Five Elderly Nursing Home Patients Are Missing. Have You Seen Them?

Five elderly men have escaped from their nursing home.  All five of these men are extremely senile and pose a grave danger to themselves.  Any one of them could easily step out in front of a moving vehicle, be preyed upon by unscrupulous people, or fall and be unable to get up.

These five men were last seen sitting in a restaurant, pretending to be self-employed business owners.  A waitress tried to summon help for the five disoriented men, but they left the restaurant before the authorities arrived.

Please take a quick glimpse at the video of these five delirious people sitting in the restaurant.  If you recognize any of them, please call 911 so they can get the help they need.

Here’s the video.

New iPhone App to Identify Anonymous Campaign Donors

If you have an iPhone, you can get the Super PAC App which will allow you to get information about the political ads that are swamping your TV.  You’ll need to hold your iPhone up to the TV set for about twelve seconds while the ad is playing.

The app uses audio recognition technology to obtain information on who’s behind the ad and how much money they’ve spent.

The linked article doesn’t mention whether this app can also smoke out the so-called “charity” organizations — e.g. Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS — that aren’t required to reveal their donors.  But I would assume the audio recognition technology works the same way, regardless of whether the ad is from a Super PAC or a tax-exempt “charity” organization.

It’s also unclear — to me anyway — whether this technology actually reveals people’s names, or just provides the usual “this ad was paid for by Concerned Americans for Healthy Children.”

Either way, it’s a start.  Technology keeps improving, and at some point these anonymous millionaires won’t be able to hide under a rock while they’re purchasing politicians and rigging elections.

President Romney will Harvest YOU

As if we needed yet another self-incriminating video from Mitt Romney.  This one is from 1985, when he was explaining the M.O. of Bain Capital to a group of employees:

“Bain Capital is an investment partnership which was formed to invest in startup companies and ongoing companies, then to take an active hand in managing them and hopefully, five to eight years later, to harvest them at a significant profit.”

There you have it, straight from the horse’s ass’s mouth.

That candid speech to his employees sounds a lot more genuine than his phony blubberings about “I promise to help you and your family” and “my heart aches for struggling Americans.”

Give it a rest, Asshole.  Nobody believes that bullshit.

Last July, President Obama gave a similar description of Bain-style economics:

“If you're head of a large equity firm or hedge fund, your job is to make money. It's not to create jobs. It's not even to create successful businesses. It's to make sure you're maximizing returns for your investor.”

That pretty well sums it up.  Do we want Gordon Gekko in the White House?

Somali Pirates Falling on Hard Times

How the mighty have fallen.

Somali pirates spent several years terrorizing the seas.  They made millions of dollars from their kidnappings and ransoms.  They lived in wealth and splendor that most Hollywood celebrities would envy.

But now, international military efforts have increased, and most cargo ships have armed guards.  The kidnappings aren’t as easy.  In 2010, Somali pirates seized 47 vessels.  So far this year they’ve taken five.  (Not that that’s any consolation to the people on those five ships.)

The pirate leaders’ armies of bodyguards and thousand-dollar-a-night prostitutes — Gone.  Most of the pirates’ luxurious villas are deserted and decaying.  Their former owners are currently living in tiny unfurnished rooms, trying to hide from debt collectors.

Poetic, no?

And now, if there is a god — if Karma really is a bitch — maybe these other pirates will reap what they’ve sown.

I’ve Seen the Error of My Ways: We NEED Unions

by Scott Walker


My life has been so sheltered and privileged, I’ve simply never had the tiniest inkling of what it means to work for a living and why labor unions are so important for working people.

But after yesterday’s game between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks, the point was brought home to me.  It’s all so clear now.  Oh, what an utter despicable douchebag I’ve been.  We NEED labor unions.

And suddenly I understand this.  I never had anything against labor unions before; I just didn’t understand what they meant.  My corporate bosses told me to destroy them, so I did.

But now that I’ve suddenly grasped the situation, I realize how many hundreds of thousands of lives I’ve ruined with my disgraceful union-busting.  Not only the lives of workers who are no longer able to bargain collectively, thanks to me.  But also the quality of work we get when employees are underpaid, shat on by their employers and, most of all, when under-qualified scab referees are brought in to replace the referees who are on strike.

