Monday, February 29, 2016

Me

hello my friends, sorryi'm back in VA hospital si8nce last Monday lung partial collapse and waterin bottom don't know when i'll go home.  they want mein therapy for two weeks to a month, don't know ifi'll be sable to access a computer.  keep the porch light lit i'll see you soon pleases say abprayer for me. God Bless you all!!!!

Saturday, February 20, 2016

New York Conservatives Want To Reach Into Poor People’s Grocery Carts And Tell Them What To Buy

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2016/02/20/3751602/food-stamps-junk-food-new-york/



Low-income New Yorkers could soon find Big Brother rifling through their grocery carts, if state Sens. Patty Ritchie (R) and Michael Nozzolio (R) have their way.
The two lawmakers have introduced a bill to ban food stamps cards from being used to buy a laundry list of foods, arguing both that poor people are too fat and that they’re currently allowed to enjoy foods that are too tasty.
“At a time when our state and nation are struggling with an obesity epidemic, it is critically important that taxpayer funded programs help low income consumers make wise and healthy food choices,” reads a legislative memo accompanying the bill. “The purpose of SNAP is to promote good nutrition, but current rules allow the purchase of junk food and luxury items like high-end steaks and lobster.”
If the law were to pass and receive federal approval, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits would cease being a valid form of payment for a variety of purchases.
Sandwiches prepared at bodegas and delis, for instance, could no longer be bought with SNAP anywhere in New York. And bottled water, seltzer, ice, honey-roasted nuts, and vegetable seeds or seedlings intended to be planted at home would all be cut off, according to a review of state sales tax rules.
That’s only the first stage of the ban. The bill also instructs a state agency to go through the list of tax-exempt foods, too, and decide which of them should count as “luxuries” that should no longer be covered under SNAP. This is the provision hoping to target “high-end steaks and lobster” — but there’s no reason to believe the hunt for “luxuries” would stop there. The list of groceries that are exempt from state sales taxes, and that could potentially be targeted by this second stage of the Ritchie and Nozzolio bill, includes staples like baking products, bouillon, cereal, instant breakfast mix, dried fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, all seafood, poultry, and meat products, and all sauces and gravies, the state rules indicate.
Ritchie and Nozzolio aren’t the first conservatives to focus on cracking down on SNAP benefits. Such “junk food bans” have been attempted repeatedly by state lawmakers since 2003, when then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) first tried out the idea in Minnesota. Since then, the idea’s been debated in Maine, Texas, Iowa, California, Florida, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Texas, South Carolina, and Delaware.
This legislation persists despite the fact that the United States Department of Agriculture has consistently rejected the idea and published a clear statement in 2007 concluding that such policies are unworkable. The agency turned down Pawlenty in 2003 and has never wavered in opposing the idea, which has only rarely proceeded far enough in a state legislature that the agency had to actually respond to a waiver request.
Under new management in 2011, the agency repeated its opposition when former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) sought an agency waiver to ban soda from the program. The agency’s “longstanding tradition of supporting and promoting incentive-based solutions that are better-suited for the working families, elderly, and other low-income individuals” meant that Bloomberg’s idea was a non-starter, Sec. Tom Vilsack wrote to the mayor.
Indeed, the agency offers a variety of incentives toward healthy eating already: Food stamps are worth double at farmers’ markets, and the agency operates pilot programs in some states to refund part of every SNAP dollar spent on fresh produce.
What’s more, USDA research on what Americans buy and eat across different socioeconomic categories has shown that SNAP families aren’t all that different from economically independent ones — and in some ways are even smarter shoppers.
SNAP families don’t actually drink more soda than rich families once you adjust the data for demographics. They eat less candy. They turn to cheaper proteins like chicken, pork, eggs, and beans, but consume just as much overall protein as richer shoppers. They are less likely to eat shellfish than either wealthy shoppers or other low-income families that haven’t enrolled in food stamps even though they could.
Ritchie and Nozzolio have crafted their bill a bit differently from similar recent legislation in Maine and Wisconsin. Their bill punts the question of what counts as a “luxury” to the state’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, which may or may not decide things like dried fruit, cooking sauces, seafood, vegetable juice, and bakery products should be excluded from SNAP in addition to the list of automatic exclusions under the bill.
But even if New York didn’t follow Wisconsin’s lead in trying to define such staple foods as luxury items, the idea would still run counter to the core idea behind conservative poverty reforms. Critics of the current system frequently say they want to move low-income families toward self-sufficiency. But telling adult shoppers what choices they can and can’t make for their families pushes people the opposite direction, disempowering them to make up their own minds about their basic nourishment.
Plus, the state would like spend millions of its own funds to execute Ritchie and Nozzolio’s plan, while saving exactly zero dollars from federally-funded SNAP benefits.
the last sentence really shows the ignorant reasoning for this intrusion in to citizens lives and those who receive the most from these programs are the very ones that will vote for them in case that doesn't sink in take a look at the lady punching the card number she appears to be White.  think ;long and hard are you more for a hate ideology than you are for your family's survival??????????????????????

they mentioned Wisconsin well they don't want to allow you to buy ketchup or a potato they are not for you who are you for??????????????????????

