2010 – Page 43 – Politics Plus

Republican Pseudo-Christians Blame Hate Victims

Posted by TomCat at 3:13 am Politics, Religion

Oct 022010

The followers of Republican Supply Side Jesus love to hate. He is not the real Jesus. He is a Theocon invention to justify their false gospel of war, bigotry, greed, and intolerance. Whenever their hatred produces consequences, they act innocent, often blaming the victims of their hatred.

Back in August, Focus on the Family launched “True Tolerance,” its campaign to stop schools from implementing anti-bullying plans that include protections for LGBT students. Since the start of the school year, there have now been five reported cases of teens who have committed suicide following anti-gay bullying. GLSEN has been documenting anti-gay bullying, and according to a 2009 survey, the vast majority of LGBT students reported being verbally harassed, and “40.1% reported being physically harassed and 18.8% reported being physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.”

Focus on the Family, however, says that bullying isn’t the problem, anti-bullying policies are. The group’s True Tolerance [Pseudo-Christians delinked] campaign argues that school strategies to target bullying are really covert ways for “activists who want to promote homosexuality in kids” to “capture the hearts and minds of our children at their earliest stages.”

Candi Cushman of True Tolerance asserts [pseudo-Christians delinked] that “gay activists” are “infiltrating classrooms under the cover of ‘anti-bullying’ or ‘safe schools’ initiatives.” That’s why Focus on the Family claims to be defending the “innocence and purity” of children against LGBT groups that conspire “under the cover of so-called safe-school initiatives” and use [pseudo-Christians delinked] “‘Safety’… as a political arm-twisting tool to force an adult agenda into schools.” [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Right Wing Watch>

How absurd! Their logic that the policies to stop the bullying causes the bullying is analogous to having the resurrection precede the crucifixion. This is nothing more than a desperate attempt to duck accountability for their own criminal anti-Christian behavior.

Furthermore, this rush to evade accountability is not exclusive to the Theocon wing of the Republican Party. The Neocon, Corporacon, Plutocon and InsaniTEA wings are equally at home with it, as Rachel Maddow aptly demonstrates.

One month from today, we vote. Are these the people we want in charge?

Every Republican in office is one Republican too many!

Republicans Take Hate to the Supreme Court

Posted by TomCat at 3:12 am Politics, Religion

Oct 022010

There can be no doubt that the bigoted antics of Westboro Baptist Republicans at funerals is hateful. There is no doubt that the families of fallen soldiers should be protected against such such vile behavior. Now the Supreme Court must decide if it is legal.

The most vexing free speech fight in years confronts the Supreme Court on Wednesday, pitting a loud-mouthed, anti-gay Kansas church against a grieving Pennsylvania father.

The father, Albert Snyder, has already won the popular vote hands-down. Forty-eight states support him. So do 42 senators and all the major veterans’ organizations.

The constitutional tally, though, isn’t nearly so simple.

"The government may not curtail speech simply because the speaker’s message may be offensive to his audience," University of Missouri Law School Professor Christina Wells noted in a legal filing.

In Snyder v. Phelps, justices will decide whether to protect speech that Wells characterized as "provocative, offensive and disrespectful." Wells acknowledged it might even be considered "contemptible."

For all the pain they may have caused, however the public rants against homosexuality by the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., might just be found to be protected by the First Amendment.

"This is obviously an emotion-laden case," said Steven R. Shapiro, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, but "the First Amendment was designed to protect unpopular speech against (the majority’s) distaste. At the end of the day I think that’s where the Supreme Court ends up."… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <McClatchy DC>

Here’s the key. With the caveat that I would personally like nothing better than to see Phelps and his Republican bigots muzzled, I have to agree with the ACLU. If their speech does not include direct calls for violence against gay people, it must be protected, because if it is not, the next speech to be outlawed will be our own.

I do have an alternate approach, however. Interfering with the grief of a family at such a time in such a manner does interfere with the family’s right to privacy, so I think there could be a good case for allowing these Republicans to demonstrate only in places where that cannot be seen or heard from the funeral site, the cemetary, and the route between the two.

Open Thread – 10/2/2010

Posted by TomCat at 3:12 am Open Thread, Personal

Oct 022010

Yesterday I spent most of the day in bed. I did manage to cantc up back email, bit that’s about all. I suspect that getting out today’s articles will be my limit for today, as I am still quite ill.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:29. To do it, click here. How did you do?