My team lost yesterday because of a bad call by a scab referee.  After a few hours of binge drinking, kicking the dog and slapping the wife and kids around, I got over it; and I started seeing the bigger picture.  It’s awful!  Hardworking people whose wages have been reduced.  By ME.

People who called the fire department, and a bunch of inept scabs responded.  They were late and they couldn’t put out the fire.  People whose children are taught by underpaid unqualified teachers because the best teachers have left the school system to find something more lucrative.

There are hundreds of examples like this.  And it’s eating me up.  I sincerely apologize for being a cocksucking son of a whore; just an errand boy — a prostitute! — for a few corporate conglomerates.

I can no longer live with myself.  I am humbly asking the public:  Is there any possible way I can redeem myself and turn my life around and be a useful citizen?  Or should I go get my gun and do the honorable thing?

Please be honest.

Does Mitt Romney Want to Start Another War in the Middle East?

President Obama came out and asked this question on 60 Minutes yesterday.  It’s about time.

Romney and his fellow chickenhawks have spent that last few months trying to derail Obama’s foreign policy and trying to provoke a war between Iran and Israel.  This used to be called inciting a riot.  Apparently it’s OK when a rightwing demagogue does it.

Obama said that if Mitt Romney “is suggesting that we should start another war, he should say so.”

Nah, he won’t come out and say it.  It’s more fun for him to just make innuendos and snide comments, especially when he’s surrounded by his fellow keyboard warriors.  Romney might have blatantly called for war with Iran during one of his secret fundraisers.  If so, the video hasn’t been released yet.

Obama continued with:

“When it comes to our national security decisions — any pressure that I feel is simply to do what's right for the American people. And I am going to block out any noise that's out there.”

That’s a whole lotta noise to block out.

And:

“Now I feel an obligation — not pressure but obligation — to make sure that we're in close consultation with the Israelis — on these issues, because it affects them deeply…”

“…Let's see what I've done since I came into office: I said I'd end the war in Iraq. I did. I said that we'd go after Al Qaeda. They've been decimated in the FATA.  That we'd go after bin Laden. He's gone. So I've executed on my foreign policy. And it's one that the American people largely agree with.”

Mitt Romney:  either come right out and say you love the smell of napalm in the morning, or shut the fuck up.

Darrell Issa will CONTINUE congressional Witch-Hunt of Eric Holder

As you know, Attorney General Eric Holder has been exonerated after an investigation by the Justice Department.  The Justice Department WILL be prosecuting fourteen DOJ officials as a result of their investigation into Operation Fast and Furious.  Their investigation was obviously not a whitewash.

And just to set the record straight, Operation Fast and Furious was started during George W. Bush’s presidency.

Again, Eric Holder has been exonerated.  In case any conservatives are reading this, that big five-syllable word means “Not Guilty.”  When a person has been exonerated after an investigation, people whose IQs are higher than their shoe sizes will say “OK, we’re done.  Asked and answered.  Next.”

Darrell Issa (R—Ex-Convict), on the other hand, can’t seem to grasp the meaning of “exonerated” and is planning to continue investigating and searching and dirt-digging in an endless quest to find something — anything! — he can possibly pin on Eric Holder.  YOUR tax dollars at work.

According to the linked article, Darrell Issa “is vowing to continue pursuing Attorney General Eric Holder's contempt of Congress citation in court and said the report [exonerating Eric Holder] is all the more reason to continue his own probe with new zeal.”

WTF???!?!

In other words “The defendant has been acquitted.  That does it!  Now I KNOW he’s guilty!”

DUUUHHH!!!

How does this useless sack of pus keep getting elected to the House?

In case anyone needs a living breathing example of the Peter Principle — look no further than Darrell Issa.  He was very good at stealing cars and setting fires, but how he clearly has been promoted to his own level of incompetence and is in way over his head.

Darrell Issa — go back to stealing cars.  At least that was something you were able to do right.

Mitt Romney Out of Context

A large part of Mitt Romney’s campaign is based on out-of-context quotations from President Obama.  “You didn’t build that,” “I’m in favor of redistribution,” etc.

Just to show that two can play this game, the Obama campaign has put together a video of out-of-context quotes from Mitt Romney.

You go Mitt.

“I’m Dreaming of a White President”

Check out the latest from Randy Newman — I’m Dreaming of a White President.

Full of irony and dry wit, as always.

And while you’re at it, here’s a link to some of Randy Newman’s earlier hits.

