July 2012 – Page 6 – Politics Plus

FRC Chooses Another Hatemonger

Posted by TomCat at 10:48 am Politics, Religion

Jul 142012

The Family Research Council (FRC) has a long and inglorious history of hatred directed at and attempts to violate the rights of Muslims, Gays, Women and anyone else who refuses to goose-step to their Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian dogma. Now they have chosen yet another notorious hatemonger to a high executive post.

The Family Research Council (FRC), an anti-gay hate group that claims LGBT rights advocates want to “recognize pedophiles as the ‘prophets’ of a new sexual order,” announced on Friday the appointment of retired Lt. Gen. William “Jerry” Boykin as its new executive vice president.

The press release accurately describes Boykin as a veteran who spent 36 years in the Army, serving in the elite Delta Force and, later, as deputy undersecretary of defense and intelligence in Donald Rumsfeld’s Pentagon.

What it does not mention, however, is Boykin’s troubled history of making damaging, controversial statements; his work as a radical anti-Muslim propagandist; or his close involvement with the New Apostolic Reformation, a theocratic evangelical movement that believes demons control LGBT people, Catholics, Muslims and freemasons.

Boykin, who in 2011 said Muslims do not have First Amendment rights because Islam “is not just a religion, it is a totalitarian way of life,” became the subject of international criticism in 2003 when it came out that he had given a series of speeches at religious events, wearing full military dress, in which he said the United States was fighting “Satan” in the Middle East and insisted his God was stronger than that of his enemies… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <SPLC>

Here’s Boykin in action.

I could have chosen a video in which Boykin and Glenn Beck found themselves in complete agreement about everything they discussed, but I had mercy on you.

I’m not at all surprised that FRC chose Boykin. However, I am appalled that such an individual climbed such a high rank in our in our military.

In a Republican Regime, Boykin and people like him would make decisions over your lives.

Open Thread–7/14/2011

Posted by TomCat at 10:48 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jul 142012

It appears that there might be a couple days respite from the heat starting tomorrow. I’m so ready! I’m current with replies. Tomorrow appears routine.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:42 (average 5:47). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: Take One Look At This Quote By Harry Truman And Let Us Know Which Side You’re On

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Unless you are a millionaire, a billionaire, a corporate criminal, or a hatemonger, Republicans do NOT represent YOU!

From The Origonian: President Barack Obama will attend a Tuesday, July 24 fundraiser at the Portland Art Museum, but he apparently doesn’t plan any public events in the city that day.

The Obama campaign website is now soliciting donors to attend the event, with ticket prices ranging from $500 to $5,000 per person.

$50,000 per person is more typical for Rmoney events. Even if I could afford $500, it’s a volunteer day in prison.

From Truthdig: The Federal Reserve and the U.S. government knew back in 2008 that Barclays was filing false reports about Libor, the interest rate that international banks charge one another for short-term loans, according to documents released Friday. The documents show that a staffer at the U.K.-based bank told the New York Federal Reserve—which was then run by current Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner—more than four years ago about the false reports before the admission was circulated through the federal government.

I say again, Timmy the Tool should be replaced with either Robert Reich or Paul Krugman.

Cartoon:

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Happy Friday the 13th

Posted by TomCat at 10:20 am Holiday

Jul 132012

FridayThe13th

A TomCat Has Crossed Your Path!

Felon or Just a Liar?

Posted by TomCat at 10:19 am Politics

Jul 132012

As usual, Willard has a problem. He has tried to take credit for jobs created after his supposed departure from Bain in 1999. When establishing residency for his run for office in 2002, he claimed that his sole occupation was as CEO of Bain. But when called to account for wrecking American families by offshoring their jobs, between 1999 and 2002 he has claimed that he is not responsible, because he had retired. Willard’s problem is that he wants to have it both ways. But it gets even worse.

On the very day Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s campaign unveiled a television ad directly accusing President Barack Obama of being dishonest, news reports revealed apparent discrepancies between federal filings and Romney’s statements on his role leading Bain Capital.

