Political News Digest

VIDEO: Indiana GOP Rep Says Women Will Pretend To Be Raped To Get Free Abortions

Source: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/30/indiana-women-fake-rape/

Source: http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/03/30/boots-on-the-ground-in-libya-the-erick-erickson-show/

Boots on the Ground in Libya ? The Erick Erickson Show

We’ll be talking about boots on the ground in Libya tonight. You can listen live at http://wsbradio.com and call in at 1-800-WSB-TALK.

Consider this an open thread.

Source: http://www.redstate.com/aglanon/2011/03/30/interview-richard-dreyfuss-talks-constitution/

Interview: Richard Dreyfuss Talks Constitution

Anyone that was in the bloggers lounge at CPAC in February you likely noticed a visitor that seemed oddly out of place. �No I?m not talking about the ?Rent is too High? guy. �I?m talking about the voice we heard narrating Stand by Me, Richard Dreyfuss.

The reason he seemed out of place is obvious: Mr. Dreyfuss is a liberal. He’s never been one to shy away from politics and would probably disagree with just about every post on this site right now.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Mr. Dreyfuss for my show, Renewing America on FTR Radio, and to be honest, I was expecting fireworks, arguing & yelling. �I was pleasantly surprised.

If you?ve ever read my posts here or listened to my show, then you’re likely aware that I am not exactly the type who likes to�compromise on many things. �I’m also generally unconcerned with whether people I debate serious issues with care for my “tone.” �I think that most here at RedState can probably say the same of themselves.

But just as it’s silly and arbitrary to compromise for the sake of compromise - and just as I know the argument is more important than the tone in which it is delivered - I agree it’s equally foolish equally foolish to be unwilling to attempt to have a rational conversation with someone you find disagreement with.

Mr. Dreyfuss seemed to feel the same way and what followed was a fantastic conversation that was rational, calm, enlightening & educational.

Before I start endorsing it, I would like to find out more about his organization ?The Dreyfuss Initiative? (which purports a desire to bring constitutional principles back into the education system) but I will say this: My conversation with Mr. Dreyfuss, a man with whom I strongly disagree on a number of topics, was more capable of having a rational discussion of politics than some on the right that I?ve found myself in a debate with.

Take a moment and judge for yourself.

Download audio here

Source: http://biggovernment.com/bewing/2011/03/30/breaking-lawsuit-atlanta-citizens-fight-back-against-forfeiture-abuse/

BREAKING LAWSUIT: Atlanta Citizens Fight Back Against Forfeiture Abuse

Georgia has some of the worst civil forfeiture laws and practices in the country.� This morning, five Atlanta citizens teamed up with the Institute for Justice to change that.
Civil forfeiture threatens the property rights of all Americans.� These laws allow government officials to seize your home, car, cash or other property upon the mere suspicion [...]

Source: http://www.redstate.com/jeff_emanuel/2011/03/30/happy-handoff-of-libya-war-from-american-led-coalition-to-american-led-coalition-day/

Happy ?Handoff of Libya War from American-Led Coalition to American-Led Coalition? Day

In Barack Obama’s Monday night address on Libya, which took place well over a week after he began waging offensive war on Libya, the president touted the fact that the U.S. military, which had been responsible or the vast majority of military action to that point, would soon be handing off the mission to allies and, apparently, fading into the background to let those allies handle the rest of the military activity.� He said:

Our most effective alliance, NATO, has taken command of the enforcement of the arms embargo and No Fly Zone. Last night, NATO decided to take on the additional responsibility of protecting Libyan civilians. This transfer from the United States to NATO will take place on Wednesday. Going forward, the lead in enforcing the No Fly Zone and protecting civilians on the ground will transition to our allies and partners, and I am fully confident that our coalition will keep the pressure on Gaddafi?s remaining forces. In that effort, the United States will play a supporting role ? including intelligence, logistical support, search and rescue assistance, and capabilities to jam regime communications. Because of this transition to a broader, NATO-based coalition, the risk and cost of this operation ? to our military, and to American taxpayers ? will be reduced significantly.

Of course, there is that pesky little fact that this highly touted handoff of the Libya warfare from a U.S.-dominated military coalition to NATO is, essentially, a highwayman’s shift from one U.S. hand to another.� Yes, the NATO commander assigned to lead the campaign against Libya is Canadian, but both his boss and the military commander of NATO are American Admirals (the senior of which is more than a little concerned about who it is we’re really helping in Libya).� Further, even with the rest of the NATO alliance (all 27 non-U.S. nations) becoming de jure participants in the war on Libya, the chief military force within that alliance remains (as it has ever been) the United States.

