Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Fair Warning
“There not a doubt in my mind that if the majority breaks the rules of the Senate to change the rules of the Senate with regard to nominations, the next majority will do it for everything.” -- Senate Minority Leader and human/turtle hybrid Mitch "Missy" McConnell. If spineless, hand-wringing Dems in the Senate (cough Harry Reid cough) needed any proof that the Rethugs would immediately abolish the filibuster if they achieve the majority, there it is. There's roughly 18 months before the next Congressional elections, plenty of time for the Dems to get something done, starting with abolishing the filibuster rule.
The Republican War On Women: A-Wanking They Will Go
House Republicans on Tuesday make their most concerted effort of the year to change federal abortion law with legislation that would ban almost all abortions after a fetus reaches the age of 20 weeks.
The "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act," expected to pass by a comfortable margin late Tuesday, would be a direct challenge to the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortions up to the time a fetus becomes viable. Fetal viability is generally considered to be at least 24 weeks into the pregnancy.
By the by, only after an uproar spurred by remarks from Rethug Rep. Trent "Beans N." Franks (Misogynist-AZ) did House Rethugs modify this DOA bill to exempt cases of rape and incest (!). Mighty white (male) of them! (Though, we must add that there's at least one Stupid Party female trying to get in on the week's festivities.)
But that's not all! In order to make his case for the bill, we have Rethuglican/ Stupid Party Rep. Michael Burgess (Wanker-TX) offering his insights on fetal pain, thusly:
They stroke their face. If they’re a male baby, they may have their hand between their legs. If they feel pleasure, why is it so hard to believe that they could feel pain?[Errrg! Had to take a shower after reading that! Back to the blog.]
Perhaps Rep. Burgess was engaging in a little projection there, but the introduction of such a godawful thought (into a process that can best be described as legislative wanking) shows just out of touch and out of the mainstream this collection of loons in the Rethuglican caucus really is, and that they still haven't a clue what the priorities are for women, much less the nation, in two damn thousand thirteen.
Also: how's that Rethuglican rebranding coming along?
A Fly In His Doughnut?
With the death of Dem Sen. Frank Lautenberg recently, New Jersey Gov. and doughnut inhaler Chris "Kris Krispycreme" Christie moved to set up a special election to fill the Senate vacancy two weeks before the November general elections in New Jersey. By having a special election right before the general election (in which he and New Jersey Rethuglican state legislators are running), Krispycreme hoped to discourage Dem turnout in the general election to the advantage of the Rethuglicans. The leading Dem candidate for the Senate seat, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, would draw many Dems to the polls in a November general election, and would hurt Rethug chances for holding their legislative seats.
But there's a fly in Krispycreme's doughnut, say New Jersey activists who have filed suit, claiming that a 1915 election law would prohibit a special election so close to the general election. Krispycreme has been under fire for having a special election just two weeks before the general election due to the estimated cost, some $24 million to New Jersey taxpayers, money that would be better spent on Sandy recovery efforts.
(photo: Krispycreme indulges on the Letterman Show, CBS)
Willpower Cartoon of the Day
(click to enlarge)
Familiar voices on the right are pushing for more aggressive action in Syria: bomb the runways, establish a no-fly zone, etc. There are no good options for the Syrian civil war, and it's well to remember that it's easier to start a war than to finish one.
The tense meeting between President Obama and Russia's Vladimir Putin at the G-8 summit was evidence that Syria's main ally won't budge from supporting the Assad regime with advanced weapons, something we didn't face in Iraq, Afghanistan or Libya.
(cartoon: Stuart Carlson, via Gocomics.com)
Familiar voices on the right are pushing for more aggressive action in Syria: bomb the runways, establish a no-fly zone, etc. There are no good options for the Syrian civil war, and it's well to remember that it's easier to start a war than to finish one.
The tense meeting between President Obama and Russia's Vladimir Putin at the G-8 summit was evidence that Syria's main ally won't budge from supporting the Assad regime with advanced weapons, something we didn't face in Iraq, Afghanistan or Libya.
(cartoon: Stuart Carlson, via Gocomics.com)
Monday, June 17, 2013
Court Strikes Down Voter Suppression Law
In a defeat for voter suppression, by a 7 - 2 majority, the Supreme Court struck down an Arizona law that would have required proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. Ostensibly enacted to prevent undocumented immigrants from voting, the Arizona law would also have made it just that more difficult for citizens voting for the first time to register. Surprisingly, right-wing Justice Antonin "Thumb on Scales" Scalia wrote the majority opinion, while reactionary bitter enders Clarence "Uncle" Thomas and Samuel "The Whisperer" Alito dissented.
