.

I couldn't believe that clip when I saw it. Corbett' comment missed my cut off time for the nutshell but I did make a note for next week depending on what other wacky the right thinks and says.

@Katheryn As a sonographer, allow me to answer your question. It depends. If the woman is fairly thin and the pregnancy greater than 6 weeks, its possible to set the date based on whats called the Crown Rump Length (the length from the crown of the head to the butt) and the Gestational Sac Diameter (although this is less reliable). Past 13 weeks, you can do the normal 4 measurements to determine gestational age.

Biparietal Diameter (the distance between the outside of one side of the skull to the inside of the other side)

Head Circumference (The distance around the head)

Abdominal Circumference (The distance around the belly) and

Femur Length.

So it IS possible in some pregnancies to determine the dates just by a transabdominal (Exterior) ultrasound. My question would be IF the sonographer can not see a CRL or Gest Sac measurement over the belly, can they still have the abortion or do then then HAVE TO have the transvaginal ultrasound to determine dates.

Also let me state that these 'must have ultrasound before abortion' bills go against current AMA and ACOG (American College of Obstetricians) practice which states

The use of either two dimensional or three dimensional ultrasonography ONLY TO VIEW THE FETUS, Obtain a picture of the fetus, or to determine the fetal sex WITHOUT A MEDICAL INDICATION is inappropriate and contrary to responsible medical practice.

Also, an ultrasound is a medical procedure which requires a doctors prescription to have performed. Doctor's currently ordering such procedures against AMA/ACOG guidelines risk censure by these organizations (which are required to practice), lawsuits for medically unnecessary testing and an increase in their malpractice insurance. On the flip side, you basically have the State Government dictating to Doctors what procedures they MUST write a prescription for, severely harming not only the doctors scope of practice but also the doctor patient relationship.

And I know it's the least of the offenses, but since it's the only one these Republicans care about...who is paying for this mandatory procedure? Is the whole point to increase the cost of abortion so that fewer poor women can scrape up the money for one?

The GOP is moving towards becoming the American Taliban.

I saw on TV last night Rick Perry is trying to put Planned Parenthood out of business in Texas - since when is it the government's job to decide a non-profit group, which provides necessary services to low income women, should be shut down because it also provides privately funded abortions, a medical operation which is legal.

Meanwhile, Republicans like our Gov. LePage, are funnelling public money to religious organizations, at the expense of public education. Republicans are such hypocrites. THey talk about getting government out of people's lives, but put their thumb on the scale when it comes to organizations they support (or don't.)

Amy - The GNOP ARE the American Taliban....

That was a pretty well thought out and deep statement, Paul S. Did you rub your hands together and sport a gap-toothed mongoloid grin after you entered it?

Maybe you can give me some examples of the "GNOP" beheading women is soccer stadiums? How about some links providing info about the "GNOP" sending suicide bombers to kill US troops? Good luck with that, Paul.

And is it true that this bill allows an employer to FIRE a women just for using birth control???!!!

Honestly, that part I really can not belief. Now that would really be a step too far even for Republicans.

"it also provides privately funded abortions"

Great, then! Can the taxpayers get their $600 million back, then, which funds abortions by Planned Parenthood?

Yes, it is true; an employer could fire a woman for using birth control if the employer objects to use of contraception to prevent pregnancy. This bill has similarities to the federal Blunt-Rubio legislation to allow employers to tell insurance providers what medical procedures and medications it will cover if they object to something for "moral" reasons. It's idiotic.

Bobby for VP, you didn't even understand what you read--what part of "privately funded" do you not get? Tax payer funds do NOT pay for abortions at Planned Parenthood; private donations do. Despite what the GOP claims, it has been the law for decades.

Bob: for the 100th time...who is going to believe your lies but your fellow neanderthals in that echo chamber of yours? THERE ARE NO TAXPAYER FUNDS GOING FOR ABORTIONS. LOOK UP THE HYDE AMENDMENT. Your ignorance is nothing if not stunningly consistent.

Arizona is crazy, yes, but even in Arizona, this Taliban imitation can go too far. Virginity tests next, gentlemen?

Damage: No there are no public hangings of women yet. Just give the old white Republicans a few more months/years and they will succeed.

Republican women do you not know what is going to happen to you also. This is not just against liberal women, but you are included in this American Taliban quest.

Men. Do you really want to have to support a dozen kids or so. Your wife will not be able to work as she will be pregnant and will have to stay home. Not help with your bills, and your fishing trips, probably won't be enough money for them. And how do you take a dozen kids on a fishing trip.

Tell your Congressman that enough is enough. Get on with running the country not our lives.