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/05/01/3653919/wisconsin-food-stamps-shellfish/

Trump Supporter Has Dumbest Comeback Ever After Getting Trolled (VIDEO)


http://www.addictinginfo.org/2016/02/20/trump-supporter-has-dumbest-comeback-ever-after-getting-trolled-video/

Trump Supporter Has Dumbest Comeback Ever After Getting Trolled (VIDEO)

we all know the usual need a good laugh at their expense go to the video oh don't forget the popcorn.

It Begins: Supreme Court Rejects Racially Gerrymandered N.C. Districts


http://www.addictinginfo.org/2016/02/20/it-begins-supreme-court-rejects-racially-gerrymandered-n-c-districts/

It Begins: Supreme Court Rejects Racially Gerrymandered N.C. Districts

This the worst fear of Republicans, conservatives and billionaires. The Supreme Court has turned its back on the GOP’s over-the-top racism and voter suppression. Two of North Carolina’s congressional districts were so gerrymandered that they might as well spell out “Whites Only” on the map. But not for much longer…
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday rejected a request to stay a ruling that two congressional districts in North Carolina were racially gerrymandered in a 2011 redistricting and needed to be redrawn within two weeks.
A panel of federal judges this month barred elections in the majority black districts, the 1st and the 12th, until new maps are approved, calling the current maps unconstitutional. Congressional primaries in the state are set for March 15.
This is only going to get worse for the GOP from here. When Republicans swept to power on a tidal wave of blinding rage and racism in 2010, they immediately started passing Voter ID laws, cut polling stations, reduced the voting hours and, of course, took gerrymandering to a whole new level. They knew that their base of angry old racists was dying, and the only way to stay in power was to rig the elections.
But all of this relied on a Supreme Court that would turn a mostly blind eye to all but the most obviously racist voter suppression. With the death the Antonin Scalia, the Court will move to the left and then move left again under the next (Democratic) president. More lawsuits will be brought against Republican gerrymandering and with the precedent set, Republicans will be forced to draw more competitive districts and that will lead to the loss of the House.
Now you know why conservatives are freaking out over filling Scalia’s seat. As the Court slowly undoes the damage, expect to see the right become ever more hysterical.
this begs to question if scalia were still there how would the vote have gone and since he's not a a correct decision given was it him that was pushing the racist voting depriving American citizens of their voice by vote circumventing their first amendment rights next they need to restore sect 4 of the voting rights act before Nov. 8th.  watch the push for state's rights ratchet up you know the fool proof "so we can do what we want to them" law.

Church Installs ‘Watering System’ To Get Rid Of The Homeless — Just Like Jesus Would (VIDEO)


http://www.addictinginfo.org/2016/02/20/church-installs-watering-system-to-get-rid-of-the-homeless-just-like-jesus-would-video/

Church Installs ‘Watering System’ To Get Rid Of The Homeless — Just Like Jesus Would (VIDEO)

Anyone who has read the Bible knows that that Jesus feller is quite fond of helping the poor. Unfortunately, either one San Fransisco Catholic church mistook homeless people for plants that need regular watering, or they didn’t get the memo. Jesus made himself very clear in the Sermon on the Mount that the both the poor and those who show them mercy are “blessed,” but Saint Mary’s Cathedral in San Fransisco, California, has decided that those dirty poors don’t really need help, anyway.
The area’s homeless, until recently, were able to take shelter from harsh weather in sheltered alcoves that mark the cathedral’s four side doors. Not only did St. Mary’s put up multiple “No Trespassing” signs, but they also installed a watering system with a single purpose: to prevent the homeless from seeking shelter there.
A San Fransisco CBS station reports:
“They actually have signs in there that say, ‘No Trespassing,’” said a homeless man named Robert.
But there are no signs warning the homeless about what happens in these doorways, at various times, all through the night. Water pours from a hole in the ceiling, about 30 feet above, drenching the alcove and anyone in it.
The shower ran for about 75 seconds, every 30 to 60 minutes while we were there, starting before sunset, simultaneously in all four doorways. KCBS witnessed it soak homeless people, and their belongings.
One could argue that the watering system might be intended to keep everything clean, but the news station points out that this is not the case. In fact, it serves mainly as a waste of water in the midst of a drought:
The water doesn’t really clean the area. There are syringes, cigarette butts, soggy clothing and cardboard. There is no drainage system. The water pools on the steps and sidewalks.
A neighbor who witnessed the drenching told KCBS, “I was just shocked, one because it’s inhumane to treat people that way. The second thing is that we are in this terrible drought.
KCBS reports that in addition to being inhumane, the system was installed illegally and may violate water use regulations.
“It’s very shocking, and very inhumane. There’s not really another way to describe it,” said Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homeless. “Certainly not formed on the basis of Catholic teachings.”
The cathedral confirmed that the watering system was, indeed, installed to keep the homeless from sleeping there but argued that, while the church refuses to allow the homeless to sleep in the doorways of a building that is only used a few times a week (a completely cost-free effort), they really do try to help them.
“We refer them, mostly to Catholic Charities, for example for housing,” spokesman Chris Lyford said. “To Saint Anthony’s soup kitchen for food, if they want food on that day. Saint Vincent de Paul if they need clothes.”
“We do the best we can, and supporting the dignity of each person,” said Lyford, who apparently considers dumping water on the homeless to be dignified. “But there is only so much you can do.”
Many of the homeless bring waterproof gear and umbrelas to protect themselves from the church’s misguided and cruel efforts to keep them from taking shelter, proving the system to be an ineffective deterrant. But the horrible treatment has done nothing but diminish the cathedral in the eyes of its neighbors.
The Archdioces of San Fransisco said in a statement that the system would be addressed quickly.
“Catholic organizations in San Francisco serve thousands of homeless people every year, providing shelter, food, and critical services,” the statement says, defending the church.  “That is the true picture of compassionate Catholic care.”
Unfortunately, it’s what happened before they got caught that matters.
organized religion so many reasons not to love them and again i go to the parishioners why are they not standing up for their supposed beliefs and the less fortunate the church could not get away with not following the teachings of Jesus if the congregations protested.  it's reprehensible what they let priest get away with but can show a modicum of decency to another human being.


