UN Panel: Israeli Settlements Are Illegal

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/31/un-panel-israeli-settlements-illegal_n_2589394.html

GENEVA -- The United Nations' first report on the broad policy of Israeli settlements concluded Thursday that the government's practice of "creeping annexation" clearly violates the human rights of Palestinians, and called for an immediate halt.

In its report to the 47-nation Human Rights Council, a panel of investigators said Israel is violating international humanitarian law under the Fourth Geneva Convention, one of the treaties that establish the ground rules for what is considered humane during wartime.

we know we have been dealing with the right wing of Israeli gov't, the saber rattling is inline, but they are doing so IMO because we have claimed we have their back, but once you attempt because of that promise you are expecting us to die and spend our m0ney on behalf of your spoiling for a fight,ain't that kinda party, unless you exhausted all other ave. and intelligence tells you it's imminent ok but an arbitrary motive America is not imo willing to die for their war that they don't seem to want to solve after years of opposition,

guess their right wing is ammune to compromise too.

The Israeli government has persisted in settling Palestinian-occupied territories, including East Jerusalem and the West Bank, "despite all the pertinent United Nations resolutions declaring that the existence of the settlements is illegal and calling for their cessation," the report said.

if you are defying international law and are wrong why should we honor their dishonor?

NOM Founder: Marriage Equality Not As Important As Religion’s Freedom To Discriminate

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/01/31/nom-founder-marriage-equality-not-as-important-as-religions-freedom-to-discriminate/

Robert George, founder of the National Organization for Marriage, has filed anamicus brief that will be entered as part of the Supreme Court’s review of DOMA. That hearing is set to begin in late May/early June. The brief, filed by NOM attorney John Mauck, argues that marriage has always been defined as between a man and a woman, displaying an appalling ignorance of sociology and history. Not surprisingly, the summary states that this request for the preservation of marriage per that definition is due to “sincere belief” and “sound public policy” rather than “animus.” Yeah, right.

Rev. Al," lot's of things were exceptable, until we stopped excepting them".

if they want to be a stagnant part of society that's their choice but denying another what you have out of sheer bigotry and hate is tantamount to you and the rest being tyrant dictators, if Gays tried to force their way of life on you whoa whole new bag of radical but regardless to the right saying they are they are not and just like Black it doesn't rub off.

your fears are within as your own sexual preference,u worried you have it?

It goes on to say that same-sex marriage “imperils religious liberty.” If the thinking behind this is that the First Amendment protects them via the government, then they need to step back and re-examine that misconstruction. Their attempts to bring the government in as long as it’s on their side would be laughable if there were not so much at stake. The argument that marriage is the foundational unit of society can be made in support of marriage equality as well as in defense of discrimination, so that just doesn’t hold water. As far as the law is concerned, “vast human experience” is not an acceptable measure of proof. Especially for something that would discriminate against a large percentage of Americans.

But discrimination is exactly what George and his group are all about. Their Manhattan Declaration is nothing less than a call to followers to violate any laws which they feel conflict with their faith.

The gist of the Declaration is that Christians will be “ostracized and themselves targeted for discrimination” if they choose to discriminate against same-sex couples. Basically, they contend, groups like Catholic Charities should be free to single out people they dislike without anyone objecting. Especially anyone like the government

. Examples given in the brief include those same Catholic Charities who chose to be bigots regarding benefits and adoption services. Rather than extend those benefits and services to same-sex couples, they chose to shut the programs down. Then, in an act of supreme chutzpah, they whine that they were forced to do so. The brief is full of similar anecdotal “evidence:” prosaic stories highlighting flagrant cases of discrimination against same-sex couples in the name of Jesus.

if they don't wake up they are in for a big surprise when St. Peter won't check their coats at the gate. to use Jesus's name in connection with hate and prejudice will not buy your way in.

Obama administration takes steps to implement individual mandate -

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/280117-obama-administration-implements-health-laws-individual-mandate

The Obama administration took new steps Wednesday toward implementing the individual mandate in its signature healthcare law, downplaying the scope of the unpopular provision by stressing rules that allow exemptions from the requirement to purchase insurance. The Internal Revenue Service and the Health and Human Services Department emphasized exceptions to the mandate, which were detailed in new regulations that also laid out the process by which the IRS will calculate penalties for going uninsured. 

