Pushing Rope

Joy Division - Dead Souls

2009-11-19T23:21:00.001-05:00

	Joy Division - Dead Souls

	Found at skreemr.com

Barney the Dinosaur should sing this song for kids.

George Lemieux Panders to Cuban American Conservatives

2009-11-19T22:50:00.004-05:00

Sen. George Lemieux has blocked the nomination of State Department official Tom Shannon. Lemieux is not a foreign policy expert. The only reason to block the nomination is to pander to elder Cuban conservative voters. Shannon was the top Latin America State Department official under President George W. Bush. The Bush administration wasn't known for being friendly with Cuba. Shannon was approved by the Foreign Relations Committee by a 14 to 4 vote.

Nine former State Department secretaries of expressed their displeasure to Lemieux.

``He has every right, if he doesn't think this individual is qualified, to go to the floor and make his case, but why should one freshman senator with no background in Latin America, no background in Brazil, decide the Senate can't vote on the president's nominee?'' said Bernard Aronson, who served as an assistant secretary of state under President George H.W. Bush, and signed the letter. ``It's really a slap in the face to Latin America. You don't see nominees to France, Germany, China, held up by a single senator. It would be an insult.''

News flash to Republicans: you are losing the Hispanic vote and the Cuban policy has been a massive failure. The majority of Cubans now want an end to the embargo. Younger Cuban Americans are more concerned with the economy. The days of Republicans milking Cuba for political gain are over.

The Daily Show Goes Rogue

2009-11-19T22:29:00.000-05:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Daily Show: The Rogue Warrior

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

The Daily Show pokes fun at the media frenzy surrounding Sarah Palin.

Quote of the Day

2009-11-19T20:51:00.002-05:00

"I don't mind gays. But I don't stuffing it down my throat all the time and certainly in my kid’s face."

Utah State Sen. Chris Buttars

Senator, that is way too much information.

Hat tip to GottaLaff.

Provider Clause Is Dangerous

2009-11-19T20:21:00.004-05:00

I have serious objections to the provider clause in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

PROVIDER CONSCIENCE PROTECTIONS.—No individual health care provider or health care facility may be discriminated against because of a willingness or an unwillingness, if doing so is contrary to the religious or moral beliefs of the provider or facility, to provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.

A 21 year-old Tampa woman was wrongly incarcerated after she reported being raped during the Gasparilla event. A jail health care worker refused to give the victim a second morning after pill. The female health care worker refused to administer the morning after pill because it was against her religious beliefs. TPD spokeswoman Laura McElroy said the health care worker acted against policy.

Democrats need to stop pandering to the Christian Right. The Senate bill contains $50 million for abstinence-only sex education. An Oxford University study found abstinence-only sex education prevented teenagers from having sex.

Researchers found none of the abstinence-only programmes had an impact on the age at which individuals lost their virginity, whether they had unprotected sex, the number of sexual partners, the rates of sexually transmitted diseases or the number of pregnancies.

One trial did show a short-term benefit with participants reporting that they were less likely to have had sex in the month following one abstinence-only programme.

But the researchers said this finding was offset by six other trials that showed the programmes had no effect on the participants' recent sex lives.

Christian fundamentalism does not belong in health care. Ever.

Documentary on Neda Agha-Soltan

2009-11-19T19:02:00.003-05:00

Frontline has a documentary on the slained Neda Agha-Soltan. A Basij member fired into a group of protesters. Indications are Agha-Soltan was an innocent bystander. The Iranian government would not let Agha-Soltan's family bury her body.

Tampa City Council Passes Transgender Protection Ordinance

2009-11-19T18:19:00.004-05:00

Great news: the Tampa City Council passed civil rights protections for transgender people 5 to 1. Councilman Charlie Miranda was the lone dissenting vote.

The new rule prohibits discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on "gender identity and expression," with that defined as someone who has an "inner sense of being a specific gender" regardless of their "assigned sex at birth."

Miranda said he voted no because he was afraid transgender people would create a disruption in the workplace. This attitude lead to the firing of Largo City city manager Susan Stanton. Largo garnered negative national publicity from Stanton's termination.