Nashville_fan ... it's all to be a big surprise and you will know several months later, but first there will be a fine reading of the Constitution followed by several laws concerning vaginal misappropriation followed by what can and cannot be done with Old Glory, followed by at this point a good old fashioned war and then ending up the year with a fine speech about deficits not mattering piss in a bucket.

worst primary ever.

I'm kinda enjoying it!! These clowns are just ripping each other apart, making it so much easier in the Fall! Obama's team doesn't even have to come up with campaign ad's....just play their own words....tearing down who ever is last clown standing!

OBAMA 2012

Nashville- Riddle ME this: Why do you people conveniently "forget" the vicious battle between Saint Barack I and Hilary Clinton waaaay back in the year 2008 A.D.?

You don't remember the nasty accusations and dirty tricks from the Obama camp against Hilary and her husband, Bill "The Stainmaker" Clinton? Really?

My favorite part was when Obama's mentor and pastor got up in front of his church and brought up the Lewinski Scandal (a scandal where Black people HAD been 100% behind Bill). Jeremiah Wright pretended to grab the reigns of a horse and yelled "Bill was riiiiidin' dirtaaay"!!!!! It was friggin' hilarious!

Dear Damage:

Have you ever noticed how much time you spend thinking about Black people? Why is that? :o)

P.S. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton had PLANS for America. They were not arguing about which one of them could use magic to lower gas prices or trying to figure out how to deny the world birth control because their church doesn't like it. Big difference.

Damage is just mad at Bill Clinton for being the best President in the last 50 years.

Nashville-Have YOU ever noticed how many people on here say that anybody who disagrees with or doesn't like Obama is a racist? I'm sure you have. It's a daily occurence. I believe you are among that crowd. Big surprise. As if 100% of the country has EVER voted for ONE candidate. Of course, that's what you peopel would like see anyway.

Ruken- You hear? Some Republicans are going to be burning Obama in effigy today. But since the effigy is just scraps of cloth string, it's meaningless.

Damage ... the fight between Hillary and Barack was a fight between mental giants ... the current GOP fight is one among mental midgets. The GOP has for many years gone down the road of seeking the stupid home schooled vote ... stupid attracts stupid.

Damage how about they wrap his effigy in the flag ... make us all angry or happy.

Damage:

Don't look now, but I think that EVERYBODY is out to get you . . . I know I am! :o)

lol

You really are precious to me Damage, in all your misguided angst and racial delirium . . . I think I kind of like you . . . it must be tough going through life in a perpetual state of paranoia . . . *big hug*.

Ruken- You hear? Some Republicans are going to be burning Obama in effigy today. But since the effigy is just scraps of cloth string, it's meaningless.

careface.jpg

Ideo- Since Canada stopped providing us with funny comedians, I forgot you people were even up there. Just stay quiet, play your hockey, freeze your ass off and stop poking your nose where it doesn't belong. (unless you like that sorta thing.)

Damage123 ... open your legs wide ... here comes the Keystone pipeline ... you do want it, I know you do.

I believe there are some 400+ Canadians on the Vine ... perhaps you would like to write an open letter to us ... just go to the Canadian group site and type away.

Nashville, you said it. I don't have a problem with their long primary season but so far the only thing any of these GOP seem to be running on is being against President Obama. That might play to the base but it shouldn't, everyone should want some specifics. How will they create jobs, whose taxes will they cut, how do they plan to reduce the deficit and debt if they cut taxes and spend more on the military, what programs will they eliminate or cut to pay for this grand military, how will they pay for their threated war with Iran, how do they plan to fix medicare and social security, how will they fix the health care system if they repeal the ACA, what about women's rights, contraception? Those are just a few questions republicans should be asking these candidates yet they stand there and applaud the words "it's President Obama's fault".

I get the feeling the Republicans are catering to their base - low income men who resent laws that interfere with the one area where they can dominate - low income women's lives. If you empower low income women, then who are these guys going to have to kick around?

Katheryn, Good Lord, these guys are NUTZ!!!

Add the whole Blunt/Rubio bill, tossed in with Rushbo nonsense, and I CAN NOT imagine the GOP still standing! Sadly, there are too many GOP women that will just sit back and take this crap!

OH, and let's NOT FORGET, Romney admitted this week, that he WILL get RID of PLANNED PARENTHOOD!! Given the chance!

Jo-An - you'll notice I left out a lot. The more obvious stuff on the National level.

A lot of legislation against women is going to start happening more on the state level.

Katheryn,

"Republicans say they can enact legislation against women and women won't respond in the voting booths."

At first glance they are right. Santorum did win a majority of the womens vote in the recent primary.

But if they want to test their assumption in the general election ,so be it.

Women will organize and when we do it will make the tea party and OWS protests look like a Sunday school picnic.

Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan writes that “there is a war against women” in American public life. She argues, “In this war, leaders who are women are publicly demeaned and diminished based on the fact that they are women. They are the object of sexual slurs, and insulted in sexual terms.”