Mitt Romney: “You’re Just a Worthless Parasite, and I want Your Vote”

So far Mitt Romney has managed to shit all over England during his pomp and circumstance visit to the Olympics.  Next came his “Fire, Aim, Ready” outburst during the embassy attacks in Libya.

And that’s not all.

Now he’s managed to insult 47% of the American population.  This 47% includes millions of low-income and working-class conservatives; i.e. people who are — or were — likely to vote Republican.  Way to go!

The wealthiest one percent have been able to purchase the government ONLY because they’ve been enabled by millions of working people.  Millions of people continue to vote against their own interests because they keep falling for the Right’s 24/7 Big Lie campaign.  You know the drill:

We feel sorry for you, but if the government provides any assistance for your underwater mortgage or your canceled health insurance policy, America will turn into one of those soft limp-wristed socialist countries like they have over there in Yerp.  These cumbersome regulations and high taxes are strangling the economy; as soon as we get rid of them, the Job Creators will create billions of new jobs and put America back to work tomorrow.

Etc.

And now Mitt Romney has insulted the exact people the GOP has spent thirty years trying to brainwash.  Will they still vote for Romney?

Imagine this:  You’re hardworking, church-going, conservative, working your butt off to get the bills paid.  Or maybe your job just got outsourced.  Or maybe the child support payment was late — again! — and you’ve got bill collectors hounding you around the clock.  And now on top of all that, you’ve heard Mitt Romney describe you as:

“…dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them…My job is not to worry about those people.”

You gonna take that from him?  Are you still planning to vote for that smug pompous asshole?

If You Like Monsanto, You’ll LOVE Mitt Romney

Sit back, think the word “Monsanto,” and then enjoy the idyllic images that sweep into your mind…

Toxins, some of which aren’t even listed on the ingredients label.

Genetically modified (GMO) crops which are resistant to insect pests, and which in turn are creating a new generation of bugs and weeds which are resistant to Monsanto’s genetically resistant crops.  Talk about an arms race.

And most heartwarming of all:  Hundreds of thousands of farmers in India who have committed suicide after being driven into debt by Monsanto.  (Google it.)

And now, take all these warm and fuzzy Kodak images and add two more ingredients:  Bain Capital and Mitt Romney.

Between 1977 and 1985, Monsanto was overwhelmed by scandals and lawsuits.  They turned to Bain Capital for help.  Monsanto executives were so impressed with Mitt Romney, they started bypassing Romney’s superiors so they could deal with Mitt personally.

Two — out of many — of Monsanto’s most notorious scandals were Agent Orange and the dumping of millions of pounds of PCBs into creeks and landfills near Anniston, Alabama.  They needed an image makeover, and fast.

And Mitt Romney delivered.

This is exactly what makes up today’s Republican Party:  a few gigantic amoral unaccountable corporations, and a few million Biblehumping snake-handlers who want to bring back the Salem Witch Trials.

Unborn babies are sacred.  As soon as they’ve been born:  POISON them.

No, President Obama, We Are NOT “all in this together”

Thank God for Paul Ryan.  It’s about time somebody called out our baby-killing president over his phony “we’re all in this together” speeches.  Who exactly is “We,” Mr. President?  “We” certainly does NOT include America’s fetuses.  Why?  Because you killed them, you BUTCHER!!!

Paul Ryan was one of the speakers at the Values Voter Summit, and he brought the revival tent down with:

“‘We’re all in this together’ — it has a nice ring.  For everyone who loves this country, it is not only true but obvious. Yet how hollow it sounds coming from a politician who has never once lifted a hand to defend the most helpless and innocent of all human beings, the child waiting to be born.”

Blunt but true.  Obama hates America AND her fetuses.

Ryan quoted Bill Clinton’s famous line about making abortion “safe, legal and rare.”  And then he pointed out that President Obama clearly wants to have a 24-hour abortion clinic on every street corner.  No questions asked, and the Job Creators will be paying for them with their tax dollars.

Another speaker at the Values Voter Summit was Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association.  He gave the following dire warning:

“If Barack Obama wins this election the Republican Party as we know it is finished, it is dead, it is toast — you can stick a fork in it.”

Promise?

Todd Akin Snubbed by Family Research Council

OUCH!  Imagine being too Bible-humpy and snake-handly for the Family Research Council.  As George Costanza would say, “That’s gotta hurt!”

