Memo to Wayne La F**k Face: Listen and Pay Close Attention

My Gift to Mr. LaPierre - Aim and Squeeze Carefully

A Really Dumb Quote 

The mainstream media coverage of the recent mass shooting at the Seattle Pacific University campus has been nearly nonexistent due to other high-value 24/7 news coverage: Sgt. Bergdahl-Detainee swap; of course, more Benghazi; more GOP investigations, but and none about gun-related shootings and killings on campuses.

The part of this story stands out because it has a genuine hero at the center. Instead of giving the perpetrator — who is still alive and in custody — the notoriety he so clearly craved (and that the media always covers), we have the opportunity to shine a light on someone who bravely stepped in to stop the violence. 

Police who responded to the scene have now identified 22-year-old Jon Meis as the student who managed to use pepper spray to subdue the gunman while he was trying to reload his shotgun. 

The shooter managed to injure four people and kill one, but he did not get the chance to wreak further havoc on the campus even though he was carrying more ammunition that would have allowed him to do so.

That’s right, “… a bad guy with a gun was stopped by a good guy with pepper spray.” 

So, chew on that LaPierre.

Duck Taliban Dynasty: Duck!!! What Duck??? Never Mind

Famous Historically Recognizable Beards

President Obama with Jani and Bob Bergdahl

Major Update from Jon Stewart (Comedy Central) who fries the GOP and FOX about their insults of Bob Bergdahl for his beard and appearance implying "he looks like the Taliban." Stewart's retort to them: “Give him a Bandana and a duck call and you'd love him just fine.”

All this almost makes one ashamed of our entire of “free speech/press” that allows them and enables us to protect them in a system full of so much horseshit .... free press; I totally support but not when it clearly undermines the fabric of the country. Agree or not; the facts and FOX actions speak for themselves.

The GOP's focus on Sgt. Bergdahl is ugly and intense. They call him every name in the book while phonily praising his release, except, well, you know, "now the rest of the story" as Paul Harvey used to say.

FOX put their spotlight (or heat lamp) on Sgt. Bergdahl's father, Bob, as they spew garbage from the FOX hole (surprise, surprise, surprise) claiming he looks like a Taliban and even learned to even speak their language with this ugly quote from Bill O'Reilly: 

"But it is Robert Bergdahl, the father, who is also engendering some controversy. He has learned to speak Pashto, the language of the Taliban, and looks like a Muslim. He is also somewhat sympathetic to Islam, actually thanking Allah right in front of the president.”

That was followed by this nasty and ugly gem from Brian Kilmeade: 

“Really? I mean, he says he was growing his beard because his son was in captivity. Well, your son’s out now. So if you really don’t — no longer look like a member of the Taliban, you don’t have to look like a member of the Taliban. Are you out of razors?”

Excuse me, Mr. Kilmeade, ässhöle par excellence ... since you have assessed Bob Bergdahl's beard as an indicator that he is "a member of the Taliban and apparently has no way to shave," tell us: Is this your way and the message you and your FOX racist crew as seen in the below screenshot of your show's set telling us that if Bob Bergdahl held a duck in his arms, blew on a duck call, and wore a  Red, White, and Blue bandana, like old Phil what's his name, that would be acceptable? 

Oh, yeah, here's that screenshot: So, are they Taliban, too???

Screenshot of FOX and FRIENDS with Duck Dynasty Stars on Taliban TV

This segment from MSNBC is worth watching:

Not much else to say about this - their words speak volumes that are ugly, nasty, and quite frankly un-American at least in my view. How about you?

When GOP Weasels Are on FOX, Duck, Turn Off TV, Run Like Hell

Bergdahl's Health Was an Issue (I)

Bergdahl's Health Was an Issue (II)

More on this subject based on the stoked, yet growing fake outrage by the GOP, Rightwing, and FOX.

Their Goals: Garnish as many political points as possible, keep the coals hot, and gain as much power in DC as the end result. This fake principle is based on the 3-B concept: "Benghazi, Bergdahl, and Büllshït." 

The Method: (1) Plant the impeachment seed without directly calling for it (yet) hoping it will grow, and (2) Sling as much crap as possible hoping it sticks, if not, just keep on slinging until it does, or until the public can't breath any longer and gives up on them (possible, but not likely).

A very good segment from MSNBC is posted below. I draw your attention to Sen. John McCain and his before, during, and after remarks. For example, he first said: “There is no way can we agree to the President’s plan to release any Taliban for Bergdahl (paraphrased).”  

Then just before the release was discussed earlier this year: “I would now accept some sort of prisoner exchange, yes, an exchange of Taliban for Bergdahl (again, paraphrased).” 