So congratulations, President Obama. You and your flacks have spent a not insignificant amount of time and breath bragging about the impending handoff of the Libya war effort from the U.S. to…the U.S.

This “handoff,” which Obama bragged was set for today, is supposedly in progress, though reports came out yesterday that the plan had hit a snag somewhere in the assumedly difficult process of handing over a war effort from an American General to an American Admiral.

Oh, and for what it’s worth, the coalition which will be “taking over” the effort is still only 2/3 the size of that which President Bush took into Iraq.

The privacy industry: Scare and sell

At two privacy conferences?one in New York, the other right now in Victoria, B.C.?I’ve watched the growth of privacy’s regulatory/industrial complex and seen its strategy in action: scare, then sell.
Yesterday, before I spoke at the Reboot conference, the privacy commissioner for the province, Elizabeth Denham, got up to demonize the social net and its [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/buzzmachine/~3/7lPN9HQjro4/

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Exclusive: Issa Secured Nearly $1 Million In Earmarks Potentially Benefiting Real Estate That He Owns

Source: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/30/issa-earmark-property/

A game of Clue: The Obama Doctrine and Libya

Col Qaddafi, in the Sandlot, with a JDAM.

Source: http://hotair.com/archives/2011/03/29/clue-the-air-strike-version/

Source: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/263416/johnson-2012-race-katrina-trinko

Johnson In 2012 Race

Author:

Katrina Trinko

Former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson will announce a presidential run April 21 in New Hampshire.

Source: http://current.com/studios/blog/93104826_three-questions-with-will-wright.htm

Three Questions with Will Wright

Was President Han in "Term Limits" a reference to Han Solo? Will Creation Studios make more shows? How can episodes be timely and timeless at the same time? Will Wright has the answers.

Source: http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/03/30/does-supporting-planned-parenthood-increase-the-risk-of-breast-cancer/

Does Supporting Planned Parenthood Increase The Risk of Breast Cancer?

We’ve heard all the stories before. Planned Parenthood provides breast cancer screening services for poor women. By cutting off funds for Planned Parenthood, we increase the chance poor women will get breast cancer.

New undercover work shows that this is not only a lie, but a damn lie.

Cecile Richards, the current president of Planned Parenthood, has been all over TV talking about how Planned Parenthood provides mammograms for women and, therefore, we cannot cut off their funding. They are entitled!

But a new undercover report from Live Action shows just how much of a damn lie this is.

Live Action called around to Planned Parenthood offices all across the country asking if women could come in to get mammograms. All of the clinics they called, every single one, said they do not do mammograms. Not only that, they also didn’t offer to cover the cost of the mammograms. In fact, as you can see on the video, Planned Parenthood would frequently offer to refer the caller to a different entity altogether that may or may not provide mammograms.

This was a widespread occurrence across the country.

In other words, Congress is funding Planned Parenthood purportedly to provide mammograms and Planned Parenthood isn’t even doing that? What exactly is Planned Parenthood doing with the money other than lobbying for more money when not killing kids?

You can see the video for yourself right here.

In the tapes, a Live Action actor calls 30 Planned Parenthood clinics in 27 different states, inquiring about mammograms at Planned Parenthood. Every Planned Parenthood, without exception, tells her she will have to go elsewhere for a mammogram, and many clinics admit that no Planned Parenthood clinics provide this breast cancer screening procedure. ?We don?t provide those services whatsoever,? admits a staffer at Planned Parenthood of Arizona. Planned Parenthood?s Comprehensive Health Center clinic in Overland Park, KS explains to the caller, ?We actually don?t have a, um, mammogram machine, at our clinics.?

Source: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/29/romney-adviser-without-romneycare-obamacare-doesnt-happen/

Former Romney Adviser Jonathan Gruber: Without RomneyCare, We Wouldn?t Have ObamaCare

Source: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/263326/what-anti-muslim-backlash-mona-charen

What Anti-Muslim Backlash?

Author:

Mona Charen

The Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Thomas Perez, recently offered that Muslims in America face "a real headwind of intolerance." Liberals always see every issue through the prism of discrimination. It's often the only way they understand the world. The Justice Department hasn't documented this prejudice -- probably because they cannot.

The Center for Security Policy has a new report out debunking this notion. This is from the press release:

In fact, the study shows that religious bias crimes - also known as hate crimes - against Muslim Americans, measured by the categories of incidents, offenses or victims, have remained relatively low with a downward trend since 2001, and are significantly less than the numbers of bias crimes against Jewish victims.