The Boston Globe, building on earlier Web reports, wrote on Thursday that despite Romney’s claim that he relinquished control of his investment firm in 1999, multiple filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission still list him as sole owner, president, and CEO of the company until February 2001.

"Either Mitt Romney through his own words and his own signature was misrepresenting his position at Bain to the SEC, which is a felony, or he was misrepresenting his position at Bain to the American people to avoid responsibility for some of the consequences of his investments," said Stephanie Cutter, deputy campaign manager for Obama, during a conference call with reporters on Thursday… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <US News>

Despite my humorous graphic, filing criminal charges against Willard over actions that seem more like a tort than a crime may be stretching it.

Rachel Maddow provided detail with Christopher Roland.

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

Here’s the deal. Once upon a time I was President, CEO, Chairman of the Board and sole stockholder of a small business. While I was on vacation, the employee that I left in charge made a mistake that caused a client over $10,000 in damage. I paid. If I were Willard, I could have said, "I am not responsible. I wasn’t there." But I had enough respect to believe that the people involved were bright enough to know that, if I’m the President, CEO, Chairman of the Board and sole stockholder, that means I’m the boss, and I AM responsible. Willard does not have that much respect for our intelligence. He doesn’t think we’re bright enough to know that he is responsible.

Whether Willard is a felon or just a liar is unimportant. Either way, he is not fit to hold public office.

Merkley Helps Lead on Disclose Act

Posted by TomCat at 10:18 am Politics

Jul 132012

The last Republican I had representing me in any capacity was Sen. Gordon Smith. In hopes of becoming GOP-free, I volunteered for the campaign of Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Ever since, I have been glad I did, because not only has he supported progressive issues, but also, has assumed a leadership role in so doing, a rare feat for a Freshman Senator.

Moving to blunt the "corrosive" influence of anonymous money gushing into political campaigns, a group of Democratic senators, including Jeff Merkley of Oregon, said Thursday that legislation requiring public disclosure of all people donating more than $10,000 will come to the Senate floor next week.

The senators described their bill – the Disclose Act – as a necessary response to the Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling in the Citizens United case that allow people and organizations to make unlimited donations.

The bill, which is now in its third incarnation after earlier versions were blocked, would require any person or organization to publicly announce the contribution by submitting information to the Federal Election Commission. Current law shields the source of large donations to political instruments known as Super PACs.

Allowing organizations and special interests accepting the money – often in donations exceeding $1 million – to know the identity of the donor while the public remains in the dark, distorts democracy and leaves voters powerless… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Oregonian>

Here’s video:

Kudos to Jeff and all the Senators supporting the The Disclose Act. Click through for the petition.

Open Thread–7/13/2012

Posted by TomCat at 10:18 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jul 132012

It’s here: The day to spill salt, break mirrors, step on cracks and walk under ladders. It has now been a week since the temperature in my apartment was in the 70°s, and I am so ready for a rainy day! I’m current with replies. Tomorrow will be hot.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:54 (4:25 average). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: Why One Little Girl’s Story Will Have You Sprinting For The Voting Booth In November

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If Republicans had their way, she would be dead.

From NY Times: When John F. Kennedy was elected president, the top 0.01 percent was only about a quarter as rich compared with the typical family as it is now — and members of that class paid much higher taxes than they do today. Yet someho,9w we managed to have a dynamic, innovative economy that was the envy of the world. The superrich may imagine that their wealth makes the world go round, but history says otherwise.

You really ought to click through and read this Paul Krugman editorial in it’s entirety.

From Christian Science Monitor: A District of Columbia police officer who worked as a motorcycle escort for the White House and other officials has been moved to administrative duty after he allegedly made threatening comments about Michelle Obama, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

The officer was overheard making the comments Wednesday as several officers from the Special Operations Division discussed threats against the Obamas, the Post said, citing unidentified police officials who were not authorized to discuss details of the case. The officer allegedly said he would shoot the first lady and then used his phone to retrieve a picture of the firearm he said he would use, according to the report in the newspaper’s online edition.