Or in the words of Seth Meyers, “That’s like the president of the chess club calling YOU  a nerd.”

Tony Perkins and his Family Research Council are hosting their annual Values Voter Summit this weekend.  Todd “Legitimate Rape” Akin had been announced as one of the attendees at this annual Spanish Inquisition re-enactment.  And then suddenly, it was announced that Todd Akin would NOT be attending.

Paul Ryan, however, WILL be attending.

The rift between Todd Akin and the rest of the GOP is too phony for words.  This is what happens when a political campaign is based on nothing but talking points which must be repeated word for word 24/7.  Everyone must stay On Message at all times.  Or Else.

The Republican Party Platform calls for a ban on all abortions — no exceptions.  Most high-profile Republicans agree with the platform.  And Todd Akin agrees with the platform.  The only thing separating Todd Akin from the rest of the Talibangelical wing of the GOP is Akin’s “legitimate rape” comment.  That’s all.

Todd Akin’s one careless comment has caused the Republican Party to drop him like a hot potato.  The Republican Party Platform says “Tweedledeedumdeedah” and Todd Akin said “Tweedledeedumdeedoo.”

NO!!!  Get it right, you IDIOT!!!

This is an Outrage!  How DARE he say anything so shocking?!?  Todd Akin went off message, and he has thereby capsized the GOP’s tightly choreographed synchronized swimming routine.  He’s out!

It’ll be interesting to see what other rightwing fringe groups start shunning Todd Akin.

Mitt Romney Shut The Fuck Up

We’re in the middle of a diplomatic crisis in the Middle East, and Mitt Romney sees it as just another opportunity to be a demagogue.

As you know, the American diplomatic missions in Egypt and Libya were attacked.  Four people were killed, including the United States ambassador to Libya.

Most people would see this as a tragedy; an urgent crisis.  Mitt Romney sees it as another chance to jump in front of the cameras and score points against Obama.  Right in the middle of a crisis — uh, not the best time for potshots and backseat driving.

If a fire department was desperately trying to put out a raging fire, Mitt Romney would come up behind them and start shouting “Don’t you have any more manpower?  How come it took you so long to get here?  You need three more people to go over to the other side of that building.  Well, what are you waiting for?”

Or you’re stuck in the traffic jam from Hell and Mitt Romney is in the back seat:  “I told you to take Exit 14-A, but you didn’t listen.  And here we are.  Just great.  Now what are we gonna do?  Look out, that red pickup is trying to cut in front of you.  Don’t let him!  See if you can get over to the right lane so we can take that next exit.  Well, come on!”

While the Obama Administration was in the thick of this tragedy in the Middle East, Romney chimed in with:

“It's a terrible course for America to stand in apology for our values.  It's never too early for the U.S. government to condemn attacks on Americans and defend our values. ... When our grounds are being attacked, being breached, the first response of the United States must be outrage. They clearly sent mixed messages to the world.  The statement that came from the administration—and the embassy is the administration—the statement that came from the administration was a statement which is akin to apology. And I think was a severe miscalculation.”

[ahem] notice the boldface text above:  “mixed messages.”

WTF???  “Mixed messages” — coming from the person who’s done more flipflops than all the world’s acrobats put together?!?

Mitt Romney shut the fuck up.  Go back to your car elevator, or one of your vacation homes, or something.  Just go.

Are You Safer Now Than You Were Four Years Ago?

THAT’S the question we should all be asking.  Republicans, especially, have been obsessed with national security and 24/7 paranoia over The ENEMY striking again.

Now that Osama bin Laden has been killed and al Qaeda’s threat has been reduced — not stopped, just mitigated — the non-stop “Be Very Afraid” meme has faded.

And according to Republican “logic” (if that’s not an oxymoron), President Obama deserves full credit for this.  Our increased sense of safety and security can be laid entirely at the feet of President Barack Obama.

Think about it.  For the seven-plus years of George W. Bush’s post-9/11 presidency, everything Bush-Cheney did was credited for “keeping us safe.”  The Patriot Act, eliminating Habeas Corpus, invading Iraq:

“Welcome to the post-9/11 world.  This is how it is now.  Get used to it.”

“Have we had any more terrorist attacks since 9/11?  OK then, quit whining.”

“Whatever President Bush is doing, it’s working.”