Source: http://hotair.com/archives/2011/03/29/reports-libyan-rebels-retreating-in-disarray/

Reports: Libyan rebels retreating in disarray

Yikes.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Oregon Organizers Begin Push to Put Marijuana Legalization on 2012 Ballot

Local organizers in Oregon have begun the push to gather the required 87,213 signatures to put the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act 2012 (OCTA 2012) on the ballot in 2012, now that the petition has been approved by the Secretary of State.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/firedoglake/fdl/~3/Wn56sLo9XV0/

Source: http://current.com/news/93114382_interview-with-renowned-scientist-david-suzuki-on-the-future-of-our-planet.htm?xid=RSSfeed

Interview with renowned scientist David Suzuki on the future of our planet

Dr. David Suzuki celebrated his 75th birthday on March 24. He has been a dedicated and passionate advocate for the environment since the mid 1970s when his CBC show, The Nature Of Things first debuted, which is now seen in syndication in forty countries. His tireless work in genetics and his advocacy for our planet and for reconnecting to nature have inspired countless millions over the last four decades.

I am posting this interview because in it he captures the essence of the problems we face and their causes, and also relays one very important point: Our loss of contact with nature that has led to a decline in our love and respect for nature, which in turn is leading us to where we see the world now. Toxic, polluted, out of balance with people more apathetic to the corrolation between the environment and our lives than ever before. And this apathy combined with an economic process that does not consider the environmental impact upon our lives but only their own profit at its loss is not conducive to the changes we need to see in order to regain that essential connection that gives us life.

So I wish to thank Dr. Suzuki for his years of dedication to the planet and working to make us understand that we are nature, and in order to preserve it we must be part of it.

Excerpt:

"JR: There was a line in a book by Matthew Fox that really stopped me: “The human race will not destroy itself from lack of information. The human race will destroy itself through lack of appreciation.” Where do you turn to heal and regenerate yourself when dealing with these massive challenges we’ve just discussed and the consequences of being aware of and witnessing the ecological damage?
DS: It’s soul-destroying to see what we’re doing to the planet, but I have four grandchildren and spending time with them renews my determination. For me, the big breakthrough was, I used to come home late at night going, “I gotta keep going, I gotta keep going, I gotta finish...” And at one point I looked in the mirror and thought, “Who the hell do you think you are? You think you’re so important you’re going to make the difference? You’re one human being. You’ve got to be part of a much bigger movement, but you yourself are insignificant.” That relieved me of this terrible conceit that I was so important I had to give my whole life to the cause. My wife is always saying we need sustainable activism. Too many people put everything into it and burn out and what stabilizes us, of course, is family, and the things that we do together with family, like getting out in nature.

In Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods, he says we are now suffering from a whole spectrum of problems that are classified under “Nature Deficit Disorder.” Our children need to experience nature and when you look at things like attention deficit or bullying or hyperactivity, these are all related to the fact that our kids aren’t getting out there. Nature calms us; nature heals us. We need to have nature. We’re growing a group of kids now that spend the least amount of time outdoors than any generation in human history.

I grew up in the 50s. We had a house with six people in less than a thousand square feet so it was a small house. I remember the constant refrain in our house was, “Get out of the house. Go out and play!” And if we said, “But mommy it’s raining outside,” she’d say, “Put a raincoat on and go on outside.” And we’d be out in the ditches and the ponds, but it was a necessity because the house was tiny. Now, we don’t want our kids to go out. There might be a pervert behind a bush or speeding cars. We want our kids inside and we’d rather have them playing video games or text messaging or working on the computer. We need to experience nature. It’s certainly for me my touchstone and my salvation in terms of maintaining my sanity.

JR: If people don’t love something, they’re not going to protect it.
DS: Exactly."

added by: JanforGore
30 comments

After ThinkProgress Video Stokes Controversy, Herman Cain Disavows Pledge Not To Appoint Muslims

Source: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/28/herman-cain-muslims-walkback/

Clinton and the freedom to connect

In her second major speech on internet freedom, I’m delighted that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stood for the freedom to connect and recognizes the internet as a public space (as I will argue it is in Public Parts). The right to connect is first on my list of principles for our net society. I’m [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/buzzmachine/~3/ouC5u0orVP4/

Support for the disconnected of Egypt

Governments are the single point of failure for the internet and thus for the public’s tool of empowerment. We are seeing that in Egypt today as the government ordered telcos to shut down the internet as a whole in the country. We have seen that in the past when Libya shut down .ly domains it [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/buzzmachine/~3/EyOShAQ7V8E/

Anti-Abortion Billboard Features President Obama, Says ?Every 21 Minutes, Our Next Possible Leader Is Aborted?