Now he is bent out of shape along with most of the GOP.

His full remarks in his own words are in the segment. Quite a change of tune for sure from the former North Vietnamese POW. Too bad the media is not picking up on this aspect and the other backpedaling by the GOP across a wide spectrum. Enjoy this. It is worth watching. It is about 19 minutes. Very enlightening:

No matter what your views and opinions are on this subject or how they are formed, two key points must be kept in mind: (1) President Obama as CINC made the right call to recover our war prisoner, and (2) Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl will face the music in our hands and on our terms and not on the enemy's. 

Sgt. Bergdahl will face military justice and it will be fair. Politics must be cast aside. But, try telling that to the GOP  and FOX. Some in that circle and starting to toss around the impeachment angle. They have blown this story totally out of shape. But, there is more to come. We need to hear from Sgt. Bergdahl, and I am sure we will. However, then lot of folks may be shocked or surprised, and in the case of the GOP, disappointed.

Thanks for stopping by.

Back to the Future: The GOP Will Hate Making That Trip

One Historical Fact

Then add this historical fact to the current long and growing list of GOP/Rightwing crap about the Sgt. Bergdahl - Detainee exchange. 

In this segment (about 15 minutes), please note the remarks of President Ronald W. Reagan re: the Iran-Contra scandal that he was behind: Arms and a lot of them for hostages. 

Bergdahl will have his day in court, maybe or maybe not, just like Ollie North had his and then he was later let off the hook. 

What is amazing is the current GOP is very selective in their memory loss. It's as if they are able to control events based on their desire for more political power in Congress. Gosh, couldn't be that could it?

Let's hope the public sees it for what it is.

Pathetic Image of America for the World and Children to See

AP Photo: An open carry advocate carries his Romanian AK-47 over his 

shoulder during a demonstration, on May 29, 2014, in Haltom City, TX

(background rifle: Appears to be model SKS)

Short and to the point in this post:

This story comes from here >>> about a very interesting poll from Texas on this subject released by Americans for Responsible Solutions.

Very interesting numbers to say the least and from Texas no less. Maybe people are waking up. One can only  hope.

Thanks for stopping by.

GOP Weasles Sleight of Hand Trick About Vet Healthcare

Oldest Trick in the Books

(GOP are masters at that, too)

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on CNN

(He won't allow the GOP or us to forget)

I see three routine political ploys: (1) If you don't like the direction of the subject, change the subject; (2) if you don't like the message, shoot the messenger; and (3) If those two things fail, employ an old 3-D movie title trick: Dodge, Duck, and Deceive.

How does this relate to this post and subject at hand you probably are now asking about right now. Glad you asked. Here's how:

Let's just say we soon forget the finer details of an issue overall while staying focused on the minute political BS surrounding it. I have always believed and said that Vets are the easiest group to control, the least likely to get proper attention, and are pretty much ignored to be put back on the shelf when the war(s) are over to be dusted off later when needed. 

The current VA health care booking scandal is a great case in point. A little background from earlier this year from Sen. Sanders (I-VT) tells a different part of that story:

Sen. Sanders Blasts Republicans for Trying to Torpedo Veterans Bill With Iran Sanctions 

Bet you forgot about that, or maybe didn’t even know? Sen. Sanders blasted Senate Republicans for trying to betray the nation’s veterans by attempting to kill the veterans bill with a demand for sanctions against Iran.

Note: The two issues are totally unrelated, and not even close on substance, period. [...]

Sen. Sanders said Senate Republicans don’t want to cast a vote against veterans, but they don’t want the vets to have better benefits, so they are trying to add the poison pill of sanctions for Iran to the bill. Iran has nothing to do with taking care of veterans. 

The Iran sanctions demand is being used to hide the real reason why Republicans are doing their best to kill this bill. The truth is that Senate Republicans don’t want to support veterans.

Republicans threatened to kill the veterans bill with obstruction if Sen. Harry Reid would not allow a vote on sanctions for Iran. They know that President Obama will never sign a bill that would destroy the current negotiations with Iran so Mitch McConnell and company are trying to set up a situation where they force a presidential veto, then claim that the president is not supporting veterans.

Sen. Sanders bottom when asked by CNN's Wolf Blitzer what he would say to his fellow members of Congress who claim that the United States can't afford to pay for expanded benefits for members of our military was simple and direct and I totally agree:

He said: “If you can't afford to take care of your veterans, then don't go to war. They bear the brunt of what war is about. We have a moral obligation to support and care for them.”  

The whole interview is here Sanders appearance on CNN.

RED State Weasels: Stand Between Science, Doctors, and You

The Map Snatched from Vox here, which I modified a bit

The House finally does the right thing for a change.  For the first time ever, they are taking action to protect – not condemn – medical marijuana use.