So accordingly, whatever President Obama has been doing since January 2009 — it’s working.  We’re safer.  When was the last time you saw a screaming headline about a probable terrorist attack?  Or a hysterical warning that “Our harbors and railroads are wide open to a terrorist attack!”  “ANYONE could poison our water supply, killing thousands of Americans!”

It’s been awhile.  This proves beyond a doubt that being the global bull-in-a-china-shop was the wrong approach.  It’s much much better for America to use Soft Power — that exacting combination of military might AND diplomatic finesse.

Go ahead and call it “apologizing for America” if you must.

But hey — it’s working.

America is “War-Weary,” “Numbed to Drumbeat of Troop Deaths”

Since the United States is so “war-weary,” does this mean we can trim a few million from our multi-trillion dollar defense budget?

And what about all the chickenhawks drumming up hysteria over Iran?  Do these keyboard warrior/cowards know how war-weary the rest of the country is?

As the linked article says:

“It was another week at war in Afghanistan, another string of American casualties, and another collective shrug by a nation weary of a faraway conflict whose hallmark is its grinding inconclusiveness.”

This explains why Mitt Romney didn’t mention the war in Afghanistan or acknowledge the troops during his speech at the Republican National Convention.  But it doesn’t explain why Romney, Paul Ryan and the rest of the Chairborne Division are still trying to get the inbreds all fired up with “Iran Has Nukes!”

So do at least nine other countries.  Get over it Asshole.

And it doesn’t explain why congressional Republicans are having a mass heart attack — unfortunately not fatal — over the prospect of reduced funding for the Pentagon.

Also from the linked article:

“As the war drags on, it remains a faraway puzzle for many Americans. Max Boot, a military historian and defense analyst at the Council on Foreign Relations, has called Afghanistan the ‘Who Cares?’ war. ‘Few, it seems, do, except for service personnel and their families,’ he wrote recently. ‘It is almost as if the war isn't happening at all.’”

The next time Ryan and Romney send out their mating call to their fellow chickenhawks, let’s make sure their speeches get broadcast and YouTubed to war-weary voters everywhere.

Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago? YES

Yes, the economy sucks.  Millions of people are frantically searching for work.  Millions more have been out of work so long they’ve given up even looking.

But while we’re fuming over the high unemployment rate and the slo-o-o-ow recovery, let’s take a look at some headlines from September 2008:

STOCK SHOCK FELT ROUND THE WORLD. Gets ‘nasty’ as Lehman tanks, Merrill vanishes, AIG wobbles [New York Daily News, September 16, 2008]

One day on the brink On Wednesday, it seemed U.S. economy might collapse [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 21, 2008]

‘Great Depression’ closer than U.S. admits, report finds [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 27, 2008]

Developers bend under housing meltdown [Colorado Springs Gazette, September 27, 2008]

Depression seen possible [Florida News-Press, September 27, 2008]

Wall Street Meltdown Continues [CNN, September 17, 2008]

Behind Closed Doors, Warnings of Calamity [The New York Times, September 20, 2008]

 

Have you seen ANY recent news headlines that were anywhere near this dire and ominous?

Didn’t think so.

YES, you ARE better off now than you were four years ago.

President Obama’s Acceptance Speech

Here are some excerpts from President Obama’s speech last night:

“"Know this, America: Our problems can be solved.  Our challenges can be met. The path we offer may be harder, but it leads to a better place. And I'm asking you to choose that future…I won't pretend the path I'm offering is quick or easy. I never have.  You didn't elect me to tell you what you wanted to hear. You elected me to tell you the truth. And the truth is, it will take more than a few years for us to solve challenges that have built up over a decade.

“All they have to offer is the same prescriptions they've had for the last thirty years: Have a surplus? Try a tax cut. Deficit too high? Try another. Feel a cold coming on? Take two tax cuts, roll back some regulations, and call us in the morning!

“My opponent and his running mate are new to foreign policy, but from all that we've seen and heard, they want to take us back to an era of blustering and blundering that cost America so dearly.  After all, you don't call Russia our number one enemy—not al Qaeda, Russia—unless you're still stuck in a Cold War mind warp.  You might not be ready for diplomacy with Beijing if you can't visit the Olympics without insulting our closest ally.”

Zing.