Source: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/28/new-racial-billboard/

Source: http://www.redstate.com/snarkandboobs/2011/03/27/joe-biden-wants-male-reporters-to-stay-in-the-closet/

Joe Biden Wants Male Reporters To Stay In The Closet

At a political fundraiser in Florida, Vice President Joe Biden and/or his staff issued their own Don?t Ask, Don?t Tell policy against reporter Scott Powers. To ensure that he literally could not ask, nor tell,�they locked him in a closet. Can?t have the riff-raff fraternizing amongst the fancy pants guests, now can we?

An aide to Vice President Joe Biden has apologised to a reporter who was locked in a closet for hours after he was invited to cover a Florida political fundraiser because they did not want him talking with the guests.

Spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander said the decision to hold local reporter Scott Powers there was a ?mistake?.

And she claimed an inexperienced staffer had put Powers in the closet instead of a ?hotel room? as was their normal practice.

As the unaware $500-a-head invitees dined on caprese crostini with oven-dried mozzarella and basil, rosemary flatbread with grapes honey and gorgonzola cheese, grilled chicken Caesar and garden vegetable wraps, last week, the veteran reporter was locked away.

Okay, I know the fact that someone was locked in a closet shouldn?t be funny ? and I?m sorry reporter dude ? but that?s Joe Biden comedy gold. �Oh, the transparency! Also, keeping people in a closet? H8Rs!!!1111 �I hope Meghan McCain weighs in!

h/t�Ben Domenech

—-

cross-posted from That’s What She Said

Source: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/263262/what-part-wasnt-true-when-obama-was-lining-qaddafis-pockets-andrew-c-mccarthy

What part of this wasn't true when Obama was lining Qaddafi's pockets?

Author:

Andrew C. McCarthy

President Obama tonight:

For more than four decades, the Libyan people have been ruled by a tyrant – Moammar Gaddafi. He has denied his people freedom, exploited their wealth, murdered opponents at home and abroad, and terrorized innocent people around the world – including Americans who were killed by Libyan agents. Last month, Gaddafi’s grip of fear appeared to give way to the promise of freedom. In cities and towns across the country, Libyans took to the streets to claim their basic human rights. As one Libyan said, “For the first time we finally have hope that our nightmare of 40 years will soon be over.”

Was all this not true when Obama was embracing the Bush policy of considering Qaddafi a valuable ally against terrorism and when Obama was pouring taxpayer funds into Qaddafi-run charities?

Monday, March 28, 2011

Gingrich?s Twenty Years Of Global Warming Flip-Flops

Source: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/26/gingrich-global-warming-flip-flop/

Source: http://hotair.com/archives/2011/03/28/inhofe-blasts-obama-on-libya-in-shock-over-lack-of-consultation/

Inhofe blasts Obama on Libya, ?in shock? over lack of consultation

Hot Air exclusive interview.

Source: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/263232/reid-gop-must-stand-tea-party-andrew-stiles

Reid: GOP Must 'Stand Up' to Tea Party

Author:

Andrew Stiles

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) released a statement today blaming disagreements between "mainstream Republicans" and "Tea Party Republicans" for stifling negotiations on a budget deal for the remainder of the fiscal year.

“I am extremely disappointed that after weeks of productive negotiations with Speaker Boehner, Tea Party Republicans are scrapping all the progress we have made and threatening to shut down the government if they do not get all of their extreme demands," Reid said. "The division between the Tea Party and mainstream Republicans is preventing us from reaching a responsible solution on a long-term budget."

Reid said this rift within the GOP "prevented negotiations from taking place over the weekend even as the clock ticks toward a government shutdown."

"Apparently these extremists would rather shut down the government and risk sending our economy back into a recession than work with Democrats or even their own leadership to find a responsible compromise," Reid said. “For the sake of our economy, it’s time for mainstream Republicans to stand up to the Tea Party and rejoin Democrats at the table to negotiate a responsible solution that cuts spending while protecting jobs.”

On Friday, Republican leaders also indicated that the talks weren't going well, blaming the Democrats' insistence on defending the status quo on federal spending. Aides confirm that both sides met all last week, and again today.

UPDATE: Boehner spokesman Michael Steel responds:

The Democrats who run Washington are desperately trying to divert attention from their own divisions over cutting spending. Discussions with Senate Democrats and the White House over a long-term funding bill are ongoing and will continue, but the facts remain the same. The House passed a bill to fund the government while cutting spending, and -- nearly 40 days later -- the Senate has not. Senate Democrats' position is essentially the status quo, and the big-spending Washington status quo just isn't acceptable to the American people.