A big surprise was Councilman Tom Scott voting for the ordinance. Scott is a pastor at the socially conservative 34th Street Church of God. During his tenure on the Hillsborough County Commission, Scott voted for the ban of gay pride displays in county public libraries. Scott stated LGBT issues are not related to civil rights. Scott voting for the transgender ordinance is surprising.

"I did not sleep well last night. I spent most of my time as a Christian praying and seeking wisdom and direction on this particular ordinance," he said.

Scott said he wasn't intimidated by people who threatened not to vote for him if he supported the ordinance.

"The only vote I care about is God's vote," he said, noting that as a county commissioner he cast votes against gay issues.

Equality Florida is asking supporters to thank the Council for passing this ordinance. I am asking you to thank Terry Kemple for once again failing to achieve his silly Christian conservative agenda. Kemple attempted to stop Kevin Beckner from getting elected and a Valrico bikini bar from opening. Kemple failed on both counts. The L.A. Clippers have a better winning streak than Kemple. Send Kemple a message on Facebook and thank him for his lack of accomplishments.

David 'Dean' Broder Wrong Again

2009-11-18T22:42:00.004-05:00

David Broder contends it is more important for President Barack Obama to make a quick decision on Afghanistan than be right.

It is evident from the length of this deliberative process and from the flood of leaks that have emerged from Kabul and Washington that the perfect course of action does not exist. Given that reality, the urgent necessity is to make a decision -- whether or not it is right.

This foolish man is known has the "dean" of Beltway journalism. No wonder the D.C. media screwed up the pre-Iraq war WMD story.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

2009-11-18T21:25:00.004-05:00

The U.S. Senate has released the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. I am reading the bill now. President Barack Obama issued a statement on the bill.

Today we passed another critical milestone in the health reform effort with the release of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. I was particularly pleased to see that the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the bill will reduce the deficit by $127 billion over the next ten years and as much as $650 billion in the decade following, saving hundreds of billions while extending coverage to 31 million more Americans.

From day one, our goal has been to enact legislation that offers stability and security to those who have insurance and affordable coverage to those who don't, and that lowers costs for families, businesses and governments across the country. Majority Leader Reid, Chairmen Baucus and Dodd, and countless Senators have worked tirelessly to craft legislation that meets those principles.

Just yesterday, a bipartisan group of more than 20 leading health economists released a letter urging passage of meaningful reform and praising four key provisions that are in the Senate legislation: a fee on insurance companies offering high-premium plans, the establishment of an independent Medicare commission, reforms to the health care delivery system, and overall deficit neutrality. The economists said that these provisions 'will reduce long-term deficits, improve the quality of care, and put the nation on a firm fiscal footing.' Those are precisely the goals we should be seeking to attain.

The challenges facing our health care system aren't new - but if we fail to act they'll surely get even worse, meaning higher premiums, skyrocketing costs, and deeper instability for those with coverage. Today, thanks to the Senate's hard work, we're closer than ever to enacting solutions to these problems. I look forward to working with the Senate and House to get a finished bill to my desk as soon as possible.

Update: the bill's lanuage clearly states no federal funds maybe used for abortions.

ABORTIONS FOR WHICH PUBLIC FUNDING IS PROHIBITED. The services described in this clause are abortions for which the expenditure of Federal funds appropriated for the Department of Health and Human Services is not permitted, based on the law as in effect as of the date that is 6 months before the beginning of the plan year involved.

Sec. Kathleen Sebelius will have the power to determine what over funding relating to abortion. That dtermination will be made by the CBO and Government Accountability Office. The bill states insurers are not required to carry coverage for abortions. The bill is following the law of the hidious Hyde amentment.

NO PREEMPTION OF STATE LAWS REGARDING ABORTION.— Nothing in this Act shall be construed to preempt or otherwise have any effect on state laws regarding the prohibition of (or requirement of) coverage, funding, or procedural requirements on abortions, including parental notification or consent for the performance of an abortion on a minor.

Reid wants private insurers to federal funds from private premiums. The short answer is we are requiring health insurers to create different accounts.