The mandate requires most taxpayers to either buy insurance or pay a fine to the IRS. It's one of the most politically unpopular provisions of the healthcare law, and was at the core of last year's historic Supreme Court case over the healthcare law. HHS referred to the politically charged provision as a system of "shared responsibility" payments. 

we want stuff that is true though referred to as the poor by republicans it is inclusive of all of us rich and poor.

rich want things the republicans give them, tax cuts, loopholes and deregulation, does that make then no better then those they condemn as takers? in order to take you have to have the means to do so, they guard theirs and take ours, voter rights, jobs, pay, elections while we take nothing from them.

the US has always taken care of it's people until it became right wing unfashionable, they rather give to charities where they can get tax credits but not to us because that cannot be claimed April 15th.

In 2014, people who choose not to buy insurance and don't quality for an exemption from the mandate will have to pay a fine of $95. The penalty increases to $695 by 2016, and then rises annually based on a pre-determined formula.

Although conservatives have railed against the mandate since Obama adopted it in 2009, some policy experts are concerned that it's too weak to work — that it won't be an effective incentive for young, healthy people to buy insurance.

Still, HHS and the IRS chose to focus on exceptions as they implemented the mandate Wednesday.

The Affordable Care Act includes exceptions for people with religious objections to traditional healthcare services, as well as a slew of income-related carve-outs.

"A principle in implementing the individual shared responsibility provision is that the shared responsibility payment should not apply to any taxpayer for whom coverage is unaffordable, who has other good cause for going without coverage, or who goes without coverage for only a short time," HHS said.

they say there is no free lunch, yet we choose to eat those who opposeneed to re-read the first 7 words of this paragraph

The teenage girl shot and killed days after performing at Obama's inauguration

http://news.yahoo.com/teenage-girl-shot-killed-days-performing-obamas-inauguration-120200091.html

Hadiya Pendleton, all of 15 years old, was gunned down at a park in Chicago

As Congress holds a much-anticipated hearing on gun control, there was a disturbing reminder that gun violence in America never takes a break. It's beenreported that Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old girl from Chicago, was gunned down on Tuesday, just days after she performed with her school band at President Obama's inauguration. Pendleton — an honorsstudent, volleyball player, and majorette at King College Prep — was shot at a park just blocks away from her school.

According to reports, Pendleton was among 12 teenagers who had taken shelter from the rain under a canopy in Vivian Gordon Harsh Park. An unidentified gunman then jumped the park's fence and allegedly opened fire. In addition to Pendleton, who later died from her wounds, a teenage boy was shot and is currently in serious condition at the hospital.

it seems the message is being driven home everyday, and the NRA and republicans turn a deaf ear.  gun laws are not an issue to those who are duped and paranoid do to fear of losing a gun that's not even true, where's the concern and caring, maybe if gun enthusiast start dropping like flies it will become an issue, "maybe".

Details of the incident remain unclear, though initial reports suggest that Pendleton was not the primary target of the attack.

Since the school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, in December, more than 1,400 people have been killed in gun violence across the country.

how many more before it's not so much a group of crazy's or criminals as it is acessability.

Study says leafy greens top food poisoning source

http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/ap/study-says-leafy-greens-top-food-poisoning-source

NEW YORK (AP) — A big government study has fingered leafy greens like lettuce and spinach as the leading source of food poisoning, a perhaps uncomfortable conclusion for health officials who want us to eat our vegetables.

"Most meals are safe," said Dr. Patricia Griffin, a government researcher and one of the study's authors who said the finding shouldn't discourage people from eating produce. Experts repeated often-heard advice: Be sure to wash those foods or cook them thoroughly.

While more people may have gotten sick from plants, more died from contaminated poultry, the study also found. The results were released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans — or 48 million people— gets sick from food poisoning. That includes 128,000 hospitalization and 3,000 deaths, according to previous CDC estimates.

The new report is the most comprehensive CDC has produced on the sources of food poisoning, covering the years 1998 through 2008. It reflects the agency's growing sophistication at monitoring illnesses and finding their source.

consider this if Romney had made it you probably would not br reading this, as it is part of the gov't alphabet soup of agencies that keep us safe from republican supporters who vehemently oppose any regulation they call it freedom i call it killing Americans for a few pennies more.

Without actually saying so, the CDC report suggests that the Food and Drug Administration should devote more staff time and other resources to inspection of fruits and vegetables, said Michael Doyle, director of the University of Georgia's Center for Food Safety.

again not a concern for right wing big business, aren't we giving up millions in farm subsidies, why is some of that channeled to pay for FDA investigations, greed or fear of exposure?

U.S. Economy Shrinks For The First Time Since The Recession Ended

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/30/us-economy-shrinks-gdp_n_2580897.html

WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy unexpectedly shrank from October through December for the first time since 2009, hurt by the biggest cut in defense spending in 40 years, fewer exports and sluggish growth in company stockpiles. The drop occurred despite stronger consumer spending and business investment.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that the economy contracted at an annual rate of 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter. That was a sharp slowdown from the 3.1 percent growth rate in the July-September quarter.

