Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Republicans have a little issue

Here's an interesting thing to think about - I think.  If the government does not come up with a budget plan by December 31,  a whole series of budget actions will take place because of legislation Congress passed, and the President approved, last summer. The reason that legislation passed was to put a temporarily budget in place with both sides agreeing that the deficits the government is running need to be controlled.

Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Directors, told Congress that such massive cuts in government spending would result in a recession because current economic situations are weak. Now the President and Congress are arguing over - get this - cuts to government spending.  Apparently they are trying to negotiate cuts in spending that are just different from the cuts they've already passed.

What's the difference? Is it just a matter of degree? If, as Bernanke said, the "fiscal cliff" we might ride over on 12/31/2012 is going to be bad for us, why should we expect that different cuts would be any better? So, we're going to roll down a fiscal hill instead of falling off a fiscal cliff? Seems like much ado about nothing. We're fucked either way.

When the Republicans last controlled the government, they spent like drunken sailors - approving two wars and a new part D for Medicare, none of which they funded. Instead, they cut taxes for the wealthy. The national deficit rose at a much faster rate under the "small government conservatives" than it has under any Democrat.

Surprise!

Surprise on you! Or maybe not?


The nineteen new Republican House committee chairmen are all white males

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Just sayin'...

Don't tell me what you believe. Tell me what you do and I'll tell you what you believe.

 --Meteor Blades

Chaplain

Charlie Chaplain's speech from "The Great Dictator" with some modern images.


Religion distracts us...

Religion has a net negative effect on our world as it holds us back from making even bigger discoveries about us and our environment.


Tax cuts

Just trying to understand where conservative values come from...


Obama

It was back during the campaign - Obama showing that he has a sense of humor...


Trickle Down Economy

Is the trickle-down economic plan working yet?


Conservative Jesus...

It appears that Conservative Jesus has been hard at work rewriting passages in the Bible...


It isn't just MY perception...

Source: 


Good news for conservatives as a compilation of four recent social psychology studies demonstrate that rather than necessarily being pathological, political conservatism is promoted when people rely on low-effort thinking.

In the four studies conducted by Scott Eidelman, Christian S. Crandall, Jeffrey A. Goodman, and John C. Blanchar published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc, they concluded, “(P)olitical conservatism is promoted when people rely on low-effort thinking. When effortful, deliberate responding is disrupted or disengaged, thought processes become quick and efficient; these conditions promote conservative ideology… low-effort thought might promote political conservatism because its concepts are easier to process, and processing fluency increases attitude endorsement.”

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Idiots

I'm not sure who Dee is, nor do I know what they will do when they "sec" her, but I sure do wish these morons would leave the country.


A simple life?

Perhaps we will need to live a simpler life in order to accommodate all of the people we are producing.

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.
   --Mohandas K. Gandhi  (Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse)

Greedy

Ever been to a church service where they didn't have their hands out, or pass a basket around,, for what really matters? Money. Ask yourself - really - what is your church all about? I'll be it's the Benjamins.


All religion is wacky

They say Islam is a religion of peace, but more mainstream Muslims must speak out to quell the public image they are presenting if that is the case.


Voting

Casting a ballot sends a message to politicians. Here's some of what voters were saying - was anyone listening?


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Just an average day...

"It's very dear to me, the issue of gay marriage. Or, as I like to call it: 'marriage.' You know, because I had lunch this afternoon, not gay lunch. I parked my car; I didn't gay park it."

  - Liz Feldman (Chrislove)

Goodbye, Mitt

Mitt Romney finally comes to grips with his loss.


Republicans

Republicans - making shit up to justify their "don't give a damn about anyone else" philosophy.


Conservatism

Conservatives, most of them, know what it means to be conservative and still choose to believe that way. I'm still not sure anyone can adequately explain to me how they can be so anti-social.

You may have to click on the image to enlarge it so you can read it.


Door-to-door

If Scientists had domestic missionaries as many religions do...


Learning to trust science...

Even conservative Joe Scarborough, on his morning show on MSNBC today, was lamenting the stupidity of Republicans who deny science and pander to those who believe such nonsense as the earth being 6,000 years old.


Monday, November 19, 2012

Silly little video on religion and children.

Fascism

In utter frustration over their inability to get rid of the centrist black president now running the US of A, right wingers take to calling him names. Socialist, communist, fascist, etc. But most of those using these terms don't have a clue what they mean - it just seems to them that they are slurs they can use without reverting to racist jargon.

