Politics

So, here's a gem from a site that "promotes and protects our churches". It's so backwards, I don't even know where to start. If I'm interpreting it correctly through a red haze of astonishment and rage, I think the article is trying to say that the Magna Carta promotes "traditional" marriages because it holds the right to one's inheritance in high regard? And that you can't have heirs without kids? And so therefore you need traditional marriages? They even go so far as to say "same-sex relationships can mimic the natural family by importing a child into the relationship or contracting with a third party to produce one. But it is scarcely plausible to think that subse…

Am I the only one who perks up whenever he's on TV?

The Saudi family are an extraordinarily cautious, conflict avoiding bunch. Things must be getting damned sketchy in the oil patch for them to send their army into Bahrain to prop up bin Said. Keep that gas tank topped off, guys, and hope for the best. ---- oops, the Finantial Times may require registration for the second link to work.

I will admit that I have thought of Donald Trump as a self promoting wing bag at times but find him running for President interesting. I got in the car a couple of weeks ago and the radio came on to Rush Limbaugh. As I started to change the station he mentioned he was having Trump on in a couple of minutes. I thought this might be interesting and decided to listen. I found his take on the economy and trade issues with China (and their currency), Korea and other foreign issues that are killing our economy very interesting. Since then I've seen him on a few other shows and he makes some good points, even though some of his views would probably piss off the rest of the wor…

The alleged source of the Wikileaks documents has now been imprisoned in horrible conditions for seven months, despite not only NOT being CONVICTED of a crime, but not even being CHARGED with one. Bradley Manning is suffering needlessly in a system that Americans should be ashamed of: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/no-naps-and-no-clothes-in-bed-mannings-cell-life-2164841.html

Did not all of the recent turmoil begin in Egypt? No, you're right- we did take Iraq... Deuteronomy 4:29-39 (King James Version)...For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as the seas turn black and feel like mud, and all will know the wrath and atonement of their sins? Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by …

I watched this movie (again) last night and (again) was amused by the self description of the National Security Advisor to the president. "I am a politician, so when I am not kissing babies, I am stealing their lollipops. The point is I like to keep my options open." I realize this is not strictly a political comment but the quote does talk about politicians. Best regards, RA1

Citing his new found belief that God is a forgiving god, potential presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, his third wife, and his 4th mistress, all gathered today to announce that Newt will release all inmates in US prisons if elected. "How can I expect to accept God's forgiveness if I cannot pass it on to others who have sinned?" Gingrich stated. "My God is a forgiving god, and I will be a forgiving president." When asked how this forgiveness would extend to extremist Islam, Gingrich qualified his remarks to state that his God only forgives Christians, and it would remain his policy to wipe Muslims off the face of the earth. Jews, however, having now been forgiven by t…

2012 :question:

Shawna Forde, Anti-Immigration Vigilante, Convicted Of Killing Nine-Year-Old Girl And Her Father In Arizona Elise Foley HuffPost Reporting elise@huffingtonpost.com WASHINGTON -- An Arizona anti-illegal immigration activist was convicted on Monday of killing two Latinos during a 2009 raid: nine-year-old Brisenia Flores and her father, Raul Flores. The killer, Shawna Forde, is a member of the Minutemen, which patrols the southern border vigilante-style to detect illegal entry into the country. Although the shootings were never classified as a hate crime, Latino groups argue the murders reflect growing anti-immigrant sentiment within the United States. The details…

From blogger Andy Towle we learn that "Tom Gene Daniels, a California pastor who supported Proposition 8 is facing six felony counts of child molestation and lewd or lascivious act with a child under 14. The Modesto Bee reports: "Citrus Heights police said that Daniels was arrested Dec. 9. Daniels has been employed as a foster parent and day care provider, and currently is the head pastor at Rio Linda Baptist Church." The board of his church is standing by him: "'Until such time as the courts prove Pastor Tom Daniels guilty, we have an obligation to support him and his family,' said the statement. The statement also said that accusations such as those facing Daniels n…

Study: Public Sees Both Parties Cutting Deficits The Wrong Way Dan Froomkin HuffPost Reporting froomkin@huffingtonpost.com First Posted: 03/ 3/11 03:52 PM Updated: 03/ 3/11 07:06 PM WASHINGTON -- If the public actually set the public agenda, we'd be cutting the deficit much differently than either the Democrats or the Republicans are proposing to do it. That's according to a comparison of President Barack Obama's fiscal year 2012 budget proposal, the cuts for the remainder of fiscal 2011 proposed by House Republicans, and the results of an ingenious study of public opinion where a representative sample of Americans, asked how they would reduce their deficit,…

This one is pretty wild, but at least it does not involve kids. Blogger Andy Towle has some sympathy for the priest, who he speculates drinks so much because he is deep in the closet: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/03/watch-drunk-catholic-priest-offers-cop-oral-sex-for-freedom.html