a lot of tenets being ignored here. the monsignor needs to slip break a hip in those waters of "doing the best they can".  no wonder religion is dwindling and the faithful are jumping ship what are catholic now competing with evangelical for the haters of the year coveted award did they have the video pulled, what about the water use laws no mention of charges????????????????????????

Trump Ratchets Up Islamophobic Lie, Gleefully Says Muslims Were Murdered With ‘Pig’s Blood’ Bullets

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2016/02/20/trump-ratchets-up-islamophobic-lie-gleefully-says-muslims-were-murdered-with-pigs-blood-bullets/

Trump Ratchets Up Islamophobic Lie, Gleefully Says Muslims Were Murdered With ‘Pig’s Blood’ Bullets

Donald Trump is an unapologetic Islamophobic bigot. He has called for a ban on all Muslims — including citizens who might be abroad — entering the United States. And now, The Donald is insisting on doubling down on the lie that American soldiers killed Muslims with bullets dipped in pig’s blood. This is particularly significant, because according to Islam, eating or coming into contact with pork is forbidden.
During a rally on the campaign in Charleston, South Carolina, Trump rallied his army of racist supporters, and doubled down on the blatant the lie that American General John Pershing led the mass murder and added insult to injury at their time of death with the pig’s blood:
“He took 50 bullets, and he dipped them in pig’s blood. And he had his men load his rifles and he lined up the 50 people, and they shot 49 of those people. And the 50th person he said ‘You go back to your people and you tell them what happened.’ And for 25 years there wasn’t a problem, OK?”
Trump had the perfect crowd to sell his hatred to, as he always does — people who hate Muslims with a passion and believe them to be the doom of America. The whole point behind stoking the fires of anger at that South Carolina rally was to make sure people understood that he has as much contempt for Muslims and their faith as his bigoted followers do.
This is a lie that was started during the rise of post- 9/11 Islamophobia, which Trump has happily reignited. Fact-checking site Snopes notes that the bigoted and untrue “idea of subduing militant Muslims by threatening to bury them with pigs has held currency for many years.”
Well, despite the fact that none of this is true regarding General Pershing, the idea still persists in the scary era of the very real possibility of Bigot-in-Chief Donald Trump becoming President of the United States. This is just another reason that Trump’s persistent front-runner status should terrify us all.
i noticed something the further south they go for their primary the more despicable the rhetoric becomes it's obvious what he's doing i don't know which is worst that he does it or that there is an audience for it he and his supporters need to be dropped of in the mid east in a not so good neighborhood while a PA system blast his bigoted and racist rants and his audiences cheering him on.  would they still be as quick to malign and defame or would that area smell of ammonia where they all peed their pants?????????????