Peggy Noonan included in her scope vicious sexist assaults against women leaders like Gov Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachman.

The same progressives claiming a war on woman have no qualms about nasty sexist attacks on GOP women.

Amy: I get the feeling the Republicans are catering to their base - low income men who resent laws that interfere with the one area where they can dominate - low income women's lives. If you empower low income women, then who are these guys going to have to kick around.

Why so hateful this fine day Amy? You're very angry today.

Amy: If you empower low income women,

If who empowers women Amy?

"Republicans are catering to their base - low income men who resent laws that interfere with the one area where they can dominate - low income women's lives"

Amy, please make up your mind. Is the Republican 'base' evil rich billionaires , the "1%" , or evil low income men?

Cant have it both ways...

Adjective: GOP base as in

Without moral principles; ignoble: "the electorate's baser instincts of greed and selfishness".

ideology,

Love your icon avatar!!! See you at the DDI later today. The musicans have already started and will continue throughout the weekend.

Cant have it both ways...

Yes, Bob, you can have it both ways. At one end it is wealthy Neanderthal, and the other end is poor Neanderthal .. either way, like you, they are mindless buffoons.

Katheryn Brandy, well said. Outrageous and scarey list plus it's only a few. I heard that state legislatures have passed or tried to pass over 400 anti-women's rights bills; I've also heard that number is closer to 1000. The Iowa GOP House is trying to pass legislation that would prohibit abortion even in the event of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother; another IA GOP proposal is a mandated ultrasound for women. This, union-busting, right to work, and voter ID laws are proof that the GOP has a coordinated effort in place based on ALEC's boiler plate recommendations. In FL, the GOP forgot to remove the ALEC logo and mission statement on one bill.

Ideo......love your avatar. Happy St. Patrick's Day, Montreal always has a great parade in his honor. Enjoy

Got all the Irish CD's lined up on the DDI Jukebox. See you there.

Bob: a lot of women complained about comments made toward EVERY female politiican that were personal, including Palin and others...would that your regressives be half so consistent about defending "rights" when the rights in question are not those in your political party.

Kathryn: you can Maryland off your list. We don't do burkas here and that local Republican official was roundly criticized and over-ruled.

Jo-An: I believe the cynical calculation being made by the Republicans is that the only way they can hold on to their base is to play to fear...the fear that women are not staying 'in their place'...the fear that women of color are somehow 'using' them...which is why they create the lie that women don't actually pay for their own insurance coverage...and the lie that abortions are "taxpayer funded" and "used as contraception"; they stoke the fear among the simple that there may be people who aren't Christians out in America somewhere...the fear that narrow-minded, un-educated extremist white underclass is becoming irrelevant to governing in America (now that one makes sense). They have the evangelical vote (not Romney, but he believes they'll come around once they think the choice is between a Mormon and a "secret Muslim hiding as a Christian to destroy America") and they have the anybody but the black guy vote. Will that be enough?...Wall street as always will hedge it's bets and divide its support...Republicans are now running at a deficit 23% spread among Independents, largely due to women...Romney is behind nearly a record 70% with Hispanics...the only two "cross-over" categories that Bush won with the support of. All the R's have at this point is a prayer that the economic recovery suddenly stops dead, that women vote against their own interests en masse (or at least the ones not of child bearing age do), and that everyone buys their "midnight in America' scare story. I'm betting it's as silly to think this will work as it appears.

You're welcome, hummbird. Have a great weekend!

Thank you too, hummbird! We have to laugh to avoid drowning in sorrow at what a mockery our election process has become. Stop by the DDI later - the first round's on Jody!

[Obamacare needs to be repealed]

It won’t be repealed unless there are 60 votes in the Senate and there will not be 60 votes.

Why does it need 60 votes to repeal Obamacare? Republicans can use the same phony dodge as the Dems did to get it passed, that it is a "budget reconciliation" bill....

They can defund it with 51 votes {budgetary} but the will need 60 votes to repeal the law.

If Obama can get waivers to ObamaCare for his Union and Political Buddies, I am sure the Next President can get a waiver to ObamaCare for the entire country. The entire country will be thankful for that.

Quick thinking but … wrong

Why are people against the Affordable Care Act again? Curious for some real answers here. Based in fact.

Why are people against the Affordable Care Act again? Curious for some real answers here. Based in fact.

Me too. It seems that anyone against the Affordable Care Act is just plain stupid.

Sorry Joe---President Obama already passed and it went right into that gas-bag Gingrich!

Ha, President Romney? You can't call him President, Joe, until he is actually elected. You can say, our next President, Mitt Romney but you cannot call him President.