Shortly after midnight Friday (today, May 30, 2014), they passed a measure that would prohibit the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) from raiding medical marijuana activities in states where it is legal (refer to the map above). It had broad bipartisan support with 170 Democrats and 49 Republicans voting in favor of the bill — the final 219-189 tally can be seen here at the House.gov site.

Also, I totally agree with GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher from California who said on the House floor that the amendment he introduced “should be a no-brainer for conservatives who support states' rights.” He then argued passionately against allowing the federal government to interfere with a doctor-patient relationship, saying, “Some people are suffering, and if a doctor feels that he needs to prescribe something to alleviate that suffering, it is immoral for this government to get in the way. And that's what's happening.”  

Good for him. The rest of the story is here. 

Big Money is Speech = Political Power and Influence = Whoops

Justice is Blind def: “... blind of bias and persuasion for everyone”

(but sometimes, she sneaks a peek)

Maybe not always can huge massive amounts of money buy the power and influence those who fork it over in truck loads think it can and just call is their “right of free speech.” Case in point: Wisconsin and this story.

Background on the Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) investigation into campaign financing regarding his recall attempts (including tons of money from the Koch brothers just to name one familiar source).

The Wisconsin Club for Growth (their update on the story just today) spent millions on Ads during his recall elections, supporting the governor’s collective-bargaining reforms, etc. The group requested that the federal court (Judge Rudolph Randa of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin) stop the investigation, claiming that the probe violated the group’s constitutional right to free speech.  

Judge Randa in fact wrote as part of his decision to stop that investigation and told the prosecutors to “destroy the documents up to that point” saying in essence: that the Wisconsin Club for Growth had found a way to get around campaign finance laws, then his punch line: “That circumvention should not and cannot be condemned or restricted. Instead, it should be recognized as promoting political speech.”

Wow – so break the law anyway possible and then claim “it’s free speech” hell … why even have laws.

That aspect reminds me of the AZ law which the Gov. wisely vetoed, that would have allowed certain groups to discriminate against anyone for any reason and then claim they had the right to discriminate based on their “religious freedom” to discriminate. (Note: That bill was backed by Republicans in the AZ legislature and it was designed to give added protection from lawsuits to people who assert their religious beliefs in refusing service to gays. But opponents called it an open attack on gays that invited discrimination).

Folks, to me, that is not, I strongly believe, the America we want, or that is the one that is supposed to be the beacon of freedom, democracy and justice for the world. Maybe a small rabid group does want that, I’d have to say that they have nothing better to do that claim their freedoms and enjoy those rights while infringing on other people with the same rights.

What do we call them? Oh, yeah, I recall: hypocrites

That story is here >>> (Judge Randa tied to the Koch brothers). 

That story is followed by this update, just one day after the Judge Randa ruling  >>> and I might a good decision for justice to move forward.

B/L: Even big money, and yes, even from the Koch brothers, must not be allowed to stymie justice on the move … money may be speech, and to a certain extent I agree, but it cannot and must not be allowed to buy justice for the sake of narrow selfish reasons while stopping legal proceeding and justice along the way like this example clearly shows.

Thanks for stopping by.

Reflection: Wise to Remember Failures and Not Repeat Them

19 Hijackers: Did we act against their countries 

(We invaded Afghanistan and then Iraq)

Hitting Afghanistan Was Was Right Reason

(Iraq invasion was based on lies)

The Decision Makers

Those who aged with time 

(America's longest war)

The U.S. will leave 9,800 troops in Afghanistan in 2015 with two narrow missions (reported by CBS News):

(1)  Continue supporting Afghan forces, who took the lead in securing the country last year, and 

(2)  Continuing to support counter terrorism operations against the remnants of al Qaeda.

The number of forces will then be reduced by about half by the end of 2015. By the end of 2016, there will eventually be no combat troops, only normal embassy presence with a security assistance office in Kabul, as is the case now in Iraq.

At the peak of that war, there were 100,000 American troops in Afghanistan. Today, there are about 32,000. 

President Obama laid out his military doctrine in a speech at West Point, two key points standout that I heard: 

(1)  “For the foreseeable future, the most direct threat to America at home and abroad remains terrorism.” 

(2)  “America must always lead on the world stage. But U.S. military action cannot be the only — or even primary — component of our leadership in every instance. Just because we have the best hammer does not mean that every problem is a nail.” 

This doctrine makes sense, however, our enemies (and there are plenty), could care less about our doctrine. Vigilance as always is the operative word with no repeating of failed past policies and actions (i.e., Iraq). 