UPDATE II: Reid reiterated his argument on the Senate floor this afternoon. "On our side of the negotiating table, we’ve made a proposal. That proposal makes significant cuts, but will not hurt our fragile recovery."

He is presumably referring to a Democratic counteroffer to cut an addition $11 billion -- on top of the $10 billion already included in a couple of short-term continuing resolutions. The package reportedly included $7.5 billion in cuts to discretionary spending and $3.5 billion in "savings" in the mandatory portion of the budget. However, Republicans are adamant that, per their "Pledge to America," spending cuts focus solely on discretionary spending in order to bring current levels in line with 2008 (pre-Obama) levels.

Democrats are also said to be mulling another offer of $20 billion in cuts, which would bring the total number close to House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan's original request of $32 billion, and roughly half-way to the $61 billion in cuts included in H.R. 1, the House-passed spending bill.

"We readily recognize that in the end, we won’t get everything we want," Reid said. "That’s true of any fair negotiation. We recognize that sacrifices are the cost of consensus, and we believe they’re worth it."

"But on the other side, Republicans refuse to negotiate on a final number," he continued. "That’s because the biggest gap in this negotiation isn’t between Republicans and Democrats – it’s between Republicans and Republicans."

“The infighting between the Tea Party and the rest of the Republican Party – including the Republican leadership in Congress – is keeping our negotiating partner from the negotiating table. And it’s pretty hard to negotiate without someone else on the other side of the table."

UPDATE III: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.) says in a statement that Democratic leaders in the Senate have "failed to take our fiscal crisis seriously" by refusing to offer a "credible" plan to cut spending -- in addition to their failure to pass a budget last year. He points out that even a number of Democrats hold this view (see here, here and here).

“Our federal government borrows nearly forty cents of each dollar it spends, yet Senate Democrats want to keep spending money that we don't have," Cantor said. "It is clear that because Senator Reid refuses to make any spending cuts, he instead plans to force a massive future tax hike on families and small business people."

The Majority Leader concludes by saying that if negotiations fall through and the government shuts down, Democrats will be to blame. “In the scope of our debt crisis, if Senator Reid and Senator Schumer force the government to partially shut down over these sensible spending cuts, Americans will hold them accountable,” he said.

This is yet another example of House GOP leaders ratcheting up their rhetoric about the possibility of a government shutdown ever since this happened.

Clinton and the freedom to connect

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/buzzmachine/~3/ouC5u0orVP4/

Source: http://hotair.com/archives/2011/03/25/study-people-who-attend-religious-services-frequently-are-far-more-likely-to-become-obese/

Study: People who attend religious services frequently are far more likely to become obese

Huh?

Source: http://hotair.com/archives/2011/03/25/study-people-who-attend-religious-services-frequently-are-far-more-likely-to-become-obese/

Study: People who attend religious services frequently are far more likely to become obese

Huh?

Gingrich?s Twenty Years Of Global Warming Flip-Flops

Source: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/26/gingrich-global-warming-flip-flop/

Source: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/263177/making-markka-andrew-stuttaford

Making a Markka

Author:

Andrew Stuttaford

Here’s the Economist’s Charlemagne with an interesting twist on the Eurozone’s attempts to put its financial house in order:

Boosting the current “temporary” EFSF has also been agreed in principle, except that the final accord has been pushed back to June. That is because of political problems in Finland.

The government in Helsinki is refusing to sign up to any increase in the lending capacity of the EFSF until after its election next month. In part this is a constitutional issue, as parliament would have to be recalled for an emergency session to endorse any increase in Finland’s contribution, be it in terms of cash or guarantees. In part the reluctance is also a bit of electioneering. The centre-right National Coalition party, led by Jyrki Katainen, Finland’s finance minister, is expected to win the largest number of votes. But he is acutely sensitive to the strong challenge posed by the True Finns, a populist anti-immigrant and anti-EU party that has surged in the polls - in large part because of popular resentment at Finland having to contribute to the bail-outs of Greece and Ireland.

Asking Finland to reach again for its credit card before the election would only boost the True Finns…

I cannot say that I know too much about the True Finns. Like a number of the other ascendant populist parties in northern Europe they combine both elements of both left and right in their programs. However, the party’s leader, Timo Soini, has at least one achievement to his name: he has told a reasonably good joke. That’s no small feat in famously taciturn Finland, a country where extroverts are said to look at your shoes rather than their own. According to a Finnish friend who watched a recent pre-election debate on TV, Mr. Soini suggested that Finns should take their holidays in Greece ‘as their money was already there’.