The senate bill will tax costemic surgery. I'm looking forward to Republicans standing up for less taxes on boob jobs.

Update: RH Reality Check finds the bill does not contain language as Draconian as the Stupak-Pitts amendment.

Poser

2009-11-18T19:23:00.005-05:00

Marco Rubio is a conservative poser. Rubio appears on paper as a red blooded tea party-loving wingnut. The record reflects a man who will reinvent himself.

Rubio talks a mean Second amendment game. NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer gives Rubio a lower rating than Crist.

"He voted when the gun bill was brought to the vote, but we know that what goes on behind the scenes is an entirely different story," Hammer said. She said the NRA ratings -- a big deal in the Republican primary -- are based not just on how politicians vote, but on the totality of what they do or appear to do.

"We watch everything: false claims, lips service, what a member tells other people,'' said Hammer adding that, with Rubio "it's not pretty... we take our issue very seriously."

Speaker Rubio made no effort to bring in more revenue during the deficit. Rubio fought against the Florida Seminoles aqquiring new gaming rights. Rubio was silent on the state borrowing money to pay for the state deficit.

Rubio is a proponent of offshore drilling. The Daily News was shocked to learn Rubio was not aware the military is against the creation of more offshore rigs. The Air Force and Navy used the waters for military exercise.

Rubio said abortion violates the privacy clause in the Constitution. The Founding Fathers wrote no privacy clause. The word privacy isn't not even mentioned in the Constitution. Do a scan and check for yourself. Rubio has a law degree and seems aware what what is in the Constitution.

Rubio recently said he does not support amnesty for illegal immigrants.

“If you grant amnesty, the message that you’re sending is that if you come in this country and stay here long enough, we will let you stay. And no one will ever come through the legal process if you do that.”

The problem with Rubio's rhetoric is anti-immigration activists accuse Rubio of doing nothing during his tenure as Speaker.

"A lot of us are mad at him because he did block those bills," said David Caulkett, a founder of Floridians for Immigration Enforcement. "Rubio claims to be anti-amnesty but the question is, 'Do we trust him?'"

Rubio talks a mean game in the locker room. His onfield skills are another story.

Glen Beck's Greatest (Fearmongering) Hits

2009-11-18T18:58:00.004-05:00

Crooks and Liars compiled Glenn Beck's most disturbing fearmongering moments. Beck compares the Obama administration to socialists, Nazis, communists and totalitarians. Never mind that these political idealogies have stark differences. Beck throws out code words to scare the shit out of people. Beck has Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and barely managed to graduate from high school. This man is not an international polical science expert. Beck's background is being a radio shock jock and doing large amounts of drugs. It is sickening to have Beck mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate.

Thought of the Day

2009-11-18T18:40:00.000-05:00

Suffering from Sarah Palin, Carrie Prejean and Levi Johnston burnout. When did the Republican Party become a reality television show?

Quote of the Day

2009-11-18T16:39:00.001-05:00

"I can envision a couple of different combinations, if ever I were to be in a position to really even seriously consider running for anything in the future, and I'm not there yet. But Glenn Beck I have great respect for. He's a hoot. He gets his message across in such a clever way. And he's so bold – I have to respect that. He calls it like he sees it, and he's very, very, very effective."

Sarah Palin, asked if she would make Glenn Beck her presidential running mate

Bill O'Reilly: Is Obama the Devil

2009-11-17T23:22:00.002-05:00

Bill O'Reilly asks Lou Dobbs if President Barack Obama is the devil. Dobbs treats it like a serious question. There is something about cable television that makes grown men become batshit insane.

Compassionate Conservatism: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Edition

2009-11-17T22:51:00.004-05:00

Raw Story reports the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sent out a mass email asking supporters to lobbying against Amendment 2588. The legislation forbids the Defense Department from doing business with any contractor that requires "employees or independent contractors sign mandatory arbitration clauses regarding certain claims. The amendment was written by Al Franken, in response to Jamie Leigh Jones being gang raped in Iraq. Jones was unable to take Halliburton and KBR to court. The

The U.S Chamber of Commerce email contained this myth.