What plan has Mitt Romney presented? President Obama has been pushing for tax code reform for ages which means Mitt stole that idea. The rest of Mitt's plan is a repeat of Reagan, Bush and Bush's voo doo, trickle down, supply side failed policies topped with once again deregulating the very industry that caused the collapse; not to mention eliminating clean air and water, drill and drill more to heck with the future. Mitt plans to eliminate medicare and give seniors a "voucher" and a good luck handshake and social security, kiss it goodbye. Go ahead, vote for Mitt and head back to repeat Bush 43.

Bobby for VP McDonnell, you really should get the facts before posting. The ACA required 60 votes for cloture before getting the required majority of votes to pass the final piece of legislation. Remember, Olympia Snowe, Arlen Specter and Susan Collins voted with democrats for cloture. Yes, that's right, three republicans voted for cloture; 60 votes for cloture, 60 votes to stop the GOP filibuster before moving to the floor for amendment and full debate where it was passed by majority rule. The House then passed the Senate bill; then passed amendments which the Senate also passed by the constitutionally allowed majority rule.

Republicans oppose ACA because they believe whatever their leaders tell them without any basis in fact or resemblance to truth.

[If Obama can get waivers to ObamaCare for his Union and Political Buddies]

Healthcare waivers are temporary...but you knew that, right?

Sure ya did!

Joseph,; And then you woke up!

Citations? Anything to back up what you said?

Is that all you can do is parrot a failed 4 year old Sarah palin talking point?

Thermen, if you want such a pro domestic terrorists agenda that is your right, just dont try to force it on the rest of us. We went through enough of terrorism on 9/11 to tolerate anymore. Is that all you can do against Domestic Terrorists is to claim those who speak against it is just a "Sarah Plain Talking Point"? Let us put a Domestic Terrorist next door to you, you then might have a clue that this is way beyond any politician's "talking point". Get a clue in our POST 9/11 World, then come back and make a comment

The only terrorism happening right now is by the GOP/TP waging war against American citizens, which includes the War on Women, War on Gays, War on Race, War For Religion, and War on the Economy. The constant salvos launched by the GOP/TP on these fronts is equal to the Islam extremist practice of jihad.

Kurt - Let me ask you a question, since the GOP polices only seem to help the rich, are you rich? Serioulsy, what is the draw.

You are right with the Obama created "green" companies such as Solandyra. Obama playing TV "Shark Tank" with the Taxpayer's money lead us for the time for change not the Ropes and Chains of Obama. The only "green" in Obama's US Taxpaying Corporations is the lost of green from the Taxpayer's wallet

Ever see Roller Ball? Not the remake - the one with James Caan.

Corporations rule and entertain the masses with gladiator like games.

Johnathon! Johnathon!

The biggest moron is YOU.

winger say's it all, hey,can't stop laughing

As opposed to a murderer and war criminal who ran up trillions in debt and ruined our country.Yeah you sound like the typical imbecile who loved George W and Dick......

Winger-412010 is most likely part of the electric kool aid acid test.

Winger - The complete moron award has to go to you. As for Traitor, exactly how is he a traitor?

For:

Stopping a GOP lead depression just like the GOP led depression of 1929.

Bailing out the Auto Industry and saving millions of jobs.

Getting Bin Laden,...

Getting us out of Iraq...

I mean what part of that is called being a traitor...

I don't know why people even glorify Reagan. He was terrible.

Heres all we need to Know Obama Traitor/Idiot your choice and Romney accomplished Bus man and a pretty good Gov of Mass. and he did it in a very Lib state so a HUGE improvment over Obama not perfect BUT a HUGE upgrade NOBAMA 2012

I'll listen to what you have to have when you can put together a coherent sentence.

It is reasonable to conclude if any of the current 4 candidates on the Republican side were elected in 2008 instead of Barry Soetoro, we would not have over $15 Trillion National Debt now and we would be in a much more rapid economic recovery than we are now not depending on made up "shovel ready jobs". Speaking of Reagan, look at his economic recovery as compared to that of Soetoro. At this time in Reagan's term we had over 6% annual growth rate with unemployment just under 5% and best of all there was no failed $1 trillion "Stimulus".

It is reasonable to conclude if any of the current 4 candidates on the Republican side were elected in 2008 instead of Barry Soetoro, we would not have over $15 Trillion National Debt now and we would be in a much more rapid economic recovery than we are now not depending on made up "shovel ready jobs". Speaking of Reagan, look at his economic recovery as compared to that of Soetoro. At this time in Reagan's term we had over 6% annual growth rate with unemployment just under 5% and best of all there was no failed $1 trillion "Stimulus".

You know we could spend all day arguing "If X didn't happen, then Y would" and in the end all of us would probably still be wrong, and it wouldn't change the fact that 'X' did happen and we are where we are?