Economists said the drop in gross domestic product wasn't as bleak as it looked. The weakness was mainly the result of one-time factors. Government spending cuts and slower inventory growth, which can be volatile, subtracted a total of 2.6 percentage points from GDP.

But the fact that the economy shrank at all, combined with much lower consumer confidence reported Tuesday, may raise fears about the economy's durability in 2013. That's because deep automatic government spending cuts will cut into domestic and defense programs starting in March unless Congress reaches a deal to avert them.

are they concerned about your economical position or atr they really only worried about thE MIC and those manufacturers of WMD? 

I understand potential job loss but would it be less because it would only affect those brought in for many projects.

Still, the government spending cuts and slack inventory growth in the fourth quarter offset a 2.2 percent increase in consumer spending. And business spending on equipment and software rose after shrinking over the summer.

Consumer spending added 1.5 percentage points to GDP, and business investment added 1.1 points – both stronger contributions than in the third quarter.

"Frankly, this is the best-looking contraction in U.S. GDP you'll ever see," Paul Ashworth, an economist at Capital Economics, said in a note to clients. "The drag from defense spending and inventories is a one-off. The rest of the report is all encouraging."

And for all of 2012, the economy expanded 2.2 percent, better than 2011's growth of 1.8 percent.

so are we in the eye of a right wing storm of fear mongering? one thing is clear if one side obstructs, misleads and tries to scare you about the state of the economy if we listen and fear then we'll stay right where they want us

Credit card checkout fee taking effect

http://shopping.yahoo.com/news/credit-card-checkout-fee-about-to-take-effect-234121238.html

You might want to think twice before whipping out your credit card. As of Sunday, stores in most states could start charging you a "checkout fee" when you pay for something with plastic.

The new fees stem from a multi-billion dollar settlement announced in July between credit card issuers and millions of merchants.

Visa, MasterCard and nine major banks agreed to a $7.25 billion deal to settle charges that they were fixing credit card processing fees. As part of the settlement, credit card issuers said they would reduce these "swipe fees" -- fees paid by merchants to issuers when cards are used -- but only for eight months. 

In addition, the settlement also gave retailers the option to tack on a surcharge if a customer uses a credit card. The retailer can only charge enough to cover the processing costs, which is about 1.5 percent to 3 percent of the total purchase, according to watchdog group Consumer Action.

they are rigging the system to pay fines for, rigging the system

This fee doesn't apply to purchases made using debit cards. And it will still be illegal to charge the new fee in 10 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas.

Many big players in the retail industry have been up in arms about the settlement. Stores from the nation's largest retailer down to small businesses have lamented the agreement, claiming that it transferred the wrongdoings of credit card issuers to the consumer.

this is why we need consumer regulatory republicans don't, it interferes with their gaming the system by milking "we the people".

Alabama Declares War On Constitution Again, Introducing Bill To Ignore Interstate Commerce Clause

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/01/28/alabama-declares-war-on-constitution-again-introducing-bill-to-ignore-interstate-commerce-clause/

Well, the south is apparently intending to rise again. Not only did one of their congressman file a bill on Monday to eliminate the federal government’s ability to function, the state has decided it should weigh in on ignoring the U.S. Constitution itself.

State Senate Bill #43, titled the “Firearms Freedom Act” is a proposed measure which would, in its own words:

Relating to firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition manufactured and retained within the borders of Alabama; to exempt from federal regulation under the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution a firearm, a firearm accessory, or ammunition manufactured and retained in this state; and to exclude certain firearms and ammunition from this act.

This is an old argument, that if a product or good stays within the states borders, the federal government has no authority. The problem is, this argument has been tried before, in front of the Supreme Court, and lost. In the case of Gonzales vs Raich, none other than Justice Antonin Scalia, conservative firebrand, wrote the opinion which destroys the core argument of the Alabama bill:

Unlike the power to regulate activities that have a substantial effect on interstate commerce, the power to enact laws enabling effective regulation of interstate commerce can only be exercised in conjunction with congressional regulation of an interstate market, and it extends only to those measures necessary to make the interstate regulation effective. As Lopez itself states, and the Court affirms today, Congress may regulate noneconomic intrastate activities only where the failure to do so “could … undercut” its regulation of interstate commerce. … This is not a power that threatens to obliterate the line between “what is truly national and what is truly local.”