John Oliver Exposes The GOP’s Dirty Plan To Win The White House (VIDEO)


http://www.addictinginfo.org/2016/02/20/jf-watch-john-oliver-expose-the-gops-dirty-plan-to-win-the-white-house-video/


i love this guy the right talks about Trump telling the truth i guess if you only listen to him and his right wing media you would think you're hearing the truth.   they need to listen to Oliver tell them like it really is go to video

Trump BASHES Obama With Hostile Fiction For Not Attending Scalia’s Funeral (TWEET)


http://www.addictinginfo.org/2016/02/20/trump-bashes-obama-with-hostile-fiction-for-not-attending-scalias-funeral-tweet/

There are a lot of things citizens of the United States can and do look for in a Commander-in-Chief. However, it’s doubtful that ‘schoolyard bully’ is part of the ideal criteria for president. There’s really no better way to describe Donald Trump. He’s nasty, vile, bigoted, hate-filled, and outright nauseating. The things that he says aren’t okay to say in any arena of professional life, and they only reason he’s allowed to get away with it is because of money, power and privilege. If the words he uses were to come out of a poor person living on the street, you’d think they were unstable, phone the police and they would likely get carted away for a lifetime in an asylum.

he also thinks Black people aren't smart enough to attend good schools isn't that what keeping the economy down and turning your back on poor communities suppose to create so why is he blaming us????????????
There are a lot of things citizens of the United States can and do look for in a Commander-in-Chief. However, it’s doubtful that ‘schoolyard bully’ is part of the ideal criteria for president. There’s really no better way to describe Donald Trump. He’s nasty, vile, bigoted, hate-filled, and outright nauseating. The things that he says aren’t okay to say in any arena of professional life, and they only reason he’s allowed to get away with it is because of money, power and privilege. If the words he uses were to come out of a poor person living on the street, you’d think they were unstable, phone the police and they would likely get carted away for a lifetime in an asylum.
For years, Trump has tried to perpetuate the myth that President Obama not only isn’t a natural-born citizen, but that he’s also Muslim. And while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being Muslim, hearing it from a man who equates Islam solely to terrorism means he’s calling our Commander-in-Chief a terrorist.

Continuing this hostile fallacy, Trump took to Twitter to try to be witty, and posed the question:
I wonder if President Obama would have attended the funeral of Justice Scalia if it were held in a Mosque? Very sad that he did not go!
11:42 AM - 20 Feb 2016

Guess Which Republican Candidate Helped KKK Chapters More Than Double Last Year (VIDEO)


http://www.addictinginfo.org/2016/02/20/guess-which-republican-candidate-helped-kkk-chapters-more-than-double-last-year-video/

Guess Which Republican Candidate Helped KKK Chapters More Than Double Last Year (VIDEO)

The Ku Klux Klan had quite a year in 2015 — the racist hate group made an unprecedented comeback and more than doubled its membership last year — all thanks to the bigotry and hateful rhetoric of the conservative party and one Republican presidential candidate in particular.
Although GOP front runner Donald Trump denies that he’s affiliated with the KKK, there’s no denying that the racist club has seen a substantial increase ever since Trump came onto the political scene. This was proven in a recent report by the Southern Poverty Law Center, called The Year in Hate and Extremism. The organization discovered that 2015 “saw an apparent comeback of Klan groups” — a 164 percent increase in KKK membership to be exact, all thanks to Trump.
In 2014, membership had only increased by 72 — but in 2015 membership had skyrocketed up to 190 despite the fact that two prominent KKK groups had shut down that year. Even with the disappearance of the Fraternal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and the Knight Rider Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, there was still a 14 increase increase in active hate groups — something the report says was “due to worsening income inequality, the rise of left-wing movements like Black Lives Matter, major advances for LGBT people and growing numbers of refugees and undocumented workers that have angered Republicans and white people.”
The report blames the GOP for the rise in hate groups, and believes Trump is largely responsible. The report says:
“The bulk of that anger is coming from beleaguered working-class and, to a lesser extent, middle-class white people, especially the less educated—the very same groups that most vociferously support Trump.”
Being that Trump is a racist that supports white supremacists and his supporters are basically just like him, the report said that Trump served as a mainstream channel for some of America’s most racist and awful people to air their bigotry without much consequence. Trump has been given almost unrestricted access to Americans, allowing everyone to be exposed to his rhetoric.
In the report, New York Times’ Eduardo Porter summed up the GOP’s racist audience perfectly:“Such voters are nostalgic for the country they lived in 50 years ago, when non-Hispanic whites made up more than 83 percent of the population. Today, their share has shrunk to 62 percent as demographic change has transformed the United States into a nation where others have a shot at power.”
Trump, who has become infamous for his anti-Latino and Islamophobic views, was blamed for fueling the radical right, and encouraging more hateful views. And to prove just how much the presidential candidate resonates with KKK members, here’s a  video of Trump being confronted about an endorsement from KKK Great Wizard David Duke:
i didn't know who but was banking on Trump really not a lot to comment on it's all there in a neat little package and a gift to trump or a gift to hate groups?????????????????????????  don't think he's done any more than was already being done to prop these groups up carry laws, local police excepting offers of help to control peaceful protesters of color disclosed affiliation between them and other republicans Trump just does it loud, proud and in our faces. coming out of the dark to spread the word hate is still alive be angry at something and don't worry if they have nothing they will supply the red meat and fill the troughs. drive by bigotry.