Meet Six Crazies — Plumber Crazy is Bonus: Near Total Insanity

The Faces of  the "New America" - Or So It Seems 

Remember this Guy: Joe the Plumber

(Had his 15 minutes now seeks Congress)

First up are the crazies at the top of this heap of madness: Their story from here with video, the intro: 

Last week, Texas open carry laws became a hot topic after Chipotle issued a statement requesting that customers not bring their weapons into the restaurant, while maintaining that they respect local laws on the matter. That soft policy was brought about in response to a demonstration by groups like Open Carry Texas, who photographed themselves carrying rifles into the burrito shop.

Mother Jones posted a video showing the open carry group attempting to demonstrate their ability to carry firearms into a Texas Sonic and Chili’s franchise. They were met with a mix of “nervous and angry responses,” as MoJo describes it, and it begs the question of whether these sorts of provocations are really helpful for the debate over open carry laws.

Both videos themselves were filmed by the open carry activists, but were later removed. 

Mother Jones obtained them eventually and published them on their website (here). 

Now the craziest of the crazy and yes, Joe the Plumber and he sought a Congressional House seat in 2012, but lost (thank goodness). Joe the Plumber’s motto for his next race: “Crazy as Hell and Don’t Give a Damn.” 

His remarks are both callous and stupid. His story and outrageous quote are here. You have to read it to believe it.  

'nough said about this man – turn the spotlight off him.

GOP is Anti-Public: Schools, Teachers, Unions, Employees

GOP Voucher-Privatized School Lunch Program

Pretty good rundown from here ... in part with four good examples:

1.  Just before the President’s SOU address, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced a new bill that authorizes “about $24 billion, or 41% of current federal spending on elementary and secondary public schools that would allow states to decide to give families the money as individual scholarships to pay for private school tuition, or to attend a charter school.”

2.  Then Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) also introduced bill to “provide federally funded vouchers to children with disabilities, children living on military bases, and children living in impoverished areas and to allow it to be spent where parents pleased including for private religious instruction.” 

3.  Following the SOU in the GOP’s response, Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA) assured 

viewers that “We Republicans have plans (i.e., privatization) to improve our education and training systems so you have the choice to determine where your kids go to school.” 

4.  Following up on those GOP privatization narratives, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) called for solutions from “the marketplace” (i.e., more privatization) promoting “economic freedom zones” that allow for “school choice” and give parents an “educational tax credit.” Or as he claims, "parents know what’s best for their kids’ education.”

Wow – that's a lot of GOP Mumbo Jumbo.  Keep in mind that those proposals and lines and so-called “rationale for education reform” are GOP favorites. They continue to try every ploy in the book to sell privatization to the public in order to “rescue students from public schools” and even allow them to attend privately run religious schools, and all at taxpayers’ expense.

The issue of school vouchers is not new. Most of the schemes have been dreamed up by extremists (in mostly GOP-run states like with governors Scott Walker, Rick Scott, Bobby Jindal, John Kasich, et al and supported by the GOP rightwing and promoted mostly on Talk Radio and FOX).

Let’s fact it, the right quite frankly hates public education, public teachers, and naturally their Unions. Theirs is a long road on their crusade to get rid of public schools in America once and for all, no matter the cost; believe me, it  would cost plenty (the link is about Ann Romney's comments).  

Thanks for stopping by - do the research and help protect our public schools and all they stand for.

Red or Blue Weasels: Never Let Them Draw Congressional Lines

Public Works Project, or Two Crazy Graffiti Artists Gone Wild

Texas GOP Eye Exam Chart

Florida 3rd Congressional District

(WTF moment)

I have always said I see two things that I believe definitely work to undermine and possibly destroy our system of choosing people to serve us in government that is our system of representative democracy: (1) big amounts of uncontrolled money, and (2) redistricting or the term Gerrymandering (that is to divide state, county, etc., into election districts so as to give one political party as many districts while concentrating the voting strength of the other party into as few districts as possible in order to win and retain seats as long as possible). 

Good rundown this battle at the state level - seen on the map.

This is good example currently in the key state of Florida, which is very contentious right now:

What do we need? I believe we need a strong law that prevents this wild drawing of maps that allows either party to gain and stay in power at their whim. Then we need to have an independent committee set up to do the task for the people with the people involved according to their wish and not the political party's desires.

Life After Serving With Fed Reserve: Not That Shabby

All aboard. This gravy train's next stop: the Federal Reserve

This story caught my eye - as if we didn't already know this stuff is rather routine (smile). 

Summary: According to the New York Times' Alexandra Stevenson, Ben Bernanke had barely left his office when he jumped aboard the global gazillionaire gravy train – a couple of tidbits:

Mr. Bernanke arrived in the ME on a Tuesday, spoke in Abu Dhabi on a Wednesday, then in Johannesburg, and by Friday, he was back in Houston. That was one week in March and a particularly busy one for Mr. Bernanke. 