Opponents of pre-dispute arbitration use anecdotes and a handful of narrow studies to
claim that the arbitration system is broken and favors companies, but in fact arbitration is more likely to result in positive outcomes for consumers and employees. Individuals fare as well, if not better, in arbitration disputes than they would have in court. The National Workrights Institute found that employees were almost 20% more likely to win employment cases in arbitration than those litigated in court. Further, a study in California showed that consumers won 66% of arbitration disputes brought against businesses. Studies examining other types of consumer related arbitration show similar, if not better outcomes for consumers.

The Fifth Circuit Court ruled that Jones could take her case to court. Judge Rhesa Hawkins Barksdale found that arbitration allowed Halliburton and KBR to not hear Jones' claims.

Under these circumstances, the outer limits of the “related to” language of the arbitration provision have been tested, and breached. Halliburton/KBR essentially asks this court to read the arbitration provision so broadly as to encompass any claim related to Jones’ employer, or any incident that happened during her employment, but that is not the language of the contract. We do not hold that, as a matter of law, sexual-assault allegations can never “relate to” someone’s employment. For this action, however, Jones’ allegations do not “touch matters” related to her employment, let alone have a “significant relationship” to her employment contract.

Under arbitration, no claims can not be heard in court or allowed to be made public. Arbitration was made to protect corporations. If that was not the case , why would the Chamber of Commerce be so hellbent on revoking Franken's amendment?

Quote of the Day

2009-11-17T21:01:00.002-05:00

"Yeah, tax revolt. I think people, when they figure out how badly they're going to get hurt in the next few years, there's going to be a tea party on taxes and its gonna get nasty. Nancy Pelosi's going to be bobbing up and down in the Boston Harbor."

Bill O'Reilly, on Glenn Beck's radio show

Beck's replied, "Uh, I don't think that's necessary."

It says something when O'Reilly freaks Beck out.

Michael Steele's Dance of Death

2009-11-17T20:49:00.002-05:00

RNC Chairman Michael Steele tells Neil Cavuto health care reform will create death panels. This is a Republican myth backed with zero factual evidence.

CAVUTO: Now obviously in this environment a lot of vitriol comes forth. Michael, I just wanted to get your reaction to some of your co-party members, former Alaska governor Palin, who calls these panels that are essentially going to be dispensing care or deciding it, death panels. That sort of thing — is that proper? Is that right?

STEELE: Well, I think it’s, I think it’s proper because its within the context of what people are seeing in some of the legislation that’s floating around out there. When you’re talking about panels that are going to be imposed, that will be making life and death decisions, that will be making decisions about whether or not you get health care or don’t receive health care. I think that’s perfectly appropriate.

We All Derserve Health Care

2009-11-17T18:58:00.001-05:00

Organizing For America have announced their winner for best health care video.

Why Reforming the Banking Industry Is Most Important Issue

2009-11-17T17:09:00.011-05:00

Reforming the banking industry is the most important matter facing America. The issue takes precedence over health care. There is of financial safety net to more systemic risks from occuring. The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committee is tackling the problem. Chairman Chris Dodd has unveiled the ambitious Restoring American Financial Stability Act. The bill would stop regulatory and prevents financial institutions from becoming too big to fail. The bill is already being opposed by the banking industry and Senate Republicans.

Dodd has a long way to go if he wants to win support from the Republican leader. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) came out swinging last week, sharply criticizing a proposal he said was not supported by any Republican.

“I don’t think the public is clamoring for us to pass yet another thousand-page bill, and I’m not sure where they’d find the time to do this on the Senate floor, since it’s obvious health care’s going to be the dominant issue for the coming months,” McConnell said.

Republicans do not want to see reforms of the deceptive lending practices being used on mortgages and credit cards. That is exactly what the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency would do. The agency would operate as an independent watchdog and inform the public and have the power to stop "hidden fees, abusive terms, and deceptive practices." The bill would end the oversight role of the regional Federal Reserve banks. The banking industry picks those regional Chairman. Former Federal Reserve Bank of New York chairman Tim Geithner has been against a proposal to make the chairmen federal appointments. Dodd proposes a single Federal Bank regulator.