Translated into English from legalese, Scalia is saying that just because a product or service never leaves the state, it still will impact interstate commerce. In this case, firearms made and staying within Alabama will change the dynamic of the firearms trade, changing the commerce between the states by virtue of their presence. As a result, the federal government has not only a reason to regulate, but a constitutionally demanded requirement to regulate them.

when your chief justice is the most right wing person there and he slaps you down don't you think you should take a different approach? 

are they going for the insanity definition again, keep trying same thing and expecting a change, these guys wrote the book on that one.

The proposed measure is a pandering to the ill-educated, know-nothings of the Tea Party and the legislators likely know that it will never withstand a constitutional test. But by passing such a measure, they can trot themselves in front of the crowd, make wild claims about guns and dead hands, and pocket the money paid to them by the gun manufacturers lobby.

This is, of course, on the heels of bills in Texas and Wyoming to arrest federal agents enforcing firearms statutes. Alabama seems intent to raise the stakes in this neo-conservative mindset, that the right to arms is absolute and supersedes any other right in the Constitution, such as the right to life itself. One must ask how much blood money the senators in Alabama have gotten from the firearms manufacturers.

is this is some kind of Phoenix syndrome the south will rise out of the ashes,

Last Battle of the Civil War - Columbus, Georgia April 16, 1865

they say to forget history is to repeat it wonder what the citizen count pro and con is? how many want to lose gov't support and rely on those radicals that don't really mean it just posturing for the cause

Obamacare Sticker Shock: Not Very Shocking

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/112259/obamacare-sticker-shock-not-very-shocking

“Death panels” are out. “Sticker shock” is in. For the last few weeks, critics of Obamacare have spent less time on their more hysterical claims and focused, instead, on a practical argument. Because the new health care law mucks up the insurance market with regulations on pricing and benefits, they say, you’re going to pay a lot more for insurance. “Health insurance costs are going up,” Sally Pipes, president of the Pacific Research Institute and one of the law’s most persistent critics, wrote recently in a Forbes column. “And for that, you can thank Obamacare.”

It’s the kind of argument that gives the administration and its political allies night sweats, because it has some basis in fact. Come next year, when the Affordable Care Act takes full effect, some people are going to start paying more for their health insurance than they would otherwise. But notice the key word in the previous sentence: “Some.” The real story about Obamacare, the one the law’s critics don’t emphasize, is that far more people will actually pay less. And while those paying more may not be happy about it, they’ll also be getting something for the extra premium dollars they pay up front.

the right wing has demonized from day -1 before it even got released how bad and detrimental ObamaCares will be to you and the country and unless you are rich your local ER was your best bet at healthcare, they won't leave you to die in your apts. they'll take you there, how cool is that?

Who are these people? Before we get to that, let’s talk about who they are not. If you are like most non-elderly Americans with private insurance, you get health benefits from a medium- or large employer. It’s part of your compensation. Obamacare isn’t going to have much effect on your premiums one way or the other—except, hopefully, in the long run, as the law’s efforts to control health care costs gradually reduce the annual increases to which you’ve become accustomed.

One of Obamacare’s primary goals is to fix these problems. To do so, it will set up virtual marketplaces, known as “exchanges.” If that’s how you end up buying insurance—in other words, if you don’t get coverage through an employer or through a government program like Medicaid—you’ll discover that you can buy any policy insurers are selling, at the list price, no matter what your pre-existing medical status. The only variable will be your age and whether you use tobacco, but even for those factors insures will have only limited ability to change prices. You will have different options for coverage, hopefully quite a few, but you’ll also know that every plan includes comprehensive benefits—basically, everything from checkups to cancer care. And depending on your income level, you’ll be eligible for financial assistance on both premiums and future out-of-pocket expenses.

so what do you think is better for your family ER's or the protection because ObamaCares?

Texas Legislature Wants To Reward Companies That Deny Employees Contraception

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/01/28/1504661/hobby-lobby-texas-obamacare/

A bill recently introduced in the Texas state house aims to reward employers who violate Obamacare, offeringsubsidies to any company that uses religious objection as an excuse for denying its employees copay-free contraception.

House Bill 649, introduced by state Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R), was apparently inspired by thecontroversy over craft chain store Hobby Lobby. That store sued to deny its employees contraception coverage, citing its male president’s religious objections. But since Hobby Lobby, and companies like it, will be forced to pay a fine for violating the law, Strickland wants to compensate them with tax breaks:

The tax credit would be limited to the amount of a federal fine that the company pays or the amount of state tax the company owes.

can you believe this, they would rather pay fins for someone else then to see Americans get healthcarem, and the business is willing to let their employees fin for themselves rather than keeping them healthy and safe.  

some other humane business ought to come in hire those people afflicted with gutless right wing bosses and let the party pay their bills when they no longer have a workforce. despicable them

The tax credit would be limited to the amount of a federal fine that the company pays or the amount of state tax the company owes.