Lefty Bloggers Plus:

Don’t forget to set your rosters for this weekend’s games.

Short Takes:

From LA Times: Meg Whitman’s campaign for governor has doubled its advertising on Spanish-language radio and increased the number of its Latino television spots by roughly 50% as the former EBay chief executive seeks to blunt the impact of news that she employed, then fired, an illegal immigrant as a housekeeper.

Similarly, the KKK is asking for African American support. 😉

From Washington Post: The United States revealed on Friday that the government conducted medical experiments in the 1940s in which doctors infected soldiers, prisoners and mental patients in Guatemala with syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases.

How horrid. At the same time we were prosecuting German doctors at Nuremburg for doing the same thing.

From Think Progress: In an interview with the conservative Christian Broadcasting Network, Delaware GOP Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell suggested that the almighty has “strengthen[ed] and empower[ed]” her campaign so that she can be around to filibuster during the lame duck session.

Sadly, I think she may actually believe it.

Cartoon:

2keefe

One month to go!

New Poll, Major Outrage, and Poll Results

Posted by TomCat at 2:33 am Blog News, Politics

Oct 012010

Yesterday I put up the new poll here to determine our readers’ choice of a replacement for Harry Reid, the Nevada Leg Hound. The options were gathered here and at BuzzFlash. I got it up just in time, because yesterday, Leg Hound Harry humped Republican legs in his most cowardly move to date.

…Last night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid decided he’d hold multiple weekly pro-forma Senate sessions during the election-season recess, which will prevent Obama from legally recess appointing his stalled nominees. The reason, according to top Democratic and Republican aides has nothing to do with recess appointments per se, but rather with protecting the rest of Obama’s executive and judicial nominees.

All presidential nominees expire when Congress adjourns for recess, unless the entire Senate agrees they can be carried over to the next session. Obama’s had to renominate several of his picks after recent recesses because of this obscure rule, and with Republicans, and even some Democrats, objecting to so much these days, Reid’s decision will allow all of Obama’s nominees to remain valid when the Senate returns in November… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <TPM>

A far better tactic would be to allow Obama’s nominees to expire, change the Senate rules, outlawing the filibuster and personal holds as allowed in the first session ion January, and confirming them all. In the meantime, Obama could have made mass recess appointments. Now, although they let a few of the non controversial nominees through, Republicans will go back to blocking the nominees, and they will expire after the lame duck session anyway.

Keith Olbermann was just as angry as I am in his interview with Ezra Klein.

Reid must be replaced!

On our Teabaggers poll, here are the results.

Poll1001

And here are your comments.

From SoINeedAName on September 16, 2010 at 2:31 pm.

It’s only good: Either the American public will wake-up and do the right thing and show the Teapublicans the door – or if certifiable Teahadist hateriots get elected I’ll know to start checking visa requirements on becoming an expat. (I’ll give it to the 2012 elections, but my Passport is always kept current.)

From Annette on September 16, 2010 at 7:02 am.

With the mood of this country, it is really hard to say if they will hurt or help. Most of them seem so over the top to me and others, but that seems to be what the people of the right want. I don’t think we will know until after the General Election.

I would think just these candidates would mobilize the left… but am not sure they are even paying attention.

From TWM on September 16, 2010 at 6:23 am.

If the left sits this one out it does not matter one whit who they nominate, even a corporation, they will win.

From Lisa G. in reply to TWM on September 22, 2010 at 8:10 am.

I’m with you on that, TWM.

I voted good, because they define who the Republicans are, but usually won’t admit.

If you’re new here, the new poll is at the top of the right sidebar.

Avatar for Real?

Posted by TomCat at 2:32 am Plus, Politics

Oct 012010

I loved Avatar, and commented shortly after seeing it that it looked like Republicans were in charge of the earth. We may have discovered a real Avatar, because scientists have found a planet capable of supporting life for the first time. The first rule has to be: No Republicans Allowed! Scientist believe life is common, and even though I think they are correct, we don’t know for sure. If there is intelligent life there, it’s possible that Republicans could destroy the only intelligent life in the universe.

Gliese 581g may be the new Earth.

A team of astronomers from the University of California and the Carnegie Institute of Washington say they’ve found a planet like ours, 20 light years (120 trillion miles) from Earth, where the basic conditions for life are good.