During his eight years as steward of the world's largest economy (the Fed), his salary was about $200,000 a year. Now he makes that in just a few hours speaking to bankers, hedge fund billionaires and leaders of industry. This year alone, he is poised to make millions of dollars from speaking engagements. 

Bernanke is following a well-trodden path that his predecessor, Alan S. Greenspan, and other Washington policy makers often take.  

I think we refer to it as “the revolving door” in and out of Washington, DC and high government office. Yep - that's it ... no wonder that door is gold-plated.

"Anchor Baby" Jindal Shuting Clinics, Hampering Woman's Choice

Gov. Piyush “Bobby” Jindal (R-LA). Bobby is his “reel” name not his given name

Story from here, but first this background on Jindal, the “Anchor Baby” and yes, he is, and we must honestly ask, “Did Jindal's parents didn't know what the term “anchor baby” meant as they prepared to move to the U.S. for college school at LSU in 1971?”

Jindal was born “Piyush Jindal” on June 10, 1971, after his mother, Raj Jindal, already three months pregnant at the time, moved to Baton Rouge on a scholarship offer to study nuclear physics at Louisiana State University (LSU). His parents entered the U.S. on green cards secured through Bobby's father, Amar Jindal and his participation in a program by the federal government to increase the number of engineers.”

Apparently his mother had a choice about his birth, yet now he, at least according to the story, wants to restrict a woman’s right to choose and have access to her own health care, thus being able to choose for themselves and not have him do it for them.

From the story, in part: Jindal is expected to sign into law a bill that may close at least three out of the state’s five abortion clinics.  The law would require admitting privileges for abortion providers at a hospital within 30 miles, a requirement that doctors elsewhere, many of whom fly in from out of state to provide services, have often been unable to meet. That’s the point. 

Both Louisiana clinics whose doctors have admitting privileges are in Shreveport, which is about a five-hour drive from New Orleans. In several other states, abortion providers have been denied such privileges by hospitals that either oppose abortion or are shying away from controversy – in some cases, the doctors haven’t even been given applications.  Bethany Van Kampen, board member of the New Orleans Abortion Fund, which assists low-income women who cannot afford their procedures, said in a statement that “Louisiana legislators have allowed ideology to trump medicine.”  

And that truly is the point – the only point.

Righties Rally for Guilty Weasel While Claiming His Persecution

Major Update of the Following Story

The basics from this update from here:  A long-time supporter of Dinesh D'Souza, Megyn Kelly hosted the right-wing media darling after he pleaded guilty to campaign finance fraud to resuscitate the myth that his indictment was political payback. 

After D'Souza's initial indictment, Fox host Megyn Kelly provided D'Souza a platform to push the myth that his indictment was political retribution.

Kelly said the charges raised “red flags for some because D'Souza, who has pleaded not guilty, is behind the box office hit 2016: Obama's America, a film that is very critical of the president.”

D'Souza responded that he couldn't speak about the case specifically, but that he knows “for a fact” that Obama was personally unnerved by his film and said, “I am a public critic of the president, and I do recognize this has made me, to some degree, vulnerable to some forms of counter-attack.”

Then, on May 20 D'Souza pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws and making false statements, and will be sentenced in September, facing up to two years in prison. And still, Megyn Kelly continued to champion D'Souza, hosting him that evening to keep alive the myth that D'Souza's indictment was political retribution.

Investigated, Charged, Pleads Guilty, Faces Jail: GOP Jeers Justice

(and of course, GOP blames Obama and DOJ)

Original story from this story: Dinesh D'Souza, the right-wing media darling who conservatives had claimed was targeted for prosecution because he is a critic of the Obama administration, has pleaded guilty to charges of campaign finance fraud after he was indicted by the FBI in January and accused of violating campaign finance laws by "arranging excessive campaign contributions to a candidate for the U.S. Senate, and allegedly reimbursing "people who he had directed to contribute $20,000" to the unnamed candidate.”

D'Souza pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws and making false statements. He will be sentenced in September and likely faces imprisonment of ten to 16 months.

Some GOP right-wing outrage:  

(1)  Mostly claiming he was being prosecuted for his political beliefs,
(2)  Hannity labeled D'Souza “the latest victim to be targeted by the Obama White House,”
(3)  Drudge accused Attorney General Eric Holder of “unleashing the dog on Obama critics,
(4)  Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones responded to the charges, saying, “This is like Nazi Germany ... once they're done with these guys, they're coming after you and I,”
(5)  Radio host Laura Ingraham characterized the indictment as being “more about stifling political dissent than any serious allegations of wrongdoing,” and
(6)  Rush Limbaugh described it as an effort to “criminalize conservatives.”