WATCH: Little Girl HEARTBROKEN After Finding Out Obama Will No Longer Be President (VIDEO)


http://www.addictinginfo.org/2016/02/20/watch-little-girl-heartbroken-after-finding-out-obama-will-no-longer-be-president-video/

WATCH: Little Girl HEARTBROKEN After Finding Out Obama Will No Longer Be President (VIDEO)
For most of us, the thought of no longer having President Obama in the White House brings tears to our eyes. He’s the very embodiment of change, the very picture of elegance, and has been, by far, one of the best leaders this nation has ever seen, as history will show.
However, for most of us, we were around before Obama. We know a world without him as Commander-in-Chief. We know that while not ideal, the world will go on without him in the Oval Office. But what if you were born when he was already in office? What if you don’t know a world with him as leader of the free world? That’s a pretty scary concept, and one little girl is just now grasping that reality.
In a video posted to Facebook, Caprina D. Harris shows her granddaughter in the midst of a meltdown after realizing President Obama will no longer be president. She writes, “He has been her President all of her life and Yes her birthday is also on AUGUST 4!!!! My poor baby!!!”
This little girl is clearly devastated over President Obama finishing up his second term. However, it’s a feeling many of us share, but she manages to perfectly put into emotions and words. When she utters, “I’m not ready!!” Neither are we, little one. Neither are we.Hopefully whoever we choose next will be able to carry on his legacy. 
this little girl has more compassion in her little body that the whole entire right wing for their voters, God Bless her and those who try to spin this.

Marco Rubio runs scared from audience of South Carolina conservatives

https://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/02/19/1487688/-Marco-Rubio-runs-scared-from-audience-of-South-Carolina-conservatives?detail=emailclassic

LACONIA, NH - FEBRUARY 03:  Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) talks to reporters before a town hall event at the Belknap Mill February 3, 2016 in Laconia, New Hampshire.  Rubio is hoping to gather momentum in New Hampshire after pl

Apparently being widely seen as a glitchy robot wasn’t enough for Marco Rubio. Thursday night, he decided to add “running scared” to the list of easy ways for his competitors to hit him. Rubio was supposed to appear at the “Conservative Review Convention,” but he just bailed.
After the event got underway, a Rubio aide informed organizers that the candidate was running late and would likely have to skip the event. According to an organizer who spoke to BuzzFeed News of anonymity, the event’s hosts tried to salvage Rubio’s appearance — initially informing the audience only that he was late due to an unforeseen “issue,” while they worked behind the scenes to reshuffle the speaking schedule for him.
But even as organizers repeatedly offered to accommodate Rubio’s tardiness, the campaign demurred. Instead, according to two sources in the Rubio camp, they said they wanted to give their allotted 20-minute speaking slot to their surrogates who were already backstage at the event: Sen. Tim Scott, Rep. Trey Gowdy, and Bobby Jindal.
So: “He’s going to be late.” “Okay, we’ll reschedule things to get him in when he gets here.” “Nah, how about having these other guys speak?” The organizers refused to allow Rubio’s surrogates to speak, having already told Jeb Bush’s campaign that it was the candidate or no one. And the Rubio campaign officially ditched the whole appearance. So 36 hours before voting started in the South Carolina Republican primary, a conservative audience was being disappointed by Rubio. That seems … unwise.
Rubio did have reason to believe it might not be the friendliest audience, packed with Ted Cruz supporters, and the event moderators have been critical of Rubio. But if you’re worried about hostile questions, why say you’ll go to begin with? And if you’re worried about the audience, why not turn out your own supporters to cheer you on? 
Promising to attend and then canceling after you’re already supposed to be there is not super smooth politicking. And it allowed the Cruz campaign to take a series of shots at Rubio as too afraid to show, while, according to the New York Times, “With Mr. Rubio absent, the event, hosted by Conservative Review, quickly became a de facto celebration of Mr. Cruz.”
So much for Marco Rubio, Establishment Republican Savior.
i'm a bit confused  south carolina aren't those southern states filled with evangelical haters i would think any republican who says something as simple as i hate it when a dog bites me would get a round of applause and a eye on for president but he has been alienating others and pissing off his own wow how does he wake up in the morning???????????  i guess turning on Hispanics to appease  White voter base was not quite enough nor selling your soul to the devil.