“When a business is being stressed nearly to the point of bankruptcy by punitive federal taxes, of course the state should give them relief,” Stickland said in the news release.[...]

“The Obama administration’s mandate and their threats to bury Hobby Lobby with $1.3 million per day in tax penalties aren’t just unconstitutional, they’re unconscionable,” he said. “It is simply appalling that any business owner should have to choose between violating their religious convictions and watching their business be strangled by the strong arm of Federal mandates and taxation.”

By offering to help compensate these companies, Strickland is accepting a drastic cut in funding to the Texas government. His plan proposes letting organizations like Hobby Lobby off the hook for state taxes up to the amount they owe in federal penalties. Since Hobby Lobby is estimated to owe a fine of $1.3 million a day (more, in a year, than it would be paying in state taxes), Hobby Lobby would get a pass on giving a single cent to the state of Texas.

 this is no more then the rich bucking the Pres. nothing what so ever to do with business strain and definitely nothing to do with workers just a continuation of war on workers and women and trying to slight the Pres.

cheating Texas citizens while sticking it to the Pres. except the Pres. is fine it's their own people they are screwing, waiting to see if they let him get away with it, firing not so much rality unless they are just totally stupid and lose business just to be arrogant exclusionist.

Senators Reach Bipartisan Immigration Reform Deal

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/senators-reach-bipartisan-immigration-reform-deal?ref=fpa

bipartisan deals of late don't seem to have much substance as to what it was trying to address.

A bipartisan group of eight Senators working on a comprehensive immigration reform plan are planning on announcing a framework for a bill Monday after reaching an agreement on the broad outlines of a package, including a path to citizenship for the nation's 11 million undocumented immigrants. 

According to the Associated Press, the bill would grant legal status and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants only after a series of additional border security measures were put in place. In addition, the package would include an e-verify program to prevent employers from hiring undocumented workers in the future, an expanded visa and guest worker program to manage future immigration, and a seperate streamlined path towards citizenship for undocumented immigrants who were bought to America as children.

i saw Sen. McCain yesterday talking about immigration he said paraphrased, "we need to reach out to Hispanics to come back to us where they rightfully belong" 

does he think they want to be self deported or electrocuted on a fence and be demeaned, he needs to ask an Hispanic other then their's if they feel they belong to the republican party that sounds subservient to me, does fit the right wing mindset though.

i'm wondering why i have not heard or could find anything on that statement on controversy. if there was i missed it, will be looking.

Shadowy "LGBT" Group Attacking Hagel Uses Prominent Republican Media Group

http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/shadowy-lgbt-group-attacking-hagel-uses-prominen

A new group opposing Chuck Hagel bills itself as a gay-rights organization made up of mostly Democrats — but it has close ties to the Republican Party.

The New York Times Times reported that Use Your Mandate uses Del Cielo Media, a prominent Republican firm, to purchase its television advertisements, the same as used by the Emergency Committee for Israel.

The group's main consultant told BuzzFeedits donors are gay activists and Democrats afraid of alienating the White House.

But Del Cielo Media's ties are not just to the Israel group. It is part of the Smart Media Group (SMG) in Alexandria, Virginia. Past clients of SMG include the McCain-Palin campaign in 2008, the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, the Republican Governors Associations, and Jon Huntsman's campaign in 2012

2014-16-20-24 the republican party will always be the albatrss around the neck of the conservative org. when you pick bedfellows as nefarious as yourself then you can expect the kinds of clandestine efforts to never go away regardless to what is promised btw they didn't promise change they just said that old right wing standard "we need to".

The group has also gone to some length to conceal its donors. FCC paperwork obtainable online shows the address for the group as Tusk Strategies, a political consulting firm headed by Tusk, who ran New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's successful 2009 campaign for mayor as an independent.

when citizens united was ok'd we should have been on the steps of the capitol asking who is bidding on our gov't., truth is we don't and won't know any foreign money from any where Iran? the fact that they wanted to conceal up front screams of deceit and illegality.

Pres. said he needs our help when we hear that some instead of stepping up feel "that's what we elected you for", problem is those same people have failed to pay attention to what has happened the last 4 years, his stated in '08 opposition by republicans met no uprising by "we the people" being screwed by the right wing out of jobs, taxes, food, and safety, they never voted for anything that had "we the people" as benefactors, and what do we do blame Pres., it's on us not just him he can lead all he wants if we don't follow who's at fault?

