A reasoned, sympathetic critique of President Obama'a speech this week. He is trying to frame the debate instead of always playing catch-up....
Interesting article.........
President Obama's speech today was about policy and politics. But it was also about principles, as Obama made clear early in his remarks:
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If there is an essence of the liberal vision for America, that passage captures it. It's the idea that a modern, enlightened society promises economic security to all, notwithstanding illness, accident of birth, or age. The liberal vision is not an imperative to establish equality, as its detractors sometimes claim. But it is expectation that government will guarantee sustenance, peace of mind, and simple dignity--that the pursuit of these goals will bolster, rather than impede, freedom.
In the era of Roosevelt and Truman, Kennedy and Johnson, Democrats talked openly and proudly of this mission. But in the last few years, at least, Democrats have seemed less comfortable with such rhetoric, or at least less comfortable with their loftier ideals than Republicans have been with theirs. This contrast has been vivid in fights over the economy, climate change, and health care, with Democrats making sensible, nuanced arguments about growth rates and Republicans making hyperbolic, simplistic claims about "socialism."
Human Planet
A visually beautiful trailer for a BBC show about life on this earth.....great video, 3 minutes.....
An excellent Jon Stewart, where he dissects the Trump birther nonsense, and incredibly has kind words for......Bill O'Reilly?
Holy tamole.....4 minutes....
Gail Collins with a fairly serious column on Planed Parenthood and abortion, and she discusses the very real assault on women's reproductive rights......the loonies rave about abortion, but are also after contraception in general. Just incredible stupidity on the extreme right....
Good discussion.....
Part of the price of keeping the government operating this week is another debate over the financing of Planned Parenthood. Whoopee.
At least it’ll give us a chance to reminisce about Senator Jon Kyl, who gave that speech against federal support for Planned Parenthood last week that was noted for: A) its wild inaccuracy; and B) his staff’s explanation that the remarks were “not intended to be a factual statement.”
This is the most memorable statement to come out of politics since Newt Gingrich told the world that he was driven to commit serial adultery by excessive patriotism.
The speech in question was Kyl’s rejoinder to the argument that Planned Parenthood provides a critically important national network of women’s health services.
“You don’t have to go to Planned Parenthood to get your cholesterol or your blood pressure checked. If you want an abortion, you go to Planned Parenthood, and that’s well over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does,” Kyl declared.
Planned Parenthood says that abortions, which are not paid for with federal money, constitute 3 percent of the services that the organization provides. That’s quite a gap. But only if you’re planning on going factual.
More on the abortion front - now Kansas has passed a law that says before you can have an abortion you have to name the baby and paint the nursery a suitable colour....Onion News has the story.....2 minutes.....
Music video - Lady Antebellum with "Need You Now", really nice song, country rock with a wonderful slide guitar in the background. Video is cool, doesn't end the way you think though.....4 minutes.....
On the Jon Kyl subject our Stephen has a field day with the "not intended to be a factual statement" excuse for Kyl's lying....
Very funny, a classic Colbert....5 minutes....
A new report that identifies 12 of the largest corporations in the country, including of course GE, that not only pay no taxes but in many cases get a refund.....
A suitable story for April 15th, don't you think? Have fun writing your check, and try not to break the pen after you read this infuriating story......corruption and the 1% again.....
A new report out today illustrates that at least 11 other multinational, billion-dollar corporations managed to get a free pass from the IRS – and not only that, but while average Americans scraped their piggy banks to pay hefty taxes on paltry paychecks, many of these companies actually got a refund. Want to know how they pulled that off? By the fatcat’s swindle: lobbying, campaign contributions, and other legal gladhanding that helps them exploit corporate loopholes and keeps their pockets flush while the rest of us struggle to get by.
The campaign reform group Public Campaign has released a report called "Artful Dodgers," identifying 12 corporations – including GE – that used these tactics to avoid paying any taxes while reaping huge benefits. More disturbingly, the report notes they collectively spent over a billion dollars influencing politicians to make Washington more corporate-friendly. As the report points out, the money invested to sway groups such as the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee has been wildly successful. Legislation from both parties has created these tax loopholes, while providing incentives that effectively destroy the American workforce. Public Campaign:
Todays golf joke
All golfers should live so long as to be this kind of old man!
Toward the end of the Sunday service, the Minister asked, "How many of you have forgiven your enemies?"
80% held up their hands.
The Minister then repeated his question. All responded this time, except one man, an avid golfer named Walter Barnes, who attended church only when the weather was bad."Mr. Barnes, it's obviously not a good morning for golf. It's good to see you here today. Are you not willing to forgive your enemies?"
"I don't have any," he replied gruffly.
"Mr. Barnes, that is very unusual. How old are you?"
"Ninety-eight," he replied. The congregation stood up and clapped their hands.
"Oh, Mr. Barnes, would you please come down in front & tell us all how a person can live ninety-eight years & not have an enemy in the world?"
The old golfer tottered down the aisle, stopped in front of the pulpit, turned around, faced the congregation, and said simply, "I outlived all the sons of bitches."
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