Oh, boy. These po' whittle conservatives. They, or someone they like, are investigated, charged, prosecuted, plead guilty, awaiting jail sentencing, and what do they do? They claim they are being persecuted.

Psst, memo for my fine-feathered GOPers: Guilty has a certain legal meaning. Look it up.

Added: D’Souza’s film producer Gerald Molen has been saying the indictment was politically motivated but that it will not stop the upcoming sequel to 2016: Obama’s America, which has already set a July 4 release date. 

Molen said: “Last week I publicly urged the government to drop the charges against my friend and colleague Dinesh D’Souza. Today I am delighted to learn that the more serious of the two charges has indeed been dropped. Dinesh has accepted responsibility for a technical violation of the campaign finance law. Although I would have preferred a complete vindication, I understand that he did what he felt was best for his family and our film America. We look forward to that matter being fairly resolved.” What a slick, büllshït political statement. 

My analogy might be: 

1.  “Yes, I shot him dead, but technically I fired a bullet at him, it hit him, and then he died.”

2.  “Yes, I ran over her with my car and killed her. But, technically I didn't mean to kill her. Plus, technically I was driving well under the speed limit, I didn't think the car would to that much damage when it hit her. It did drag her over 300 feet, and I had to back up over her to drive away safely.”  

B/L: GOP mumbo jumbo...

Diagnosis: Lunaticus Extremus Maximus — Prognosis: Hopeless

Looking for a Way Out 

Karl Christian Rove, NT M.D.

(NT M.D. — Not Trained Doctor)

(She wears glasses: It must be brain damage)

GOP operatives, led by Karl C. Rove (Dirty Tricks U. alumnus) are tied in knots and worried sick about Hillary Clinton's age and health leading up to 2016, which she has not even announced for yet.

We heard her name mentioned no less than 98 times on the Sunday shows.

My goodness, the Grand Old Poops seem to be suffering from a fate worse than death itself, and certainly not from age or health concerns. Led by their clever resident NT M.D. Herr Karl Christian Rove, who planted doubt about her being brain damaged, but now says, “Hey, I'm not concerned about her health. I’m just asking the questions.”

Very good run down here from the NOW show with Alex Wagner:

This GOP affliction will only get progressively worse between now and when, or if, she announces for a White House run in 2016.  If she does run, we should immediately activate a GOP suicide hot line with thousands of expert volunteers. We're gonna need it, 24/7.

GOP Strategy for 2014 and Beyond, Change 69 as Amended

Remember, Flexibility is Our Middle Name

Short and sweet, but it makes the point - taken from here:

A GOP pollster predicted Friday that Republican rhetoric on Obama-care will change once they have cleared their primaries.

The New York Times reported on the comments made by Bill McInturff, a partner in Public Opinion Strategies, a Republican polling firm, at a conference for the American Association for Public Opinion Research in California.

“After the primaries, expect a shift in Republican candidates’ rhetoric against Obama-care. Only few want to repeal the law; most want to fix and keep it," McInturff continued, likely referencing the consistent polling that has shown Americans would rather improve the law than repeal it.

He added that the law could still be a net negative for Democrats in 2014, but predicted the Republican shift because its approval numbers have improved in recent months.

Oh, boy: do, say, pay, try, lie, imply, or deny anything to win (and keep it up).

Wild, Wild West Gun-Toting Crazy Racist Weasels: The Evil Breed

Cliven Bundy and his Militia Supporters: Racists With Guns and Bad Agenda

(They don't know right from wrong or good from bad)

Current GOP Gun Policy  

(Hold 'em and squeeze 'em)

This headline from Alternet.org got my attention, what about you???

Cliven Bundy and Violent Militias Still Terrorizing Utah, Nevada

This crazy old racist ässhølë had his 15-minutes of fame (mostly on FOX) and should have been gone now, washed away by any good operating sewer line. But, nope ... he and his armed supporters are still out there in the laa-laa land, and now maybe even gotten more dangerous.

Based on what I gleaned from the story I conclude: The Bundy support group, his crowd of crazies armed to the teeth and anti-just about anything, are a total menace, and now apparently out of control. Likewise, they apparently want a showdown with the Federal government, and they have the gall to call themselves patriots — they are anything except. 

Okay, I say to congress: “Invoke or write whatever law is necessary and proper to aid and assist the states in question to get rid us of this obviously growing and serious menace. And, please along the way, don't call this his "right to free speech, or his religious expression, or he's just protecting his Second Amendment rights, or that they are patriots, okay?”  