Democrats, tea party unite vs. Mitch McConnell

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/democrats-tea-party-unite-to-defeat-mitch-mcconnell-86787.html?hp=t3_3

Tea party activists looking to oust Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in a GOP primary may get some help from an unlikely source: Democrats.

Big Democratic donors, local liberal activists and a left-leaning super PAC in Kentucky are telling tea partiers that they are poised to throw financial and organizational support behind a right-wing candidate should one try to defeat the powerful GOP leader in a 2014 primary fight.

i was confused until i read this,

`The idea: Soften up McConnell and make him vulnerable in a general election in Kentucky, where Democrats still maintain a voter registration advantage. Or better yet, in their eyes: Watch Kentucky GOP primary voters nominate the 2014 version ofTodd Akin or Richard Mourdock, weak candidates who may actually lose

are we taking a page from their book without treachery?

Progress Kentucky has begun circulating petitions urging Republicans to jump into the race, and Democratic donors active in Bluegrass State and national politics are privately making it clear they’re willing to help bankroll a tea party candidate. Neither the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee nor the Kentucky Democratic Party is involved in the unorthodox efforts at this point, officials said.

let's hope this is confusing to them as it is to me.

Sarah Durand, president of the Louisville Tea Party, said Democratic donors and activists have told her that they’d be willing to spend seven figures in a GOP primary to help a candidate willing to challenge McConnell. Durand said the challenge for tea party groups is to recruit a candidate who wouldn’t hand the seat to the Democrats, even though, she said, tea party leaders across the state are not satisfied with McConnell’s three-decade tenure in Washington.

“I guess the fear would be ending up in the Dick Lugar situation where you oust the incumbent and end up with a Democrat,” Durand said. “But I really think if Sen. McConnell can’t garner some enthusiasm within the tea party, which is going to be very difficult at this point, then he’s going to have a really tough road ahead in this election cycle.”

ahh some clarity, will they take the chance or continue their dissatisfaction with McConnell?

NH Police Chiefs Auctioning Off Assault Weapons And Handguns – One A Day For 31 Days

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/01/28/nh-police-chiefs-auctioning-off-assault-weapons-and-handguns-one-a-day-for-31-days/

we can sit around and try and attach a binder full of reasons and fixes to our gun problem but until we recognize that if "we" don't stop the persons we assigned to look out for us then we will never get there and the NRA wins. let's see what the people of NH deal with those last bastions of safety between them and the criminal murderers is selling them the instruments of their trade.

Some say we’ve become a society too concerned with political correctness and cultural sensitivity. Conversely, others demand heightened awareness of ethnic, racial, and religious differences. Those who are zealots, passionate about one cause or another, rarely give a hoot about stepping on the toes of the opposition one way or the other.

Then there’s the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police who are sponsoring – in collaboration with New Hampshire gun makers Sig Sauer and Sturm, Ruger & Company – a month-long auction in support of their cadet training program. Now, that’s nice, that effort; gun manufacturers and cops working together to help raise money for youngsters looking to potentially join the police force. What are they auctioning off? Trips to Hawaii? A weekend at a local spa? Season tickets to the closest major league club? No, no and no. 

This group decided that the very best way to raise funds and show support for their up-and-coming police officers who will, at some point in their careers, likely be in the line of fire in service to their duties, is to hold an auction. Specifically an auction to sell a Ruger SR-556C assault rifle and 30 other guns – one for each day of the month – to the lucky New Hampshire citizens who have the cash to be the highest bidders.

i don't think most of us know what political correctness and cultural sensitivity are those who understand the interpretation seem to give less than gnat crap about its implementation into the society.

According to The New York Times, this upcoming event was discovered by Hanover, NH Chief Nicholas J. Giaccone, Jr., as he was perusing the internet:

When Chief Nicholas J. Giaccone Jr. of Hanover pulled up information about the raffle on the Internet, he said, he was flabbergasted.

“I looked at the first weapon and Googled that one,” said Chief Giaccone, who recalled using an expletive when he pulled up information about the Ruger SR-556C, a semiautomatic weapon. “It’s an assault rifle.”

The Chief wasn’t the only one who was flabbergasted; in fact, quite a few people were incensed. A local Salem, New Hampshire citizen, Richard J. O’Shaughnessy, wrote a Letter to the Editor of the Eagle Tribune and pretty much said it all:

You might think that the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police would show better judgment. You might think that they would have more respect for Chief Michael Mahoney of Greenland, who died in hail of bullets last April. You would think that they would have more respect for the police officers who were shot with one killed in Manchester. You would think that they might have remembered that 26 children and teachers were riddled with bullets in Connecticut last month.