Rob Bell, a popular evangelical preacher in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has ruffled many feathers among his brethren with his new book “A Book About Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived.” He "describes as 'misguided and toxic' the dogma that “a select few Christians will spend forever in a peaceful, joyous place called heaven, while the rest of humanity spends forever in torment and punishment in hell with no chance for anything better.” He indeed asks if Gandhi is rotting in hell. His answer did not please many evangelicals. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/05/us/05bell.html?hpw Bell is no stranger to controversy. His previous book, Velvet Elvis, a boo…

Regulators Reject Proposal That Would Bring Fox-Style News to Canada Robert F. Kennedy Jr..President, Waterkeeper Alliance; Professor, Pace University Posted: February 28, 2011 09:54 PM As America's middle class battles for its survival on the Wisconsin barricades -- against various Koch Oil surrogates and the corporate toadies at Fox News -- fans of enlightenment, democracy and justice can take comfort from a significant victory north of Wisconsin border. Fox News will not be moving into Canada after all! The reason: Canada regulators announced last week they would reject efforts by Canada's right wing Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, to repeal a law that forbids lyi…

"Conservative" New York Times columnist David Brookes today calls for trimming the health care during the last months of a person's life "so we can preserve programs for those who are growing and learning the most." Attention Sarah Palin: How does this differ from death panels? Who decides the cuts? Do the poor take the biggest hits since they probably get the most government help? Brookes also calls for "adjusting " pension "promises" so that the old don't have the money to live as long. He says "seniors are being protected while children are being pummeled." What kind of America does Brookes envision? Apparently one where getting old has no reward.

We read about these anti-gay preachers getting themselves in trouble for sexual misbehavior, but they never learn. The latest fundamentalist jacked off in front of the kiddies: Rev. Wanker

White House Picks Openly Gay Jeremy Bernard As Social Secretary Staff On Top MagazineFeb 25, 2011 The White House on Friday named Jeremy Bernard, who is openly gay, as Special Assistant to the President and Social Secretary The White House on Friday named Jeremy Bernard, who is openly gay, as Special Assistant to the President and Social Secretary, a job typically filled by a woman, ABC News reported. “Jeremy shares our vision for the White House as the People's House, one that celebrates our history and culture in dynamic and inclusive ways,” President Obama said in a statement announcing the appointment. “We look forward to Jeremy continuing to showcase America's …

As cities, states, and the federal government face deepening deficits, the temptation to cut services for the poor seems to be gaining traction. In talking about spending cuts, a former US president can be remembered this President's Day for his words on the topic: "This does not mean sacrificing essential services, nor do we need to destroy the system of benefits which flow to the poor, the elderly, the sick and the handicapped." Ronald Reagan, a then candidate for the office.

Another Runaway General: Army Deploys Psy-Ops on U.S. Senators By Michael Hastings February 23, 2011 11:55 PM ET The U.S. Army illegally ordered a team of soldiers specializing in "psychological operations" to manipulate visiting American senators into providing more troops and funding for the war, Rolling Stone has learned – and when an officer tried to stop the operation, he was railroaded by military investigators. The Runaway General: The Rolling Stone Profile of Stanley McChrystal That Changed History The orders came from the command of Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, a three-star general in charge of training Afghan troops – the linchpin of U.S. strategy in the…

Due to copyright restrictions see the article at this link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/18/flash-crash-panel-calls-f_n_825274.html

(Honolulu) For years, the Rev. Fay Hovey has held romantic ceremonies on the sand for gay partners who want to pledge their love in Hawaii. The couples take photos and memories with them, but they lack a legal and binding recognition of their relationship. That will change when same-sex civil unions soon become law in the Rainbow State. “They have that fantasy just like any other couple, to come and have a wedding and a honeymoon,” said Hovey, of Aloha Maui Gay Weddings, who hopes for an increase in commitment ceremonies. “When they come to Hawaii, everybody can relax in their spirits and feel included.” Hawaii lawmakers gave final approval to civil unions Wednesday an…

Preparing to raise a whopping $25 million to be re-elected to the US Senate, Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown has written his memoirs. He reveals in them that he was molested as a boy by a camp counselor. He appears on 60 Minutes this Sunday to hype his book, telling them: “Fortunately nothing was ever fully consummated, so to speak,” he says in the interview, “but it was certainly, back then, very traumatic. He said, ‘If you tell anybody I’ll kill you.’” It's unclear why a molestation "back then" would be more traumatizing than one today. Brown adds other juicy gossip to the mill: "Mr. Brown also writes in the book about shoplifting numerous items as a teenager, inclu…

Blogger Andy Towle writes today about Dan Savage creating this new definition of the substance produced in anal sex. Not only that, he made sure it was a top Google result on the name of former Senator Rick Santorum: The Article On This Topic

South Dakota Moves To Legalize Killing Abortion Providers A bill under consideration in the Mount Rushmore State would make preventing harm to a fetus a "justifiable homicide" in many cases. — By Kate Sheppard Tue Feb. 15, 2011 3:00 AM PST This article has been updated. A law under consideration in South Dakota would expand the definition of "justifiable homicide" to include killings that are intended to prevent harm to a fetus—a move that could make it legal to kill doctors who perform abortions. The Republican-backed legislation, House Bill 1171, has passed out of committee on a nine-to-three party-line vote, and is expected to face a floor vote in the state's GOP…