South Carolina Representative James Clyburn:

“As a member of the Democratic House leadership, I have witnessed President Obama light candle after candle, trying to bring our country out of the darkness of a great recession, only to see Republicans douse the flickering flames and amuse themselves cursing the darkness…When too many of our senior citizens were living their golden years in the darkness of economic insecurity, Franklin Roosevelt and Democrats created Social Security, lighting a candle while Republicans cursed the darkness.  When too many our elderly found their lives darkened by unaffordable and inaccessible health care and assistance, Lyndon Johnson and a Democratic Congress lit the twin candles of Medicare and Medicaid while Republicans stood on the sidelines and cursed the darkness.  President Obama did not stand on the sidelines and curse the darkness.  He rolled up his sleeves and went to work lighting candles.”

Excellent analogy.

Perhaps the most rousing speech of the evening was from former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm:

“Romney loves our cars so much, they have their own elevator.  But the people who design, build and sell those cars? Well, in Romney’s world, the cars get the elevator; the workers get the shaft…The entire auto industry, and the lives of over 1 million hard-working Americans, teetered on the edge of collapse and with it, the whole manufacturing sector.  We looked everywhere for help. Almost nobody had the guts to help us, not the banks, not the private investors and not Bain Capital. Then, in 2009, the cavalry arrived: our new president, Barack Obama!  America, let’s rev our engines!  In your car and on your ballot, the ‘D’ is for drive forward, and the ‘R’ is for reverse — and in this election, we’re driving forward, not back! Let’s re-elect our great president, Barack Obama!”

YES.

Michelle Obama’s and Ann Romney’s Speeches: a Microcosm

Michelle Obama’s Democratic National Convention speech was rated at a twelfth grade reading level.  Ann Romney’s speech last week at the Republican Convention, on the other hand, was rated at a fifth grade reading level.

[smirk]

This speaks volumes, no?  I wouldn’t even know where to begin…

Anyway, highlights from Day Two of the Democratic National Convention included Bill Clinton’s speech:

“We believe 'we're all in this together' is a far better philosophy than 'you're on your own.  I want to nominate a man who's cool on the outside but burns for America on the inside...Are we better off than we were when he took office? Listen to this, listen to this.  When President Obama took office, the economy was in a free fall, we were losing 750,000 jobs a month. Are we doing better than that today? The answer is yes…No president, not me or any of my predecessors, could have repaired all the damage in just four years.  He inherited a deeply damaged economy, put a floor under the crash, began the long, hard road to recovery and laid the foundation for a more modern, more well-balanced economy that will produce millions of good new jobs, vibrant new businesses, and lots of new wealth for the innovators.”

Elizabeth Warren:

“People feel like the system is rigged against them. And here's the painful part: they're right.  The system is rigged. Look around. Oil companies guzzle down billions in subsidies. Billionaires pay lower tax rates than their secretaries. Wall Street CEOs—the same ones who wrecked our economy and destroyed millions of jobs—still strut around Congress, no shame, demanding favors, and acting like we should thank them. Anyone here have a problem with that? Well I do.”

Chuck Schumer:

“We know Mitt Romney never met a tax haven he didn't like. But his new favorite tax haven is actually not the Cayman Islands—its Paul Ryan's budget…Under this plan, Mitt Romney's own taxes would drop to almost zero. ...That's not trickle down. That's a dirty trick…Mitt Romney's only bottom line is the one at the end of his own bank statement…Republicans always try to paint Democrats as weak on defense. This time, they can't. After all, Mitt Romney's idea of an overseas accomplishment is sending U.S. jobs there…To those like Mitt Romney who want to take us backwards, let's send a strong message in November: as we say in Brooklyn, 'Fuhgeddaboutit.'“

And Rep. Karen Bass (D—Calif.) warned the audience about Jim Crow 2.0, aka Poll Taxes on Steroids:

“47 years ago, in the face of opposition from those who said states should have the right to discriminate, America passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  People of all races, religions, and backgrounds joined together and fought for that law because every one of us deserves a fair shake and a fair chance at achieving our version of the American dream.  But today, one of the darkest shadows of the past century is creeping into this one: one of our most basic rights — the right to vote, a right that we fought for and won — is under attack.  Throughout the union, governors and legislators have proposed or passed laws to make it more difficult for individuals to cast their ballots.  We must build and be a part of a nation where ‘justice’ isn’t a catch phrase, but embodies the equality and fairness that our nation’s founders envisioned.”