Apparently not, because in a fundraising promotion for their association they are having a raffle with guns including semiautomatic weapons as the prizes. People who should know better are adding to the glorification of the gun culture in this state. New Hampshire is becoming another Somalia.

we have heard about how dysfunctional the list of mentally challenged people is from either human error or inadequate state gov't i'm thinking the latter.

Do Politicians Need to be Friends to Cut a Deal?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/ten-miles-square/2013/01/do_politicians_need_to_be_frie042624.php

this has been and continues to be the second stupidest idea i've ever heard, they are supposed to be there to caucus with both parties, debate the best things for "we the people" and country, and defend the constitution, reasonable sincere bent of advancing the country and it's people, ok on the real tip where did i lose you, was it at "i ever hard?

President Obama recently spoke about the value of developing personal relationships in politics, something that a bunch of political scientists have been writing about recently (examples below).Jonathan Bernstein wrote about this in his blog and backed up the President by arguing that scholars of the presidency “have been telling us for decades that schmoozing just isn’t all that important.”  However, other recent political science research has investigated the value of social networks among political actors and draws some conclusions that contradict the President, sort of.

Mr. Obama’s argument is not wrong, but it is incomplete. He argues that deals get worked out (or not) in Washington not because of who knows whom, or who likes whom, but because of ideology and policy preferences. This is true. An examination of roll call votes in Congress would reveal that political party, our best and simplest way of measuring a legislator’s ideology, explains more than 90 percent of the variance across all votes. But how do we know that one’s party (or ideology or policy preference) has not been informed by social interactions? And what about the remaining 10% of votes that aren’t explained by these primary factors?

if we are to except the buddy thing then they are kids you need to promise them they can go the Chuckie Cheese after they do their jobs to play in the ball pit, yea!!

Politicians’ personal social networks inform their thinking, and their voting. Research shows that legislators’ personal friendships with one another can affect their voting patterns, or at least that legislators develop strategic relationshipswith one another for the purposes of forging future coalitions or, in the least, to have a sounding board against which to “check” one’s preferences. Other scholars (and here) have argued that by examining patterns of cosponsorship in the U.S.

Congress we observe the effects of consequential social networks that ultimately affect legislative voting.

if any vote other then their mindset and go along to get along they should be fired and exposed so as not to be able to perpetrate such a fraud on the public again, there goes the right wing, sorry couldn't resist.

Lesbian Offered "Full Membership" In Fort Bragg Spouses Group

http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/lesbian-army-wife-offered-full-membership-in-for

WASHINGTON — The Association of Brag Officers Spouses at Fort Bragg in North Carolina has added sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination policy and offered Ashley Broadway, married to Lt. Col. Heather Mack, a full membership in the organization.

The group previously had offered Broadway a "guest membership" while it was reviewing its bylaws. In December, her request for membership had been denied, but then the group said it would review its membership policies.

Broadway celebrated the news Friday night, saying in a statement, "I am overjoyed to see ABOS's inclusion of 'sexual orientation' in their non-discrimination clause. I have further reason to take pride in the Ft. Bragg military community, knowing that we, as military spouses, are able to come together to support each other, our soldiers, and our families."

The American Military Partner Association, of which Broadway is an officer, had been supportive of her efforts to join the club.

"This is an example of the direction in which our military continues to progress. However, without immediate action from the Pentagon and the White House, same-sex military spouses are still not only at risk of exclusion from private spouse clubs, but are still excluded from other types of crucial family support and vitally needed military benefits and support services," Stephen Peters, president of the partners association, said.

really last 2 week you were out in the cold rejected like you had leprosy and fewer then 2 weks you're cured and all's well in Armyville?

As Peters noted, the Fort Bragg issues raised questions about the ongoing treatment by the military of servicemembers with same-sex partners. The Army and Pentagon had concluded that, under a policy issued before the end of "don't ask, don't tell," the Army could continue to allow the officers spouses group to meet on the installation even if it continued to deny Broadway membership.

like republicans even if you change you're stance it most likely will not include your sentiment, and the beat goes on.

Wingers Think Obama is Lord Of The Flies. No, Really!

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/01/26/wingers-think-obama-is-lord-of-the-flies-no-really/

if you were still questioning the sanity of the right wing and just didn't have enough proof to convince you, well here it is. one thing though the devil dos hateful things and convinces you to be a bad person, have any of you noticed the Pres. engaging in that kinda activity, you know lying to you trying tho disenfranchise your voter rights and gerrymander you out of existence just to name a few?

