I think this is really, really wonderful.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Scathing
And understandably so. It's worth watching.
“Is there really something to quibble about in how powerful a bullet is when it is heading toward a six-year-old at the speed of 3200 feet per second? What kind of desperate, cornered rat would dare to mention that the Sandy Hook shooter could have used a more powerful bullet? Could have what? Done more damage? Made the bodies of six-year-olds even more difficult to identify?"
~~~
“Is there really something to quibble about in how powerful a bullet is when it is heading toward a six-year-old at the speed of 3200 feet per second? What kind of desperate, cornered rat would dare to mention that the Sandy Hook shooter could have used a more powerful bullet? Could have what? Done more damage? Made the bodies of six-year-olds even more difficult to identify?"
~~~
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
"Obama derangement syndrome"
Oh, good grief. Please watch it.
Honestly!
Of course. it's fine with Bush and Reagan did the same thing....
Honestly!
Of course. it's fine with Bush and Reagan did the same thing....
Monday, December 10, 2012
Something I just learned...
I had not come across this passage (by John Tyler, tenth president of the U.S.) before today:
“The United States have adventured upon a great and noble experiment, which is believed to have been hazarded in the absence of all previous precedent — that of total separation of Church and State. No religious establishment by law exists among us. The conscience is left free from all restraint and each is permitted to worship his Maker after his own judgment. The offices of the Government are open alike to all. No tithes are levied to support an established Hierarchy, nor is the fallible judgment of man set up as the sure and infallible creed of faith. The Mohammedan, if he will to come among us would have the privilege guaranteed to him by the constitution to worship according to the Koran; and the East Indian might erect a shrine to Brahma, if it so pleased him. Such is the spirit of toleration inculcated by our political Institutions.”
So, it's not only Thomas Jefferson who understood the Constitution to be establishing a "separation of Church and State."
Of course, I don't see how the First Amendment and Article VI ("no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust in the United States.”) can reasonably be interpreted any other way.
~~~
“The United States have adventured upon a great and noble experiment, which is believed to have been hazarded in the absence of all previous precedent — that of total separation of Church and State. No religious establishment by law exists among us. The conscience is left free from all restraint and each is permitted to worship his Maker after his own judgment. The offices of the Government are open alike to all. No tithes are levied to support an established Hierarchy, nor is the fallible judgment of man set up as the sure and infallible creed of faith. The Mohammedan, if he will to come among us would have the privilege guaranteed to him by the constitution to worship according to the Koran; and the East Indian might erect a shrine to Brahma, if it so pleased him. Such is the spirit of toleration inculcated by our political Institutions.”
So, it's not only Thomas Jefferson who understood the Constitution to be establishing a "separation of Church and State."
Of course, I don't see how the First Amendment and Article VI ("no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust in the United States.”) can reasonably be interpreted any other way.
~~~
Friday, December 07, 2012
Thursday, December 06, 2012
Are we really civilized?
Countries still having the death penalty are in red.
(click to enlarge)
~~~
Saturday, December 01, 2012
Friday, November 30, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Headline of the day
Please take a look. This is so, so true:
America Didn’t “End” Slavery After the Civil War -- We Simply Exported It
Here's a brief excerpt:
The recent fires that killed 112 workers in Bangladeshi sweat shops making garments for Wal-Mart and other American retailers show how we, today, are frankly more hypocritical and dishonest about slavery than was Jefferson himself.
As are those Libertarians who argue that the Bangladeshis were “willing workers,” when poverty is so severe in that country that working, chained into a firetrap factory, is essential to survival itself. To call the working conditions of much of the developing world anything less than slavery is to ignore the power relationships that keep workers behind fences, locked 24/7 in often-violent dormitories, and the companies that string nets outside windows to reduce worker suicides.
I've actually heard people who think of themselves as having values and a conscience say that they can't justify NOT buying cheap imported stuff -- even when they know full well that workers are exploited and mistreated.
~~~
America Didn’t “End” Slavery After the Civil War -- We Simply Exported It
Here's a brief excerpt:
The recent fires that killed 112 workers in Bangladeshi sweat shops making garments for Wal-Mart and other American retailers show how we, today, are frankly more hypocritical and dishonest about slavery than was Jefferson himself.
As are those Libertarians who argue that the Bangladeshis were “willing workers,” when poverty is so severe in that country that working, chained into a firetrap factory, is essential to survival itself. To call the working conditions of much of the developing world anything less than slavery is to ignore the power relationships that keep workers behind fences, locked 24/7 in often-violent dormitories, and the companies that string nets outside windows to reduce worker suicides.
I've actually heard people who think of themselves as having values and a conscience say that they can't justify NOT buying cheap imported stuff -- even when they know full well that workers are exploited and mistreated.
~~~
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Friday, November 09, 2012
Analyzing the Republicans' loss
This is intriguing, actually. Mind you, Cenk Uygur is engaging in some pretty strong schadenfreude in this but listen beyond it, okay?
~~~
~~~
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
Quotation of the hour
In my humble opinion.