Well, it made me laugh anyway.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Lighten Up for Earth Hour

**Written by Doug Powers Tonight at 8:30 p.m. local time all around the globe, private homes and major landmarks will turn off their lights for one hour. Fortunately this means there should be more than enough available electricity for me to turn on everything I own and light up my house brighter than Perth when [...]

Source: http://michellemalkin.com/2011/03/26/lighten-up-for-earth-hour/

Sen. Johnson?s Reaction To General Electric Paying No Taxes: Cut The Corporate Tax Rate

Source: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/25/johnson-ge-reaction/

Video: Rebels retake Ajdabiya

Coordination?

Source: http://hotair.com/archives/2011/03/26/video-rebels-retake-ajdabiya/

Gingrich: My Infidelities Helped Me Understand How To Impeach Clinton

Source: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/27/gingrich-affairs-help/

Source: http://www.redstate.com/moe_lane/2011/03/25/union-dues-reform-bill-passes-florida-house/

Union dues reform bill passes Florida House.

The bill in question is HB 1021, and it is designed to get government out of union’s business by: banning automatic dues collection for public sector unions; and requiring union leadership to get permission from individual members before using those dues for partisan politicking.� The bill passed 74-40, despite the rather strenuous objections of Big Labor: a similar bill (SB 830) is making its way through the Florida Senate.� The success of HB 1021 should help with the success of SB 830, which has been fought every step of the way, naturally; the Democratic-Big Labor governmental alliance has zero interest in seeing their profitable feedback cycle disrupted by the ability of mere workers to decide whether they like having their money go to keep one party in office.

Should the bill make it to the state Senate floor, it should pass relatively easily - both branches of the Florida legislature are solidly Republican.� In fact, they were like that before the last legislative elections… and that detail is something that I’d like to highlight, because it’s important.� Given that Florida is in fact a Right-to-Work state already, it may seem surprising that union reform is progressing even further in that state.� Well, there may be a reason for it, and that reason may be Wisconsin: specifically, the puerile, undemocratic, hooliganish, contemptuous, and generally infantile way that Democrats/Big Labor attempted to avoid dealing with the simple notion that elections have consequences.� The Left’s cheerleaders are currently ‘bragging’ - scare quotes because I’m not sure why anybody would be proud of the fact that they’re being vocal defenders of a political party’s deniable corruption slush fund - that their shrill, petulant extended whine against labor union reform in Wisconsin galvanized the Left nationwide.� That may or may not be true, but I can tell you one thing: it definitely galvanized the Right.

And, hey! - We control more state legislatures than you do!

Moe Lane (crosspost)

Pawlenty: U.S. Should Not Be Governed By Religious Law ? Unless It?s Christianity

Source: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/25/pawlenty-religious-law/

Source: http://www.redstate.com/laborunionreport/2011/03/25/when-states-stop-from-being-union-bosses-dues-collection-agencies/

When States Stop From Being Union Bosses? Dues Collection Agencies

One of the big unspoken fights in Wisconsin over these past few weeks has been Scott Walker’s proposal for the state to stop collecting union dues for the unions. The other has been to make paying union dues voluntary, as opposed to requiring payment as a condition of employment. To unions, that is like cutting their oxygen off. Unions cannot survive without the millions they pull in from workers and, if they had their druthers, union bosses would rather see workers fired than have them refuse to pay union dues.

Generally speaking, there are three ways for unions to collect union dues. The first is that union bosses can chase their members down on payday with their hands out; the second is that members can send the union its dues (or pay it in person); and, the third is that unions can convince employers to withhold the union dues from the members’ paychecks (employers then send the money to the unions). In this last case, which known as “dues check off,” employers becomes the unions’ dues collection agency. It is very common and, of course, union bosses love not having to spend the resources going to collect their own dues.

Well, earlier today, the Florida State House voted to stop the state from being unions’ dues collection agency.

Following the latest firefight between Democrats and Republicans, the GOP-dominated House OK?d legislation Friday that would bar state and local governments from collecting payroll deductions for union dues.

[snip]

?There are other ways for unions to collect their dues that don?t involve state resources,? Dorworth said. On the Senate side, a former Florida Republican Party, Sen.�John Thrasher, is sponsoring the measure.

The House approved the measure in a mostly party-line, 73-40 vote. The Senate bill (CS/SB 830) has at least one more committee stop before facing a full vote.

Of course, union bought Democrats in Florida (though they haven’t fled the state…yet) are fuming.

?Do not put lipstick on this elephant,? said Rep.�Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, adding the measure, ?is about silencing the voices of working men and women.?

The measure also allows public employee union members to demand a�refund of�dollars spent on any union political activity�with which they didn?t agree.