Eliminates the convoluted system of multiple federal bank regulators to increase accountability and end unnecessary overlap, conflicting regulation, and “charter shopping;” keeps in place the healthy dual banking system that governs community banks.

A huge potential hurdle to the bill's passage is a allowing shareholders to have a vote in executive compensation and corporate affairs. Dodd wrote legislation that would cap the executive bonues, of companies receiving bailout money, at $100,000. Geithner had the provision stripped from the legislation. Dodd took heat and Geithner didn't admit he was responsible. Only after Dodd told the media that the Treasury Department pushed to strip the provision was when Geithner stepped forward.

The Dodd bill would give the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Agency the power to investigate and enforce banking regulation. Dodd's idea is this will consolidate federal agencies and decrease red tape. The FDIC and the Federal Reserve will give up their regulatory responsibilities.

The FDIC will focus on its jobs as deposit insurer and resolver of failed institutions, retaining backup examination authority over troubled banks and gaining additional authority to accompany the new agency on examinations of healthy banks and holding companies to ensure it has sufficient information to perform its insurance functions. The Federal Reserve will focus on monetary policy without being distracted by responsibilities for bank oversight and consumer protections. The Federal Reserve will continue to play a key role in assessing financial stability and have guaranteed access to financial institutions and any needed information.

The White House is not thrilled with Dodd's proposal.

Austan Goolsbee, who sits on the White House's Council of Economic Advisers, said he felt some "nervousness" about Dodd's proposal to create a committee independent of the Federal Reserve to oversee risks in the financial system and police potential threats to the economy.

"The administration's view is that systemic institutions ought to be governed by the Fed," Goolsbee said. A different group could be charged with looking at problems on the horizon, "The Dodd version is 'let's combine both of those and create some new agency,'" he said. "I am a little worried that to create that new agency would take a long time and by the time you got to that we are back into this world."

This is the same White House that has been telling Harry Reid to drop the public option, but still supports mandating that every American buying health insurance. The White House is pro-corporatist. The Republicans look at Wall Street as their true base. Reforming the financial industry should have been the first issue both parties addressed when President Obama was sworn into office. America does not have the money for another bailout and the economy is (finally) recovering too slowly. The anger from progressives and tea party protesters is from Washington's bailing out the banking industry. People are scared and turning to clowns like Glenn Beck and conspiracy theories for answers. The public needs to get behind the Restoring American Financial Stability Act. Free markets are a wonderful thing. However, another economic meltdown is not an option.

Simon Eyes

2009-11-17T13:35:00.001-05:00

Lagniappe: Are you OK, Mr. Swift? Please send us a sign....

Comix, comics, comixx, comic strips, editorial cartoons, cartoons, comic books, underground comix, satire, parody, Republicans, political cartoons

Zencomix

Tom Harkin on Republican Obstructionists

2009-11-16T20:34:00.002-05:00

Tom Harkins explains how Senate Democrats plan to counter Republic attempts to delay the health care bill.

If the Republicans want to stay here this Saturday and Sunday to read the bill, then let them stay here," he said. "We are planning to do something that would require Republicans to be there 24 hours a day, and if they leave the floor, we'll ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading, and that'll be the end of it."

Republicans will eventually have to leave the floor. Count on it.

Learn to Speak Teabag

2009-11-16T20:20:00.002-05:00

You too can learn how to speak the language of Dittoheads.

Hat tip to Gottalaff.

CBS Poll on Sarah Palin

2009-11-16T19:10:00.004-05:00

A CBS News poll only 23 percent of Americans have a favorable view of Sarah Palin. Considering the amount of national media attention Palin - that number is far from impressive. 48 percent of Republicans want to see Palin run. An equal amount of Republican voters do not want Palin to run for President.

Just 11 percent of Democrats and 29 percent of independents believe Palin could be an effective president. Overall, 26 percent of Americans say she could be effective in the job.

Palin's numbers with independents dooms her chances in the 2012 general election. In 2008, the Detroit Free Press asked voters what they thought of Palin's Republican National Convention speech.