"They outspent us, they outlied us, they made it harder for us to vote, and they tried to make our candidate into a Kenyan, Muslim, Socialist. We won anyway.
"They can deal with it."
This "Dave" is the administrator of The Pragmatic Progressive Page over on Facebook.
~~~
"They outspent us, they outlied us, they made it harder for us to vote, and they tried to make our candidate into a Kenyan, Muslim, Socialist. We won anyway.
"They can deal with it."
-- Dave
This "Dave" is the administrator of The Pragmatic Progressive Page over on Facebook.
~~~
Monday, November 05, 2012
Inspiring, actually
Do you think those right wingers who think that money is everything could ever say something like this:
Saturday, November 03, 2012
Thursday, November 01, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Good grief.
How is it that this has become even a question of late? The fact that the president even needs to state it this way makes me almost despair. (Shaking my damn head here.)
Friday, October 19, 2012
Oh, that party of family values again...
And, for the umpty-eleventh time, it's not the sex, it's the hypocrisy. It's not the sex, it's the "conservative" judgment of other people that is so reprehensible (while expecting a pass for their own behavior).
Dinesh D’Souza Resigns Presidency of The King’s College
"D’Souza came under fire Tuesday when World magazine revealed that he was engaged to a 29-year-old woman while still married to his wife of 20 years. D’Souza and Denise Odie Joseph allegedly shared a hotel room at a Christian conference in September, and D’Souza introduced her as his fiancee."
D'Souza, by the way, is a well-known conservative who has lately been making a practice of bashing President Obama. He used to debate Christopher Hitchens about the existence of God.
You know, if you're going to be judgmental about others, you've got to be impeccable in your own behavior. (And who, really, can manage that?)
~~~
Dinesh D’Souza Resigns Presidency of The King’s College
"D’Souza came under fire Tuesday when World magazine revealed that he was engaged to a 29-year-old woman while still married to his wife of 20 years. D’Souza and Denise Odie Joseph allegedly shared a hotel room at a Christian conference in September, and D’Souza introduced her as his fiancee."
D'Souza, by the way, is a well-known conservative who has lately been making a practice of bashing President Obama. He used to debate Christopher Hitchens about the existence of God.
You know, if you're going to be judgmental about others, you've got to be impeccable in your own behavior. (And who, really, can manage that?)
~~~
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
Saturday, October 06, 2012
Friday, October 05, 2012
Indeed
I could wish this would go viral. But, then, the American populace as a whole is not educated enough to recognize the reference. (Sigh.)
Thursday, October 04, 2012
One way of looking at last night's debate
I found this on Facebook:
Sherry Davis (from ‘Stop Willard Mitt Romney in 2012’ FB group) - Auntie Charm says, and I agree: "I think that tomorrow and days after everyone will acknowledge Mitt’s many, many, many layers of lies. The 'talking heads' will see things differently soon. If President Obama responded the same way Romney did he would look 'un-Presidential' and would be labeled “the angry Black man” and there would be more talk/issues about that. I believed that our POTUS defended his policies and explained them. Romney was very erratic - almost like someone on drugs. He was so rude, hyped and even his eyes looked weird and he was undisciplined with a weird smirk - that's not impressive to me. Romney came across as kind of a bossy asshole who doesn't give a shit about explaining himself or listening to anyone. I do not think that Romney won."
Sherry Davis (from ‘Stop Willard Mitt Romney in 2012’ FB group) - Auntie Charm says, and I agree: "I think that tomorrow and days after everyone will acknowledge Mitt’s many, many, many layers of lies. The 'talking heads' will see things differently soon. If President Obama responded the same way Romney did he would look 'un-Presidential' and would be labeled “the angry Black man” and there would be more talk/issues about that. I believed that our POTUS defended his policies and explained them. Romney was very erratic - almost like someone on drugs. He was so rude, hyped and even his eyes looked weird and he was undisciplined with a weird smirk - that's not impressive to me. Romney came across as kind of a bossy asshole who doesn't give a shit about explaining himself or listening to anyone. I do not think that Romney won."
Monday, October 01, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Delightfully funny and on point!
But if you're (shall we say) "delicate" about language, you might not like it...
~~~
~~~
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Violent religious extremism
The following came today in a email from the Sojourners folks:
Religious extremism will not be defeated by a primarily military response to it. Ample evidence proves such a strategy does not work and often makes things worse. Religious and political zealots prefer huge military responses to the threats created by Islamic extremism.
...
The shock-and-awe strategy of military might simply has not worked. Fundamentalists actually flourish and win the most new recruits amidst overly aggressive military campaigns against them.
It seems kind of obvious to me.
Not so much to those determining our foreign policy, however.
~~~
Religious extremism will not be defeated by a primarily military response to it. Ample evidence proves such a strategy does not work and often makes things worse. Religious and political zealots prefer huge military responses to the threats created by Islamic extremism.
...
The shock-and-awe strategy of military might simply has not worked. Fundamentalists actually flourish and win the most new recruits amidst overly aggressive military campaigns against them.