Friday, February 19, 2016

N Carolina GOP Caught In Racial Gerrymandering


http://crooksandliars.com/2016/02/n-carolina-gop-caught-racial



The North Carolina GOP's attempt at racial gerrymandering is comically obvious.
What do you call a congressional district that snakes along a highway and then pools into a two-pronged fish tail at the bottom? Racial gerrymandering.The New York Times reports the Republican-led state legislature of North Carolina has been scrambling to redraw their 1st and 12th congressional districts in time for this year's election. Why? 
Because in February, a federal court ruled the current boundaries to be unconstitutional due to the glaringly obvious attempt at racial gerrymandering. A three-judge panel found that the GOP-appointed consultant charged with redrawing the district maps after the 2010 Census had crammed as many black voters as he could into these two districts to dilute their voting power.
The court said the mapmaker was a specialist who served the Republican National Committee as a redistricting coordinator after the last three censuses. Such is the undemocratic gamesmanship at work in the legislature's systematic efforts to cling to partisan power.
Naturally, North Carolina's besieged Republicans have asked the US Supreme Court to step in and issue a stay on the lower court's order. But now that Justice Antonin Scalia has passed away, leaving SCOTUS evenly-split between liberal and conservative justices, that's unlikely to happen. As the New York Times observes in a description that is unavoidably comical:
The nation's growing political curse of partisan and racial gerrymandering is at the heart of the North Carolina case. The lower court found the "serpentine" 12th to be so "contorted and contrived" by the legislature that it may be the least geographically compact of all the nation's many gerrymandered districts. It resembles an archipelago snaking northeast from Charlotte along Interstate 85 through African-American communities.
So far, the map-redrawing efforts don't seem to be coming along so well. The Charlotte Observer reports state Democrats are "not thrilled with the plan."  Senate minority Leader Dan Blue (D-Raleigh) calls the new maps a "direct assault on democracy." He also insists that the new districts still amount to racial gerrymandering, with around half the blacks in the state "stuffed" into just three districts: The 4th and the newly-drawn 1st and 12th.
"You can't use partisanship as a proxy for race, and that's exactly what you've done here."
The judges will still have to approve the new district boundaries, as shown below (with the newly-drawn 12th district in orange). The presidential primary elections will be held on March 15th, and the congressional primaries will need to be held separately. ttate Republicans will grumble at the extra cost, but they should have thought about that before trying to illegally keep people's votes from counting because of the color of their skin.
okay it's in the lower courts hands are they in bed with legislature and laws mean little even though in favor of the minority/majority????  time is short is the NC law short too.this could set a positive precedent but with senate pledging to block scotus replacement te higher courts decision is moot if it were to end predicatively in a tie.  hard to maintain a republican agenda if courts make fair and proper decision like recognizing that voter fraud is what is being done to those accused of it by republicans.




Surprise, Mitch McConnell Is Total Hypocrite On SCOTUS Noms

http://crooksandliars.com/2016/02/surprise-mitch-mcconnell-total-hypocrite



Readers of this site will not be surprised at all that in 2008 Mitch McConnell sang a very different tune on confirming SCOTUS nominees during the last year of a President's administration. WaPo:
Speaking during a Senate session in July 2008, Sen. Mitch McConnell criticized the concept of the "Thurmond Rule" which some suggest allows senators to oppose the president's judicial nominations in the months before a presidential election. McConnell said Feb. 13 that the vacancy left by the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia should not be filled until after the presidential election.
There is no Thurmond Rule, said McConnell. "Senator Specter has researched that thoroughly."
they will never come clean on the fact that 7+ years of obstruction is because he is Black noy because he's a Dem i believe everyone knows it including their clueless base but we don't hear about is sad part not even from Pres.'s own cabinet, WH staff or constituents out loud anyway and in the mythical liberal media.  all he's accomplished has been pretty much all him.

what they have done is shown the world one Black man can do more than hundreds of house members that's gonna leave a scar.

http://pleasecutthecrap.com/obama-accomplishments/




Trump: I don't like publicity


http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/269976-trump-i-dont-like-publicity


Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Thursday that he doesn't like publicity.

"I get a lot of publicity," he said during a CNN town hall in South Carolina. "I don't necessarily like it."
 
"It's true," he said. "I don't love that."
 
Trump said he can't stand all of the media attention he gets. He went on to bash the media, calling it "extremely dishonest."
 
"I find the political press to be unbelievably dishonest," he said before conceding that "25 percent are great."
 
Trump was talking earlier about a New York Times reporter who called him wanting to do an article about his sister, but Trump said his sister declined the offer.
 
"She has no interest in that," he said. "In fact, I said, 'Are you sure you're my sister?'" he added, before going on to talk about his dislike of publicity.

this publicity statement reminds me of a republican cartoon

 

Paul Ryan Email Blast: We Have To 'Unite The Clans' For 'Freeeeedooooom'


http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/paul-ryan-unite-the-clans-braveheart

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House Speaker Paul Ryan's office put out a Friday email blast to "unite the clans," a reference to the Academy Award-winning film "Braveheart."
The email calls attention to Ryan's penchant for referencing the epic film about the Scottish battle for independence while pushing his plan to unite conservatives around a "bold, pro-growth agenda."
The email also featured a gif of star Mel Gibson from that scene in the film.
"Building a movement—particularly one based on such an inclusive approach—takes time, but as Braveheart reminds us, it's all worth it in the fight for 'freeeeedooooooooom,'" the email read.
if this is what he said it's still stupid too many will get loss at "CLAN" or is that a dog whistle statement????
there was no American history that compared he had to go and use some other country's history.  he really needs to take a stroll through his mind the freedoms he speaks of are for their big business benefactors not we the people they have made that abundantly clear where their loyalty lies but words reach gullible ears are like a refreshing redemption of all the negative venomous rants and act they ever committed in the name of the Lord and the republicans who supervise him.  you can tell when your religion is right when your God agrees with everything you say and do.

you know how they say the American people are frustrated they imply some outright say because of us read the link below get the real 411.