“I was completely underwhelmed. She was a Republican novelty act with a sophomoric script. It was not even a speech I would expect for a someone running for the local PTA, much less for vice president.”

— George Lentz, 66, Southfield independent

“Who is Sarah Palin? I’m sorry but I still don’t know anymore about this young lady tonight than I did last night … The way it looks to me, she’s the Republican vice presidential nominee for one reason: because Hillary wasn’t selected.”

— Mike Kosh, 38, West Bloomfield independent

“Sarah Palin is a self-described ‘pitbull with lipstick.’ She spent little time helping Americans learn who she is. She is a cool, poised speaker, but her speech contained few statements about policy or the party platform. … I am not convinced that Palin’s experience as a mayor or governor in Alaska meet the qualifications to be vice president much less one stroke or heart attack away from being commander in chief.”

— Ilene Beninson, 52, Berkley independent

“Nothing worked for me. I found her barrage of snide remarksand distortions to be a major turn off. She is not a class act. The most important point she made is that she will be an effective attack dog.”

— Jan Wheelock, 58, Royal Oak independent

“Sarah got as much applause as Hillary did, and had a friendly, appealing appearance.
Her delivery style reminded me of a high school valedictorian who also might have been a cheerleader. I thought she would appear more professional, more stateswomanly. She’s no match for Joe Biden.”

— Joellen Gilchrist, 64, Beverly Hills independent

The results of the CBS News poll.

VIEWS OF SARAH PALIN

Favorable - 23 percent
Not favorable - 38 percent
Undec/haven’t heard enough - 37 percent

VIEWS OF SARAH PALIN – Republican Voters

Favorable - 52 percent
Not favorable - 16 percent
Undec/haven’t heard enough - 32 percent

VIEWS OF SARAH PALIN – Democratic Voters

Favorable - 4 percent
Not favorable - 57 percent
Undec/haven’t heard enough - 37 percent

VIEWS OF SARAH PALIN – Independent Voters

Favorable - 21 percent
Not favorable - 36 percent
Undec/haven’t heard enough - 40 percent

WOULD YOU LIKE SARAH PALIN TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2012?

Yes - 24 percent
No - 66 percent

WOULD PALIN HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE AN EFFECTIVE PRESIDENT?

Yes - 26 percent
No - 62 percent

A total of 873 voters were surveyed. The survey was weighted to make up for the slight discrepancies in the numbers of voters of different party affiliations.

Side note: Litbrit offers her take on Palin's fantasy-based book "Going Rogue."

Alex Sink Supports Gays Adopting

2009-11-16T16:07:00.005-05:00

Florida CFO and gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink announced her surport for allowing gays to adopt.

``We need a system in which all of our children are assured that they live in a healthy, loving home -- a home that's determined not by any law,'' Sink told about 300 gay activists who packed a gallery of modern artwork at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale. ``The decision has to be made by the judge, in consultation with the experts, to determine what is the best for that individual child.''

Sink made the announcement at an Equality Florida fundraiser. Sink said she looked forward to working with state Sen. Nan Rich. The latter has repeatedly introduced bills to reverse the law forbidding gays from adopting. The Department of Children and Families are overloaded with 20,000 kids in the foster care system. Gays are allowed to be foster parents.

Sue Carlton wrote a heartbreaking op-ed about Martin Gill and his domestic partner attempting to adopt two brothers. Gill was only suppose to care for the boys a couple of months. The brothers were never adopted and lived with Gill for five years. Gill is attempting to adopt the brothers so they will not be separated in the system.

Gay adoption is an alien concept to many straight people. The secret is Florida has no problem allowing gay foster parents care for children. If these politicians were really afraid kids were endangered then they wouldn't allow gays to be foster parents. To hypocrisy is sickening. I'm glad Alex Sink is willing to change the current status quo.

Quote of the Day

2009-11-16T15:55:00.002-05:00

No, I don't think there's anything wrong with getting breast implants as a Christian. I think it's a personal decision. I don't see anywhere in the Bible where it says you shouldn't get breast implants.

Carrie Prejean, on her boob job

The Bible doesn't say anything about sex tapes either.