Just when you think they can go no further into the rarefied atmosphere of wackdom you find yourself reading something like this. Yes, they really believe that our president is a demon is disguise. Not just any old demon, though… he’s Beelzebub. You know, the Lord of the Flies? Yep. That guy.

They cite the fly that was buzzing Obama when he announced new staff and cabinet members the other day. Because, gosh, that’s happened to him before! Remember the fly he smacked during an interview in 2009? And that other one as he spoke about health care reform in 2010? And that swarm of flies at a campaign stop in 2008? Yeah, I don’t remember that last one either. But these four instances are absolute proof of Obama’s demonic lineage.

Because flies just never just… you know, fly around. Everyone knows that flies are deep-thinking creatures who never go anywhere they are not invited. They’re very polite that wa One wingnut poster over at Free Republic wondered if the “fly infestation” at the White House meant that there is some kind of demonic influence there. Well, maybe that’s so – maybe they got used to hanging around when Cheney was ensconced there and didn’t want to leave.

One wingnut poster over at Free Republic wondered if the “fly infestation” at the White House meant that there is some kind of demonic influence there. Well, maybe that’s so – maybe they got used to hanging around when Cheney was ensconced there and didn’t want to leave.

 Another poster over at Revalation (sic).net – don’t know about you but I give no credence to a religious website that can’t even spell its apocalyptic final chapter correctly – says that he feels

“… like I am watching a horror movie and the secret evil character is revealed by the evil signs around him.

Now that there is one slick piece of passive aggression. Evil signs? Talk about subjective. The guy doesn’t even give an example, other than those darned flies. One person’s “evil sign” is another (less crazy) person’s fly-that-just-happened-to-find-its-way-to-the-president’s-podium. These aren’t the flies you’re looking for. Move along

and they are off and running again, the republican politicians and their base, begs to question do you really want these persons in charge of anything, if you put them in charge of waste would they talk to the flies, and where do they get such personal knowledge of these insects could it be they both have crap on their feet?

Five Reasons Bobby Jindal Is Responsible For Transforming The GOP Into 'The Stupid Party'

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/01/25/1495721/jindal-stupid-party/

Days after Mitt Romney lost his bid for the presidency, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (R) kicked off a publicity campaign for his 2016 run, casting himself as a different kind of Republican. In a series of interviews, statements and op-eds, Jindal called for reform within the GOP, embracing a more moderate message that could appeal to middle class voters.

if you stop saying what you have but you "keep your principle" then you are deceitful and are cosmetically altering your appearance, problem with that your actions will reflect no change from the former stance. if you are something that you subscribe to voraciously then you will reveal your true being, if you are arrogant too you will run like a race horse to be recognized as that which you really are.

In a Thursday night speech to the Republican National Committee, the Louisiana governor urged his party to give up its obsession with Washington budgeting and "become the party of growth," not austerity. "We must shift the eye line and the ambition of our conservative movement away from managing government and toward the mission of growth," he said and laid out "seven things that I believe we must change if we are to amass a following worthy of our principles." Principle 4 states that the GOP "must stop being the stupid party":

We must stop being the stupid party. It's time for a new Republican party that talks like adults. It's time for us to articulate our plans and visions for America in real terms. We had a number of Republicans damage the brand this year with offensive and bizarre comments. We've had enough of that.

But before Jindal begins giving advice to members of his own party, he might consider how his own record is alienating mainstream voters:

1. He permits Louisiana schools to teach creationism. Thanks to Jindal's educational voucher system in Louisiana, students will be attending private or parochial schools on the taxpayer's dime. But those schools don't necessarily meet the standards of the state's public schools, and may teach students creationism instead of standard science curricula.

2. He allows state employees to be fired for being gay. During his first few months as governor, Jindal decided not to renew an anti-discrimination executive order protecting LGBT employees who work for the state. Jindal has also said that same sex marriage opens up a path for courts to overturn the Second Amendment.

just a couple to wake your curiosity as to one of the rising stars is actally a right wing political Blackhole.

keeping up his rhetoric decries all they claim they are not doing. wonder what his exp. date is?

markets don't need no stinkin' republicans

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45755822/ns/msnbc-the_ed_show/#50594150

taxmeggdon, was redicted by the right wing using the Mayan calender of doom, or a Chinese abacus, once again they fail math.

they told us the economy would cease to exist, Pres. worse pres. ever he would destroy America the markets will collapse, guess they didn't get the republican text.

2014 is long enough away for those not totally convinced of the dishonesty and intent to deceive us to research and find out they have mislead at every turn, denying us of good gov't of the People not their right wing self involved anarchy. yes you are better off then you were 4 years and 25 days ago, if you think you're not then you had nothing to get better.