The Court is expected to rule on the continuation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 later this month, and that vote isn't expected to be as lopsided or as favorable in protecting voting rights against almost continual assaults by right-wing forces who are otherwise facing defeat at the polls.
The Court is expected to rule on the continuation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 later this month, and that vote isn't expected to be as lopsided or as favorable in protecting voting rights against almost continual assaults by right-wing forces who are otherwise facing defeat at the polls.
"Even Republicans Are Sick of Republicans"
Via Democratic Underground, here's a (haha) telling finding in a recent (6/14/13) poll by Public Policy Polling (haha):
That divide in the Rethuglican/ New Confederate/ Stupid Party? It's real. Once again, haha.
Meet David Lane, American Teavangelical
Let's get to know David Lane, the faith "outreach coordinator" for Sen. Rand "Aqua Buddha" Paul (Objectivist- KY), who wrote this in the
As to the future of America – and the collapse of this once-Christian nation – Christians must not only be allowed to have opinions, but politically, Christians must be retrained to war for the Soul of America and quit believing the fabricated whopper of the “Separation of Church and State,” the lie repeated ad nauseum by the left and liberals to keep Christian America – the moral majority – from imposing moral government on pagan public schools, pagan higher learning and pagan media. Bill Bennett’s insight, “… the two essential questions Plato posed as: Who teaches the children, and what do we teach them?” requires deep thought, soul-searching and a response from Christian America to the secular, politically correct and multicultural false gods imposing their religion on America’s children. [our emphasis]One need only view the crackpottery at the recent
To think that this wanker is advising someone who, albeit fancifully, is being yakked about among the Beltway media numbnuts as a potential Rethuglican presidential nominee in 2016, should send chills up every thinking person's spine.
Prepuce Bitten At Wingnut Conference
The Prepuce Problem is a reflection of the divide in the Rethug ranks between what Michael Tomasky calls "teavangelical" and establishment corporate bidness-boosters. Immigration is the key barrier, with the teavangelists wanting to kick the undocumented immigrants out entirely ("no amnesty"), and the establishment Rethugs, who want the immigrants for economic reasons (and in hopes of peeling off a few votes). The Prepuce Problem reflects the difficulty in reconciling the corporate conservative viewpoint with the batsh*t insane far-right viewpoint, and presenting it to the general public as an appealing, coherent message. It didn't work in 2008 and 2012, and it won't work in 2016 and beyond.
(image: Prepuce dons the warpaint of the far right)
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Sunday Funnies
(click to enlarge)
As Rethugs attempt to poison the immigration reform bill in the Senate, the demographics are unmistakable: in another generation, what are now minority populations will become the majority, and most likely a Democratic one at that. That's the bottom line for Rethugs. They know their base is shrinking, and instead of offering appealing policies to the growing demographic, they build fences, change voting rules, and block legislation.
BONUS: South Carolina Senator Huckleberry Closetcase agrees, saying the Rethugs are in a "demographic death spiral." Enjoy the ride.
(cartoon: Mike Luckovich via GoComics.com)
As Rethugs attempt to poison the immigration reform bill in the Senate, the demographics are unmistakable: in another generation, what are now minority populations will become the majority, and most likely a Democratic one at that. That's the bottom line for Rethugs. They know their base is shrinking, and instead of offering appealing policies to the growing demographic, they build fences, change voting rules, and block legislation.
BONUS: South Carolina Senator Huckleberry Closetcase agrees, saying the Rethugs are in a "demographic death spiral." Enjoy the ride.
(cartoon: Mike Luckovich via GoComics.com)
Happy Father's Day
To all our fellow fathers out there, have a wonderful Father's Day. Enjoy and appreciate your children and, if you're lucky to have your father still, give him a Hackwhacker hug!
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Change in Iran?
Via AP:
Wild celebrations broke out on Tehran streets that were battlefields four years ago as reformist-backed Hasan Rowhani capped a stunning surge to claim Iran’s presidency on Saturday, throwing open the political order after relentless crackdowns by hard-liners to consolidate and safeguard their grip on power. [snip]
In his first statement after the results were announced, Rowhani said that “a new opportunity has been created … for those who truly respect democracy, interaction and free dialogue.”