Unions don’t like that last provision either?demanding a refund for money spent on politics?since it well, you know, let’s them get more union-bought Democrats elected.

Unfortunately for unions and their de facto labor party, when they’ve become so dependent on politics that their very existence relies on government, people eventually wake up to the game.

America is awake now.

_________________

?I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes.? Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776

X-posted.

Source: http://current.com/news/93107891_millions-against-monsanto-campaign-2011.htm?xid=RSSfeed

Millions Against Monsanto Campaign 2011

The Millions Against Monsanto campaign is forming 435 local chapters, one for each U.S. Congressional District. Our goal is for each chapter to reach 2300 supporters by World Food Day. October 16, 2011, will be a nationwide day of action, turning out 1,000,000 people against Monsanto and in support of our right to know - and choose - what's in our food. Sign and distribute the Millions Against Monsanto petition. Join your local chapter. http://organicconsumers.org/monsanto/action.cfm.

added by: treewolf39
48 comments

http://www.newser.com/story/114975/cell-phone-providers-track-users-every-move.h...

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Obama Releases Statement on Ferraro… The Same Woman His Team Destroyed During Election

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gatewaypundit2/~3/ez893djiQeM/

rush limbaugh

Cell Phone Providers Track Users' Every Move

Your cell phone knows when you're sleeping, when you're awake, and whether you prefer air or land travel.
German politician Malte Spitz recently took Deutsche Telekom to court to determine exactly how much it knows about his whereabouts, the New York Times reports. Data in hand, he saw that Deutsche tracked his coordinates at home, on the train, even on an airplane. “At any given instant, a cell company has to know where you are; it is constantly registering with the tower with the strongest signal,” one expert says.

Spitz was tracked whenever he checked his email, 35,000 times over a six-month period. Shoring up support for his cause by sharing the data on a public Google Doc and in German newspapers, Spitz helped move German courts to outlaw some invasive data retention policies, but he believes more regulation is needed.

American providers, meanwhile, declined to spell out for the Times exactly what kind of information is kept on US customers or how it is used. They're not required to do so by law.

added by: ampersand
42 comments

Source: http://current.com/technology/93107149_cell-phone-providers-track-users-every-move.htm?xid=RSSfeed

It?s not all about content and work

In his column complaining about Huffington Post and the new economics of content competition, I think David Carr makes two understandable but fundamentally fallacious assumptions about news and media: that the value in journalism is in content and that making content must be work. Because that’s the way it used to be.
In their op-ed the [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/buzzmachine/~3/ki_2IIiI9j4/

The Vermont House Passes Bill Calling For A Single Payer Health Care System In The State

As we previously reported, the Vermont legislature, led by Gov. Peter Shumlin (D), has been considering a proposal to establish some sort of single payer health care system, where a single public insurer provides health insurance to all state residents, similar to the Medicare system for American seniors. Last night, the Vermont House of Representatives [...]

Source: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/25/vermont-single-payer-health/

Source: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/263096/hungarys-new-constitution-should-be-ratified-people-marion-smith

Hungary's New Constitution Should Be Ratified by the People

Author:

Marion Smith

Under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungary is finally getting a new constitution. The old one was adopted in 1949 and significantly amended in 1989, leaving Hungary as the only country in the former Eastern Bloc that did not formally adopt a new constitution upon gaining independence. Doing so now is monumentally important.

The governing party in Hungary, Fidesz, which makes up the overwhelming majority in Parliament, strongly backs the new constitution. But the refusal of the opposition parties to attend the debate in Parliament creates a perception of illegitimacy which may weaken the future of Hungary’s new constitutional order. The political principle of popular sovereignty, upon which the concept of constitutionalism ultimately is based, should be honored in the ratification process by a national, extra-parliamentary process of popular approval. Indeed, one way to deflect the accusation of “one-party rule” is through popular ratification of the new constitution.

Much has been made of Fidesz’s unprecedented victories in the national elections of the spring and fall of 2010. These significant successes were attributable to the Hungarian people’s affinity for Fidesz and Orbán, but also to the previous Socialist Party’s spectacular failures. The Fidesz--Christian Democratic (KDNP) coalition government in Hungary possesses more than the two-thirds majority required for constitutional reform. Fidesz has a clear electoral mandate to change the course of Hungary. In addition to amending the constitution nine times since May 2010, the Fidesz-KDNP government and Orbán have made the adoption of a new constitution a national priority. On March 14, Fidesz-KDNP formally submitted its proposed text to Parliament, which plans to conclude debate on April 18.