"The chances for life on this planet are 100 percent," Steven Vogt, a UC professor of astronomy and astrophysics says. "I have almost no doubt about it."

The planet is three times the size of Earth, but the gravity is similar.

Dr. Elizabeth Cunningham, planetarium astronomer at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, says the discovery is a huge deal.

"It could have liquid water on the surface," she said. "That’s the first step to find life."

There are hundreds of known extrasolar planets that have been discovered in the Milky Way, but this is the first that could support life.

Earthlings won’t be traveling to Gliese 581g any time soon unfortunately. Scientists say a spaceship traveling close to the speed of light would take 20 years to make this journey.

But if we did – we’d find some other things familiar. The atmosphere and gravity are similar to Earth, and if you’re from the polar regions, you’d definitely feel right at home. Scientists say the highest average temperature is about -12 degrees Celcius (10 Fahrenheit), but they point out that the planet doesn’t have a night and day – one side continually faces the star and the other side faces the darkness of space. This means one side is blazing hot and the other freezing cold…

Inserted from <CNN>

Don’t be too sure we won’t be going there anytime soon. I remember standing in my back yard and watching Sputnik in wonder. I remember doing math in college with a slide rule. Will we destroy that planet too?

Anonymous Republicans Attack Oregon’s DeFazio

Posted by TomCat at 2:30 am Politics

Oct 012010

Representative Peter DeFazio represents Oregon’s 4th District. He’s an independent sort who votes what he thinks is right. I don’t always agree with him, but I’d have no problem voting for him and now formally endorse him, were I in his district, which is normally completely safe. This year, Republicans are flooding the TV with attack adds anonymously financed by the energy industry, because his opponent, Art Robinson, is what I call a pocket professor. That’s an academic willing to sell his credentials to whomever fills his pocket.

Congressman Peter DeFazio, D-4th District, said today that a political committee based in Washington had increased its purchase of TV time for commercials attacking him.

“Concerned Taxpayers of America” increased its media buy by over $79,000 and has now spent more than $165,000 in support of Republican Art Robinson, DeFazio’s campaign said from Eugene.

Last week, DeFazio went to the group’s offices in D.C. to find out who is behind the ads. The Washington Post reported and filmed the encounter.

On Sept. 21, CTA began running what DeFazio calls a misleading television ad against him…

Inserted from <Albany Democrat Herald>

The company sponsoring the add is just a money-laundering front for a Republican consulting firm. Rachel Maddow has the goods on them and discusses it with Pete.

Is that shameless, or what?

Let me remind you that the same day Republicans pledged greater transparency, they filibustered and voted unanimously against the DISCLOSE act, which would outlaw anonymous special interest ads.

We need 100% public financing for all federal elective offices. Why?

Corporations are NOT people! Money is NOT speech!

Open Thread – 10/1/2010

Posted by TomCat at 2:30 am Open Thread, Personal

Oct 012010

Yesterday I stayed in bed. Usually I get a severe upper respiratory infection around this time of year, and this year is no exception. There are no short takes today, because I did only the research necessary to post the articles I wanted to cover. Depending on how I feel later, I may or may not be back to reply to comments, and will probably not be returning visits until I feel a bet better, Thank you for your patience and support.

Jig Zone Puzzles:

Yesterday it took me 4:41 and today, 3:59. To do them, click here and here. How did you do?

Cartoon: from Cagle.com

1matson

TGIF!

Who Should Replace Harry Reid?

Posted by TomCat at 12:08 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 292010

I’ll be replacing the poll tomorrow night, and I’d like more suggestions, please.

So far we have:

Boxer

Brown

Durbin

Feingold

Franken

Leahy

Wyden

Any more ideas?

Bernie Sanders is not eligible.

This is also today’s Open Thread, as I am feeling like something that should be buried in the deepest corner of my cat box and could not finish my research. I need to go back to bed.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 5:31. To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Take:

From Me: Republicans filibustered the Creating American Jobs and Ending Offshoring Act and goose-stepped in lock step against American workers. Four scum-sucking DINOs goose-stepped with the Republicans: Baucus (MT), Nelson (NE), Tester (MT) and Warner (VA)

Cartoon: from Cagle.com

29keefe

Happy hump day.

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