But in Iran, even landslides at the ballot box do not equate to policymaking influence. All key decisions — including nuclear efforts, defense and foreign affairs — remain solidly in the hands of the ruling clerics and their powerful protectors, the Revolutionary Guard. What Rowhani’s victory does is reopen space for moderate and liberal voices that have been largely muzzled in reprisal for massive protests and clashes in 2009 over claims the vote was rigged to deny reformists the presidency.
Rowhani’s supporters also viewed the election as a rebuke of uncompromising policies that have left the Islamic Republic increasingly isolated and under biting sanctions from the West over Tehran’s nuclear program. The 64-year-old Rowhani is hardly a radical — having served in governments and in the highly sensitive role of nuclear negotiator — but he has taken a strong stance against the combative international policies of outgoing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and others.
“I’ve never been an extremist,” Rowhani said on state TV shortly after the official results were announced. “I support moderation.”
“I thank God that once again rationality and moderation has shined on Iran,” he continued. “This is the victory of wisdom, a victory of moderation and a victory of commitment over extremism.”The words, of course, are encouraging. What remains to be seen is if Rowhani has the room to maneuver and effect internal and external changes that are sorely needed (future of nuclear program, posture towards Israel, support for Assad and Hezbollah, etc.).
Today's Deep Thought
 |
| ABC News |
"I say let Allah sort it out." -- Snowbilly grifter and word salad aficionado Sarah "I Can See Syria From My Basement" Palin, at the Faith and
(Photo: "Check. Zing! Now who's the smartypants?!")
Friday, June 14, 2013
Rethuglicans: The Next Generation
Little Flake, take it away:
Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, a devout Mormon and family man, has apologized for homophobic, racist and anti-Semitic comments posted online by his teenage son.
The high schooler, Tanner, posted the offensive remarks in February and March. In one message he threatened the “f—-t” who stole his motorcycle from a church parking lot and frequently used the N word in a series of Facebook postings. [...]
“To the f—-t who stole my dirt bike from the church parking lot, I will find you, and I will beat the crap out of you,” the boy, whose Twitter handle is @tflakey, wrote on March 20.
“I’m down to own some f—-ts,” he wrote in February, in a tweet directed at another Twitter user. [...]
"Say something hilarious, and I guarantee that ... will say it louder and get all the credit. Jew," he tweeted in February.Not to be outdone in his promotion of Rethuglican values for the next generation is master Joey Heck:
A review of tweets by Joey Heck, 16, dating to August of last year shows numerous examples in which Heck used words like “faggot” and “nigga.” For instance, on Sept. 11 Heck tweeted “Fanny pack = fag bag,” and on August 23 he retweeted a tweet that read, “There are gays everywhere. Maybe that’s gods way of thinning out the population because faggots can’t have babies.”
Heck’s twitter feed also included numerous racial slurs. During a Sept. 16 Jets football game, the younger Heck tweeted “[Mark] Sanchez can hop the border faster than he can throw the ball.”
During the Oct. 16 presidential debate, Heck took issue with the performance of moderator Martha Raddatz, ABC’s Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent. “This is why men need to be moderators,” he wrote.
He also wrote that Mitt Romney “raped” Obama and made him his “slave” during a debate.
In an exchange with a friend during the debate on October 3rd, Heck asked rhetorically, “I would like somebody to tell me one good thing Obama did in these past 4 years…. I got nothing.” Later in the conversation he said “yeah like spear chucking and rock skipping. The sports they do in his home country…”With youth like Flake and Heck representing the next generation of voting Rethuglicans, we see those eternal core Rethuglican values of intolerance, hatred, and stupidity lasting for way too long. Teach your children, eh?
Weekend Song
This Pete Seeger song (words by Welsh poet Idris Davies), written about a Welsh mine disaster, could just as easily apply to the Newtown tragedy, Aurora, the plant explosion in Texas, or to any senseless disaster anywhere in the world. "The Bells of Rhymney" -- and the bells of Merthyr, Rhondda, Blaina, Cardiff, Newport -- ring with different questions for us. It's transcendentally rendered, with chiming 12-string guitar, by the Byrds:
Six Months Ago
Meanwhile, the amoral monsters that run the National
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