The premise: We are a society based on laws not men, and for damn sure, we are not based on lawlessness of the kind lurking around Cliven Bundy and the thugs claiming to be patriots.

Fake Mainstream GOPers Actually Stealth TEA Sippers in Fact

GOP Senate Candidate to Face DEM Kay Hagan

Excellent analysis of Mr. Tillis, backed by every mainstream/moderate establishment GOP group in site and who just beat back his TEA "party" opponent. One thing does not jell, however, Mr. Tillis' track record as he serves in the NC House, that is his actions and deeds are strictly TEA-driven agenda items. Go figure!!!

New tactics by the mainstream GOP in the making: "We can't beat the TEA wing of our party, so what the hell, let's join them in a stealth, undercover campaign to win." Here is that segment - worth watching - more probably later on this new "tactic" to win seats - novel, isn't it?

More later on this new approach by the GOP to win anyway possible.

Q: Difference Between a Fox and a Weasel — Fox on Cable 24/7

FOX is GOP Cheerleader-in-Chief

Sometimes GOP is the Frog; Sometimes the Pelican

On the latest about Benghazi, I'm going with the Pelican on this one and not swallowing that line of crap from the Frog.

Update (May 10, 2014): Early Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers in the U.S. Now the story:

From the NY Times (December 28, 2013) - excellent article:

Fifteen months after Mr. Stevens’s death, the question of responsibility remains a searing issue in Washington, framed by two contradictory story lines.


1:  That the anti-Muslim video, posted on YouTube, inspired spontaneous street protests that got out of hand. This version, based on early intelligence reports, was initially offered publicly by Susan E. Rice, who is now Mr. Obama’s national security adviser.

2: This one is favored by Republicans: It holds that Mr. Stevens died in a carefully planned assault by Al Qaeda to mark the anniversary of its strike on the United States 11 years before.

Republicans have accused the Obama administration of covering up evidence of Al Qaeda’s role to avoid undermining the president’s claim that the group has been decimated, in part because of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

NY Times shows that the reality in Benghazi was different, and murkier, than either of those story lines suggests. 

1.  Benghazi was not infiltrated by Al Qaeda, but nonetheless contained grave local threats to American interests.

2.  The attack does not appear to have been meticulously planned, but neither was it spontaneous or without warning signs

So, when do facts not matter? Facts don’t matter as long as Mr. Obama is in office (squawks the entire GOP establishment). Cite:

1. Deadly violence against U.S. diplomats, sadly, is a frequent occurrence.
2. The State Department counts 86 "significant" attacks against diplomatic outposts just in 2012, the year of the Benghazi attack.
3. The death toll from these 2012 attacks was not four, but 24. And this is not a new problem.
4. Since 1970, there have been 521 attacks on U.S. diplomatic targets, killing 500 people. The deadliest of these was not Benghazi but a truck bomb explosion in Nairobi, Kenya that killed 213 people, 12 of them Americans. Since 1977, 66 American diplomats have been killed by terrorists.
5. For three years prior to the Benghazi attack, Congress, under both Democratic and Republican leadership, appropriated considerably less for embassy security than the White House requested

Original post from here: This is nothing more than one huge witch hunt and make no mistake about it, it is a witch hunt. In a word, it's enough to gag a maggot (old Marine expression). 

The story from here — it's a real good starting point to this post and it introduced this way — an excellent review of the facts, but hey why would Fox and the GOP accept facts over their sustained hype and opinion, right?

"Fox News has pushed reset on many of its favorite Benghazi myths that have already been put to rest in the wake of the recently released Rhodes email and the House GOP's announcement of the formation of a Select Committee to investigate the attacks."

B/L: There ain't no there, there.

Q: Can GOP Get More Insanely Hypocritical Than This? Doubtful

Screen Grab from the Daily Show (May 5, 2014)

This post highlights the Daily Show from May 5, 2014, called Bullet Points Over Benghazi – it is about 9 minutes.

In true Jon Stewart style, we can see this very excellent segment that only he can present with his skill, finesse, and humor about a serious topic that usually involves the outrageous antics displayed by FOX and more famously by GOP members of congress and others in high office

In the clip we see and the raw hypocrisy of the speakers on full display. As for me, I do not understand how or why they think the public has no memory or does any research their actions and deeds. In this format their actions clearly come back to haunt them. I suppose their world is one of total denial or just simply a message of: “I don’t care or give a damn.”

We can see the absolute GOP hypocrisy about Benghazi and many on the far right with their phoniness and outrage aimed squarely at Mr. Obama. Anyone with an open mind will see right through their BS.

There is a possibility that the DEMS can market a 2014 bumper sticker from all this. One with a simple message: “Yes to Dems — No to Republicans.” Thanks for stopping by. 