It seems kind of obvious to me.
Not so much to those determining our foreign policy, however.
~~~
Monday, September 24, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
About the national debt
It's number 9 here that I wish more people realized. Maybe you have to be an old lady like me for this to be obvious.
(Click to enlarge)
~~~
Friday, September 21, 2012
Wow!
This is only thirty-eight seconds long so please listen. The way this lady ends her statement is so rich!
~~~
~~~
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The difference
Yes, I know. Both the parties are "owned" by corporate interests. Nevertheless there is a REAL difference here:
Indeed.
You know, when I first read what Romney had said about the 47%, I didn't believe it. I thought someone had made it up. A few minutes later, I realized it was real. This is really, really hard to believe. To say he should be ashamed of himself is putting it mildly.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
A really good question
Honestly, I don't see how the Republicans somehow captured the perception that they're more patriotic than the Democrats. I think it's appallingly unpatriotic to be willing to see America go downhill just so they can defeat Obama.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
So, so, so important
Whenever anybody asserts that there's really no difference between the parties, that they are both corporately owned, I reply with these three words: The. Supreme. Court.
Really, people. I so agree with this graphic:
Really, people. I so agree with this graphic:
Friday, September 07, 2012
Do look at this
It's been aptly said that we're each entitled to our own opinions but not our own facts!
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
The Big Dog speaks
This really sums it up, doesn't it?
"In Tampa, the Republican argument against the President's re-election was pretty simple: we left him a total mess, he hasn't cleaned it up fast enough, so fire him and put us back in."
"In Tampa, the Republican argument against the President's re-election was pretty simple: we left him a total mess, he hasn't cleaned it up fast enough, so fire him and put us back in."
- Bill Clinton
~~~
Friday, August 31, 2012
The American Taliban
Just watch it. Please. Devote six minutes and eleven seconds to the best description of what has happened to the Republican Party I sincerely think you will ever, ever hear.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Pretty good, people; pretty good
I'm really sick of Republican obstructionists having the gall to blame Obama for not getting enough done.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Imprint this one on your memory
I wish someone could help me comprehend why this is so hard for some folks to understand.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
The data on gun control laws and gun violence
None of this is hugely surprising but it's really worth watching if only to reference the facts when people bring up the Norway shooting.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Are we ready for this, ladies and gentlemen?
Because, if the Romney/Ryan ticket is elected, this is what's coming.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Romney's running mate
I just got the following email:
The news just broke. Mitt Romney chose Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate.
A President Romney would be devastating for women and families, so it's no surprise he'd pick Paul Ryan. Ryan rammed his radical budget plan to decimate vital programs for seniors through Congress -- and did it on the backs of the women and families, like our grandmothers, who need these programs the most. And that's just the beginning.
Click here to see five of the worst things you need to know about Paul Ryan's record.
Paul Ryan has a vision of turning the clock back decades for women, from dismantling Medicare and Social Security to denying coverage of birth control and cancer screenings for women across the nation.
We have a stark choice this year. We can either make 2012 an historic year for women, or we can let the Romney/Ryan ticket wage its very own War on Women from the White House.
The fight ahead is clear: if we want to re-elect President Obama and elect the women who can hold Romney, Ryan, and the rest of the far right accountable, we need you with us. I know that there's no stronger barricade in the War on Women than the EMILY's List community, and together, we will win.
Thank you for everything you do.
Take care,
Stephanie Schriock
President, EMILY's List
~~~
The news just broke. Mitt Romney chose Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate.
A President Romney would be devastating for women and families, so it's no surprise he'd pick Paul Ryan. Ryan rammed his radical budget plan to decimate vital programs for seniors through Congress -- and did it on the backs of the women and families, like our grandmothers, who need these programs the most. And that's just the beginning.
Click here to see five of the worst things you need to know about Paul Ryan's record.
Paul Ryan has a vision of turning the clock back decades for women, from dismantling Medicare and Social Security to denying coverage of birth control and cancer screenings for women across the nation.
We have a stark choice this year. We can either make 2012 an historic year for women, or we can let the Romney/Ryan ticket wage its very own War on Women from the White House.
The fight ahead is clear: if we want to re-elect President Obama and elect the women who can hold Romney, Ryan, and the rest of the far right accountable, we need you with us. I know that there's no stronger barricade in the War on Women than the EMILY's List community, and together, we will win.
Thank you for everything you do.
Take care,
Stephanie Schriock
President, EMILY's List
~~~
Friday, August 10, 2012
What is a fact?
This is a wonderfully articulated definition:
"In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms."
-- Stephen Jay Gould
US author, naturalist, paleontologist, & popularizer of science (1941 - 2002)
~~~
"In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms."
-- Stephen Jay Gould
US author, naturalist, paleontologist, & popularizer of science (1941 - 2002)
~~~
Thursday, August 09, 2012
Sunday, August 05, 2012
Another thought to ponder
I've been thinking about this lately, as it happens. It's a sobering thought.