Amen.

The Two Conventions: Passion versus Choreography

The Republican National Convention was more orchestrated than any Broadway extravaganza.  But underneath all that choreography, you couldn’t find a drop of enthusiasm if you used a Geiger Counter.

Mitt Romney was grudgingly — sulkingly — given the nomination, and there weren’t enough fake smiles and synchronized stunts to hide this.  It’s like when you go to somebody’s house, and you can just tell that the couple was arguing before you got there.  They’ll put on their forced smiles and say “Oh, hi!  We’re glad you’re here.  Dinner’s almost ready.”  But they can’t hide the fact that they were in the middle of a huge fight just before you arrived.

And on top of that, most of the RNC speakers were positioning themselves for 2016.  Mitt Romney was an afterthought.  An article about the RNC had a comment at the end of the article saying “Which one was Romney?”

This wasn’t the case with Day One of the Democratic National Convention.  Speaker after speaker tore into the oligarchs and their cute little sockpuppet duo, Mitt and Paul.  Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland:

“Mitt Romney, he lives by a different code.  To him, American workers are just numbers on a spreadsheet. To him, all profits are created equal, whether made on our shores or off…Mitt Romney never saw the point of building something when he could profit from tearing it down. If Mitt was Santa Claus, he'd fire the reindeer and outsource the elves…Barack Obama is betting on the American worker. Mitt Romney is betting on a Bermuda shell corporation.”

Newark Mayor Cory Booker:

“Being asked to pay your fair share isn't class warfare. It's patriotism…It's not about left or right, but moving America forward and our economy forward.”

He also described the Democratic Party Platform as “focusing on big and practical ideas,” as opposed to the “petty political arguments” in the Republican Party Platform.

Michelle Obama’s line — “We've got so much more to do” — generated more than 22,000 Tweets per minute.

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro:

“We all understand that freedom isn’t free.  What Romney and Ryan don’t understand is that neither is opportunity. We have to invest in it.”

Here is some video coverage of yesterday’s DNC speeches.

Starting in September 2013, a New Holiday: Senior Management Day

The concept of “Labor Day” is too divisive.  It’s class warfare; the politics of envy.

And why do these lowly workers need their own holiday?  Laborers should spend this day thanking the Risk Takers and CEOs who created these miserable low-paying jobs.  You people are lucky to even HAVE a job.  So quit whimpering about your injuries and the long hours that keep you away from your families, and Get Back To Work!

Or you will be replaced.  Instantly.

Eric Cantor said it best:

“Today, we celebrate those who have taken a risk, worked hard, built a business and earned their own success.”

In your heart, you know he’s right.

Therefore, when Mitt Romney gets elected to the White House and Republicans regain control of the Senate, that dreadful Communist “Labor Day” will be changed to something a little more, you know, American.  Perhaps:

Entrepreneurs’ Day;

Senior Management Day;

Risk Takers’ Day.

Suggestions?  Anyway, there’ll be a new name next year.

Have you hugged a CEO today?

California — Finally! — Bans Bear-Hunting with Dogs

California state legislators, after weeks of false starts, have finally passed S.B. 1221, which will prohibit using packs of dogs to hunt bears and bobcats.

Here are some links.

Governor Jerry Brown hasn’t signed the bill yet, but presumably he won’t buckle under to the NRA and other “sporting” groups.  Ahh, the thrills and ejaculations of using a pack of hounds to chase a bear for hours and hours, and then finally shooting the cornered exhausted animal at close range.  It’s not quite as sporting as beating up little old ladies with a tire iron, but it comes close.

Most people — i.e. those who can find their way in and out of a one-room apartment and whose parents aren’t first cousins — are in favor of this law.   On the other hand…

If you’d like to see a description of this sickfuck “sport” — or if you’re one of the above-mentioned inbreds and you’re looking for something to masturbate to — here’s a fact sheet on  Hounding for Bears.

This “sport” is cruel to the hunting dogs as well as the bears.  The cornered bear will often fight back and tear the hounds to shreds.  I would have thought the already-existing laws against dog-fighting would make this “sport” illegal, but what do I know.

There was one down side to the article about this new law.  I had always thought animal cruelty was one of the few issues that cut across party lines.  Not this time.  In the California State Senate, not a single Republican voted in favor of this bill.  (I got my information from a Humane Society e-mail.)