If we look at the word 'fascist', for example, we need to ask ourselves which party is really the party of fascism?

"The first truth is... a democracy is not safe if people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism - ownership of government by... any controlling private power." - Franklin D. Roosevelt,

Religious implications

If you are a human with "perfect faith" in your religion - a belief in the afterlife that is so strong that your entire life is based on the drive to get to that Nirvana - does it make sense to continue to live here on earth?

And if so, what sort of implications does that have for our way of life (the rest of us)? What is the impact of those beliefs on our political system and the way the world works?

We've seen some examples...


Whence cometh religion?

If we did not indoctrinate our children with religion from the very earliest ages, would they grow up to invent one of their own? Is there a religion gene in the human genome? Interesting question that has been asked for quite some time.



What's best?

When some conservative tells you that big government is evil and bad for us, ask them, "Then what is good? Where should I put my trust in this world? Big business?"  Because big business wants to make a profit and if it costs you your life, well, you were just a casualty in that pursuit.

You can hold government accountable with your votes, but when it comes to big business, you are helpless.


It's time

It's time, America, to end the drug war.


Redneck Bubba

Bubba has some of those of you who are "takers"


Sunday, November 18, 2012

You can't argue with a believer.


Brilliant Republicans

Intellectual Republicans. Oxymoron.  A few examples in an article about Todd Akin and his "legitimate rape" comments pre-election.


On the same committee is an oil-company tool and 27-year veteran of Congress, Representative Joe L. Barton of Texas. [...] Barton cited the Almighty in questioning energy from wind turbines. Careful, he warned, “wind is God’s way of balancing heat.” Clean energy, he said, “would slow the winds down” and thus could make it hotter. You never know. “You can’t regulate God!” Barton barked at the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, in the midst of discussion on measures to curb global warming. 
Jack Kingston of Georgia, a 20-year veteran of the House, is an evolution denier, apparently because he can’t see the indent where his ancestors’ monkey tail used to be. “Where’s the missing link?” he said in 2011. “I just want to know what it is.” He serves on a committee that oversees education.
Another Georgia congressman, Paul Broun, introduced the so-called personhood legislation in the House — backed by Todd Akin and Representative Paul Ryan — that would have given a fertilized egg the same constitutional protections as a fully developed human being.
Broun is on the same science, space and technology committee that Akin is. Yes, science is part of their purview. 
Paul Broun is the raving loon who, shortly after Barack Obama won a higher percentage of the popular vote than Ronald Reagan in 1980, warned of the looming fascist dictatorship and compared him to Hitler.
And did these congressmen face any consequences for their inflammatory rhetoric? Not at all, they're all members -- and leaders -- in good standing. 
So when Republicans start kicking out members like Broun, Kingston, Bachmann, Shimkus, Barton, Gohmert and Allen West -- just to name a few -- I'll know they're serious about cleaning up their party.
Until then, they should stop picking on Todd Akin. He's just playing by their rules. And they're only making noise about it because he may cost them the Senate.

Republicans hate Obama


Subtle

This one is subtle - it took me a few seconds - the chair. Get it? Clint Eastwood?


Republican logic...

Republicans have had a hard time justifying their intense dislike for Barack Obama, so they make shit up - like the excessive number of vacation days he has taken and the amount of time he spends playing golf.


Saturday, November 17, 2012

Religious consisteny

Can you handle the lack of consistency in the story that is the Bible?


The history of Jesus Christ...

Not only was the story of Jesus Christ not a CONSISTENT story, it was not an ORIGINAL story...


PBS

As the conservatives attack the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), just remember this...


Bill Maher on Teabaggers...


Conservative heroes

Conservatives have always been behind the curve - defending the status quo, or even advocating a return to the past. They can't stand change \because they don't understand it. And so, for your viewing pleasure,...


Friday, November 16, 2012

More on religion and conservatives

Most right-wing Christians aren't really followers of Christ - they are really old-testament bible-thumpers with little knowledge of Christ's teachings. Too bad we can't pass a law that says they actually have to read the new testament in order to call themselves Christian.


Confusion

The rest of the world seems confused by the values of some Americans...


Europeans Are Trying To Figure Out Why Conservatism Went Off The Rails In America

from DownWithTyranny!