On the Way to Next RNC Convention: Sectarian Prayers Only

Put that Science Book Away, Dino

Come Armed, or Don't Come at All

Today at the USSC (Greece v. Galloway) 80 pages.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Prayers that open town council meetings do not violate the Constitution even if they routinely stress Christianity, a divided Supreme Court ruled Monday. The court said in 5-4 decision that the content of the prayers is not significant as long as they do not denigrate non-Christians or proselytize. Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the majority, said the prayers are ceremonial and in keeping with the nation's traditions.

Justice Kagan wrote as part in her dissent, and I agree with her: “Greece's town meetings involve participation by ordinary citizens, and the invocations given — directly to those citizens — were predominantly sectarian in content.”

Just imagine the uproar if a Muslim were to ask to lead the opening prayer, or a Jewish, or possibly even Hindu prayer?  How about someone stood up and said, how about a “moment of silence and no prayer?”  ... Calls for OFF WITH THEIR HEADS would ring throughout the land of Oz, and falsely, too. That is not America that I know and love.

Besides guns and the Bible mean a lot to millions of Americans, but also they do not mean a lot to millions, either.  

Anyway, those with guns would shoot you if you claimed the world was only a few thousand years old, and we did not actually coexist with Dino the Dinosaur. As they stood their ground at City Council, right? ...

Oklahoma Elected State Weasels May Be Worst Kind on Earth

The Proverbial Lion's Den

I had to read this story twice to make sure I was not reading an Onion article. But, I was not - here in part:

Recently an Oklahoma inmate named Clayton Lockett was slowly died after a botched state-conducted execution left him conscious and convulsing while strapped to a gurney. He eventually died of a heart attack some 43 minutes later. That's pretty bad and had a lot of national coverage. But, this part may be worse:

Oklahoma State Rep. Mike Christian (R) apparently sees no problem with Lockett’s slow and painful death.

According to a local news report, Rep. Christian said that he doesn’t care if inmates are killed by lethal injection, electrocution, firing squad, hanging, guillotine, or “being fed to lions.”

This is for sure one huge WTF moment for the Sooner State.

Sadly, Rep. Christian is not alone in his willingness to revive discarded methods of execution in order to ensure that state-sponsored killings move forward.

However, Rep. Christian may not be the good Christian that his names implies. One wonders whether he knows the contents and purpose of the 8th Amendment which applies to all states in the case of applying the death penalty? Extract: “... nor cruel and unusual punishment be inflicted...” 

I'd have to say that feeding death row inmates to the lions might, if not a tad bit cruel, is certainly unusual, don't cha' think, Mr. Christian???

Wide, Wide World of Walmart Education Macromanagement

[Click this link to see and access interactive map and progress reports]

(Investment Sites Map)

The Walton family foundation overview (at the link) is stated this way (emphasis is mine):

"The Walton Family Foundation is committed to improving K-12 education in the United States at every level – in traditional public schools, charter public schools and private schools. Our core strategy is to infuse competitive pressure into America’s K-12 education system by increasing the quantity and quality of school choices available to parents, especially in low-income communities. When all families are empowered to choose from among several quality school options, all schools will be fully motivated to provide the best possible education. Better school performance leads, in turn, to higher student achievement, lower dropout rates and greater numbers of students entering and completing college. Through three distinct initiatives, we invest in efforts to shift decision-making power over where a child attends school to his or her family by:

• Shaping public policy
• Creating quality schools 
• Improving existing schools"

My general view on Charter Schools (and yes, I am a 100% product of public school (K-12) and several public universities as well follows this short summary from here (again the emphasis is mine):

Here are some aspects of charter schools that may appeal to parents: 

• Admission is open to all students in the communities a charter school serves, including special needs students. Any student can apply, but if more students apply than there are spaces available, students are selected by a random lottery.
•  Charter schools tend to be smaller schools, with an average of about 200 students vs. about 500 in traditional public schools. Some parents say they have a smaller, community feel with “less bureaucracy.”
• Charter schools tend to “create a community hub” wherein they can bring together students and parents from all different backgrounds in a safe educational setting in many violence and poverty-stricken urban and rural neighborhoods where they operate. 
• Some charter schools have a specific academic focus, such as science and math or the arts.

Some more “pro's and con's” are listed here - good site.

I strongly believe every child needs a good, safe, and professionally-lead school environment to learn and grow. I do think that picking and choosing by the ultra rich is the answer. Public schools are charted, too, with a mandate to accept and teach every child regardless of their race, family financial status, or so-called social standing. I simply do not see the overall solution or “fix” with Charter Schools. 

Do the research yourself. It can be a real eye-opener.