I’m guessing that the DC Police will soon have one less Teabagger.

Cartoon:

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Romney Just Like His Bankster Buddies

Posted by TomCat at 10:00 am Politics

Jul 122012

While Willard Romney was firing workers and offshoring their jobs, he was also offshoring the $millions he profited from wrecking American families to tax havens to allow him to evade paying his share of taxes. He says it isn’t so, but his irrevocable positions on both sides of virtually every issue have ruined his credibility. In fact, Willard is just like his Bankster Buddies.

Mitt Romney’s mysterious financial holdings have been the topic of furious discussion this week, after a Vanity Fair investigation detailed how significant amounts of the Republican presidential candidate’s fortune may be parked in offshore bank accounts in low- or no-tax countries, allowing Romney to not only obscure how much he is actually worth but avoid paying the federal taxes he would otherwise owe.

While it’s extremely unusual for someone who wants to be president to abuse offshore tax havens like this, it’s an all too common practice for many major American companies—and is most popular in the financial sector from which Romney comes.

And perhaps not so mysteriously, some of the biggest abusers of offshore tax havens—along with some of the chief facilitators of this practice—seem to have gravitated to Romney’s re-election effort. Of the his campaign’s top eleven contributors, seven are financial firms with significant offshore tax haven activity.

Of the four that do not have extensive tax havens themselves, two are accounting firms that do prolific business in helping set up those havens, and one is a Swiss bank where employees are currently under a federal investigation for helping to facilitate potentially illegal abuse of offshore tax havens.

So while Romney is currently downplaying his use of offshore tax havens, maintaining those evasion structures is no doubt a top priority of the people and industries funding his campaign…

Inserted from <The Nation>

Talk about a Who’s Who in tax evasion schemes! I urge you to click through for the rest of George Zornick’s fine article.

Ed Schultz interviewed George Zornick.

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

There’s a simple reason that Willard won’t reveal his finances, as virtually all other contenders for the presidency have. He doesn’t want you to know that you are paying his fair share. Tax evasion through offshoring causes the nation approximately $100 million per year in lost revenue. To make up for this welfare for the 1%, it costs $434 per year for every taxpayer. Look at that list of companies again. They trust Willard, because he’s one of them.

Romney To Go ChickenHawking

Posted by TomCat at 9:59 am Politics

Jul 122012

Willard and his cronies have a problem. GW Bush and Dick Cheney have the lowest approval ratings of any administration in US history. They are responsible for so many crimes and disasters that association with them is a political albatross. However, Willard wants the money they can raise, so this Thursday, he’s going ChickenHawking at the Cheney Ranch.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney will hold a high-dollar fundraiser for Mitt Romney at his Wyoming home on Thursday, according to an official with the Romney campaign.

Donors will pay $30,000 per couple to dine at Cheney’s home in Teton Pines, a Wyoming country club featuring an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course. Expected guests include prominent oil, private equity and farming executives.

Also among the expected guests, according to a report in the Washington Post, is Foster Friess, the investment manager and Rick Santorum backer who drew fire for his joke during the primary that birth control costs could be lowered by having women hold an aspirin between their knees. Feiess spent nearly $2 million to support Santorum’s primary effort, but announced in April he was swinging his support to Romney…

Inserted from <The Hill>

Rachel Maddow and Steve Kornacki discussed Willard’s attempt to grab the money and run and the very extensive overlap between the Bush/Cheney Regime and Willard’s organization.

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

I find it hilarious that even Christine "I am not a witch" O’Dingbat got a press release for her endorsement, but Crawford Caligula didn’t.

It’s quite clear that Willard is Bush-Lite. Just like Bush, moron that he is, became a puppet for his party’s extremists, so would Romney. Why else would he have surrounded himself with the same handlers and advisors. Because so many ties exist, we should tie Willard to the most unpopular administration in US history, the Bush/Cheney regime, at every opportunity.

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