The reason we are in this internecine battle within the GOP is because the base has been ignored and marginalized by candidates and consultants for too long.  It is this behavior that will rip the party apart if there is no change.
The fact is, 62% of Republicans feel betrayed by the party and, to prove it, roughly 60% of primary voters are currently supporting political outsiders like Trump, Fiorina, Carson and Cruz.  This isn’t just an ad hoc collection of misbegotten tea partiers hijacking the GOP for kicks.  Strip away ubiquitous campaign rhetoric about tapping into anger and frustration, and we are left with the forgotten majority within the GOP -- the base -- taking a firm stand.   They will no longer succumb to elite pleas to vote for this guy because he’s the only one who can win, cross the aisle and get the job done. They will no longer shore up Republicans who support legislation that undermines their interests.
they are losing their grip and that my friends is "CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN"!!!!!!!!!!





Extreme Outrage To Conspicuous Silence: What Every Republican Is Saying About Scalia’s Replacement


http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/02/18/3750574/senate-republicans-obstruction-supreme-court/

Article II of the United States Constitution gives the president — in this case, Barack Obama — the clear power and responsibility to appoint “judges of the Supreme Court” with the “advice and consent of the Senate.”
While all 46 Senate Democrats and independents have called for Obama to nominate a replacement for Scalia, 35 of the 54 Senate Republicans stand in opposition to any Obama appointment at all, while 11 expressed some willingness to consider an Obama nominee and 8 have not said anything on the matter.
Eight of the 11 Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would hold any confirmation hearings, have announced that they will not consider any Obama appointment, as have the party’s top leaders.
there is a list and stated reasons by those who have refused to do their job without the presentation of the job that is prejudice and shows a incapacity to lead.  they are seeing a light at the end of their tunnel of a more tolerant all inclusive world and haters of their kind despised and alienated they now in their heads think they will become us and we will give them the big payback, sorry guys we ain't that kinda party all you do now hoping to stall the inevitable understand what inevitable means tick tock!!!  

that coupled with a highly impressing legacy they have tried to dirty up going on 8 years now is what drives the ugliness the fact that they really can't stop it, priceless


GOP Senator Explains Why He’ll Never Vote To Confirm An Obama Supreme Court Pick


http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/02/18/3751179/mike-lee-scotus/

GREENVILLE, SC — Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), one of the Senate’s most notorious judicial appointee obstructionists, said Thursday that the Senate should not and will not confirm anyone President Obama picks to succeed Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court.
“President Obama’s free to nominate, and we’re free not to confirm,” he told ThinkProgress. “And I don’t believe we will confirm or should.”
Lee’s communication director, Conn Carroll, was one of the first people to respond to Scalia’s death on Twitter, promising that Republicans would block anyone that Obama nominated.
Lee largely agreed with his staffer.
“It doesn’t get less than zero but yeah, I do think his characterization is accurate in so far as talking about what should happen,” he said. “And I think it’s also accurate to say we’re not going to confirm.”
When asked whether Lee would vote to confirm a nominee if this were the last year of a Republican president’s term, Lee said the situation would be no different.
“I don’t think you will find anyone who seriously believes that if we were in the fourth year of a Mitt Romney administration or the eighth year of a John McCain administration and the Democrats were in charge of the Senate, there’s nobody who thinks that that nominee would be confirmed,” Lee said. “So I don’t see why we would do it differently.”

that is a chicken crap answer trying to tie his dereliction of duty to us saying we would do it so they will too why wasn't that his first response instead of a not so clever elephant dung answer?????????

they are banking on taking the WH and ensuring the republican nominee. they talk about how the people spoke in 2010 when they voter denied, gerrymandered, voter roll purged and stole it well the people have spoken again twice in fact 2008 and 12 think those who think for themselves want his pick not more of the same that rant of theirs fits perfectly on them.