This past weekend, journalist Paul Harris tried to help U.K. readers understand what happened in the U.S. election and why the Republican Party seems so hell-bent on self destruction. The picture he paints of the GOP doesn't look anything like mainstream European conservative parties, but like extreme right, neo-Nazi fringe groups. Reporting from Pella, Iowa he interviewed 75 year old Shirley Schutte as an example of some mighty ugly sentiments. "Obama is a Muslim," the right-wing crackpot asserted. Was she sure about that? "I am. I am not sure he even should have been there [in the White House]. He has been a disaster."
I hope Observer and Guardian readers understand how Hate Talk Radio and Fox has brainwashed millions of Americans, particularly in places like Pella, Iowa. Harris cites a poll of Mississippi Republicans showing that most of them believe Obama is a Muslim. "Neither has the party leadership done too much to discourage equally outlandish ideas, such as Obama being born in Kenya. From business mogul Donald Trump to top elected officials, Republicans have carefully crafted a message of Obama as a radical 'other' hoping to transform America in some dangerous way," writes Harris. 

Politics and religion mix too often...

I'm still trying to make sense of conservative, religious values...


Atheism

Hey, I guess we're all a little bit atheist...


Making good use...


The best use we could make of those religious books.

Serious burns

I hope neither of them were seriously injured requiring medical care as provided by the new Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).


Warriors

I wonder if Native Americans had selfish pricks among their ranks who refused to contribute to the tribal good?


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Maybe I'm just screwed up...

I mean, my thinking seems to me to be logical and as of yet, no one can prove to me that it's not. So why can't right-wing Christians see the nonsense and bad logic in THEIR thinking?


HBO's Newsroom

From HBO's new series, "The Newsroom." I can't wait for it to come back.


Good...

Couldn't have found the words myself to say it this well...


Tell me more...

Please - tell me more about this God of yours who intervened so YOU could win an Olympic gold medal, but is allowing millions to starve to death. Seems like his priorities are a bit screwed up. Think I'll look for a DIFFERENT God, thank you.


Voting

Why women aren't allowed to vote in Muslim countries...


From a guy who would know


Historic Marker

Pretty soon, there won't be any small businesses left.




Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Speaking of the Republican Party

There aren't a lot of intellectual Republicans, but there are - and were - a few. Barry Goldwater (presidential candidate back in the 1950's) describes a problem Republicans still have to deal with today - religion.


Understanding

A lot of conservatives deny evolution, global warming - you know, science things. And they are able to justify their lack of knowledge by convincing themselves that they have a "deeper understanding" of the issues. Steven Hawking says it VERY well.


Shallow thinkers

There are a lot of folks in America who can't delve very deeply into a problem before their head begins to hurt - so they just blindly follow someone else even if it means supporting principles not in their own best interests.




Truth be told...


If the truth is to be told, those on food stamps and welfare today are primarily children - about 48% of them as I last read. Another huge chunk are the elderly living on small Social Security checks, still more are the disabled, some are those employed for minimum wages, and finally we have the unemployed, unable to find work in a tough economy.

There are few of the slackers that the Republicans love to rant about, and there are only a few because it is a difficult life - some are probably drug addicts, others ex-convicts - you know - people who don't have many other choices. But in the eyes of the Republicans, there are a whole lot of minority people collecting welfare and living high on the hog. But it just isn't so.

One pundit I read not so long ago described the problem as a bunch of folks who can't stand to see someone else getting something they're not getting. But maybe folks on welfare aren't getting so much.


Recap...

I've said it before - one of the real ironies of the politicians hollering about supporting small business in the U.S is the fact that the big box stores (Wal*Mart, Target, Home Depot, etc.) destroy all related small business within a country mile of them. Instead of individual owners and families making a living wage and building an investment as well, they are now working for huge corporations making a meager wage. And the government subsidizes this crap with food stamps, HEAP and other welfare programs.  Just saying it again as I present more evidence of same.

We need a minimum wage that is a LIVING wage.



Really...

Really - you just can't fix fucking stupid...


Corporations Calling To ‘Fix The Debt’ Want $134 Billion In Tax Breaks

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

KISS

Keep It Simple Stupid, so the dummies can understand it. The Redneck version of the Ten Commandments.


Just another thought on guns...


Look for - the Union Label...


Religious Freedom

Did our founding fathers intend for this to be a "Christian Nation" as proclaimed by the religious right? Maybe not so much - and maybe it wouldn't hurt the religious right to read a little bit more history.


Speaking of tax breaks...