Donald Trump: I would be ‘neutral’ on Israel and Palestine


http://www.rawstory.com/2016/02/donald-trump-i-would-be-neutral-on-israel-and-palestine/

Donald Trump (AFP Photo/Darren McCollester)

While most Republicans (and most Democrats) come down squarely on the side of Israel in its decades-old and highly complicated fight with Palestinians, Donald Trump has declared that he’d be neutral.
"I think it's probably the toughest agreement of any kind to make," Trump said of a potential peace deal. "It's possible it's not makeable," he told a questioner at a town hall with MSNBC's Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski.
While the U.S. has long tried to play a role brokering peace between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority, which represents the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank, most American politicians go out of the way to emphasize the special ties between the U.S. and Israel.
The author of The Art of the Deal didn’t underscore those historic bonds, preferring to dwell on the difficulties of forging an accord. "Whose fault do you think it is that there hasn't been peace: the Israelis or the Palestinians?" Scarborough asked Trump.
"I don't want to get into it," Trump replied. "If I do win, there has to be a certain amount of surprise, unpredictability. If I win, I don’t want to be in a position where I’m saying to you…and the other side now says, 'We don’t want Trump involved.'
"I don't want to say whose fault it is. I don't think that helps," he added.
Trump's Republican rivals have been decidedly less neutral on the issue. Ted Cruz was once booed off a stage for supporting Israel, and Marco Rubio has criticized Trump for his tepid support of the U.S. ally in the past. "This is not a real estate deal with two sides arguing over money. It’s a struggle to safeguard the future of Israel," Rubio said.
All of the GOP candidates have criticized the Obama administration's role in forging an international agreement with Iran to curtail its nuclear program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vigorously opposed the Iran treaty and the GOP candidates have made it a point that the agreement would threaten Israel as well as the United States. Trump said that the treaty sold out Israel, endorsed Netanyahu’s 2013 re-election bid and has touted his role as grand marshal of the annual Celebrate Israel parade in New York.
that is a preview of his idea of being president his party has made a huge deal about allegiance to Israel to the point of the republican congress inviting him here to embarrass and usurp his power on the Iran treaty 47 others wrote letters telling Iran they will not honor any deal now buster badazz comes up with "i got nothin mi'm not saying anything" is that his foreign policy with our allies???????????????????????????

IMO he is hesitant to opine because of fear of alienation from the party and whoever he named but my friends by virtue of his answer of not wanting to say who is responsible says he thinks at least one if not both are guilty great deal acumen or fraidy kat???????????????????????????

Megachurch pastor tells ‘confused’ Pope to beg forgiveness from ‘martyr’ Donald Trump


http://www.rawstory.com/2016/02/megachurch-pastor-tells-confused-pope-to-beg-forgiveness-from-martyr-donald-trump/

Dr. Robert Jeffress speaks to Fox News (screen grab)

Pastor Robert Jeffress told radio host Sean Hannity that he thinks Pope Francis should apologize to Donald Trump for saying Trump is not a Christian.
Speaking to Hannity on Premiere Radio Networks’ The Sean Hannity Show, Jeffress echoed right wing talking points from Thursday who uniformly said Francis was at risk from ISIS and Trump, as president, would be in a position to protect him, according to a clip prepared by Media Matters.
“Sean, I think the Pope needs to ask Donald Trump’s forgiveness for making such an outlandish statement,” Jeffress said. “I want to remind our listeners that it was exactly one year ago this week that 21 Coptic Christians’ had their heads chopped off by ISIS on a Libyan beach and then ISIS said, ‘we are coming to Rome next.'”
On Thursday, Francis said the GOP candidate and real estate mogul is “not a Christian” when asked whether the faithful should vote for him. The Pontiff had just visited Mexico, where he spent some time talking about the human rights crisis of migration into the United States.
“A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not of building bridges, is not Christian. This is not the gospel,” Francis said. He declined to say whether followers should vote for Trump, but added, “I would only say that this man is not Christian if he has said things like that.”
Jeffress then went on to say the leader of 1.2 billion Roman Catholics was “confused” about the role of the Church.
“And the fact that we have a candidate like Donald Trump who wants to protect America, that’s not unbiblical,” he said. “The Pope is confused between the role of the Church, which is to show compassion, and the role of government, which is to uphold order and to protect its citizens. And I want to make a prediction. I think the Pope has succeeded in doing what no other man on Earth could do, and that is creating a martyr in Donald Trump.”
who was confused again??????  as to compassion does this look like the face of compassion??????


look where he goes to defame Pope Frankie that speaks volumes to his relevance and motive birds of a feather Hannity known documented liar.

Morgan Freeman Narrates Powerful Hillary Clinton Ad That Will Run In South Carolina


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/02/19/1487709/-Morgan-Freeman-Narrates-Powerful-Hillary-Clinton-Ad-That-Will-Run-In-South-Carolina

image.jpeg
Beautiful and powerful ad that chronicles Hillary’s life work and it’s narrated by the great Morgan Freeman. This 1-minute ad and others by Freeman will be running in South Carolina.
Watch and enjoy!
my sentiments exactly.  i started listening to Bernie he is repeating what seems to be a one issue campaign he denies it but everywhere every time he speaks verbatim and frankly to me it's getting boring i like his enthusiasm but he doesn't speak to the diversity of problems except to say more of a title plan than a specific kinda like republicans but more specificity  i also noticed at Nevada town hall Hillary got a standing O, Bernie did not.