The current constitution is a temporary document (per its preamble) and provides that a two-thirds vote in Parliament can amend it. But the current constitution does not stipulate the method of ratification of a new constitution. That is unfortunate, because the method of ratification will set the tone and ultimately determine the legitimacy of the new governing law.

A series of court decisions has determined that a referendum to ratify a new constitution would be unconstitutional, so the government’s current plan is for Parliament — the body that wrote the document — to also ratify the new constitution.

There is another option, fully consistent with the principle of popular sovereignty and particularly appropriate for national constitution-making: a ratification convention. #more#It has not been publicly considered, but it should be, even at this late stage.

Parliament could continue its debate and drafting process and then submit its final constitution to the Hungarian people for a yes-or-no vote at a national, extra-parliamentary ratification convention. That convention could consist of local delegates elected without party affiliation from each of the 176 voting districts or 20 counties in Hungary. Among the delegates there would undoubtedly be some current members of Parliament, but it will nevertheless be an independent body elected solely for the purpose of voting on Hungary’s new constitution.

Ratification should not occur through the normal mechanisms of Hungary’s parliamentary politics. It can hardly be viewed as politically risky to promptly engage the voters yet another time, given Fidesz’s recent landslide victories. Considering all the intellectual and legal work invested in preparing the new constitution draft, Fidesz should do all in its power to move ratification closer to the people to provide the democratic legitimacy required for such a fundamental and important act of self-government.

The Federalist Papers were written during a similar process, and it provided the drafters of the U.S. Constitution the invaluable opportunity to argue their case before the American people. It was an exercise that benefited future American jurisprudence, strengthened popular civic engagement, and led to the adoption of the Bill of Rights.

Hungary is not the United States, but by choosing a written constitution, Hungary has signaled its respect for the ultimate sovereignty of the Hungarian people, symbolically represented by the Holy Crown’s resting place in the rotunda of the Parliament building in Budapest. But popular sovereignty must be manifestly represented by the Hungarian people’s choice on the proposed constitution.

Prime Minister Orbán and the new government have committed themselves to overcoming the unwanted legacies of Hungary’s Communist past. Constitutional ratification by a national, extra-parliamentary process is the right way to establish good government, based on the consent of those governed.

— Marion Smith is president of the Common Sense Society in Budapest, Hungary, and a graduate fellow with the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.

Saving $4 Million Per Year a Big Deal, NPR/PBS Funding Insignificant

Footnote: Ideas that save too much money are inconsiderable

Source: http://michellemalkin.com/2011/03/22/saving-million-npr-pbs/

Source: http://current.com/news/93105275_something-81-of-americans-agree-on.htm?xid=RSSfeed

Something 81% Of Americans Agree On

the war on the middle class, that’s what.

And in fact, Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s (D-IL) new bill, the Fairness in Taxation Act, proposes to do just that. Because the richest 1 percent of Americans shouldn’t own 34 percent of the nation’s wealth. The numbers are shocking. Watch the video here:

ch?v=vYqde-wtoYM&feature=player_detailpage

added by: letsliveinpeace
18 comments

Source: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/263134/conservative-harper-hit-no-confidence-vote-triggering-election-daniel-foster

Friday, March 25, 2011

Conservative Harper Hit With No-Confidence Vote, Triggering Election

Author:

Daniel Foster

Forget Libya, there's unrest in Ottawa:

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian opposition parties brought down the Conservative government in a no confidence vote Friday, triggering an election that polls show the Conservatives will win.

The opposition parties held Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government in contempt of Parliament in a 156-145 vote for failing to disclose the full financial details of his tougher crime legislation, corporate tax cuts and plans to purchase stealth fighter jets.

Opinion polls expect Harper's Conservative Party to win re-election but not a majority, meaning he likely will continue to govern with a minority in Parliament, dependent on opposition votes to stay afloat.

The opposition parties combined hold the majority of the seats in Parliament with 160, while the Conservatives have 143.

But in the latest twist, there is a chance the left-of-center parties might join forces in a coalition if Harper wins another minority government on the expected election date of May 2.

Source: http://hotair.com/archives/2011/03/25/analysis-international-coalition-for-libya-operation-is-smallest-since-end-of-cold-war/

Analysis: International coalition for Libya operation is smallest since end of Cold War

Change.

Source: http://current.com/news/93101513_god-has-apparently-asked-michele-bachmann-to-run-for-president.htm?xid=RSSfeed

God Has Apparently Asked Michele Bachmann to Run for President

When she first started talking about running for president in 2012, we assumed that third-term Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann, like so many other Republicans this year, was just looking for some publicity. And her comments to ABC News yesterday would seem to corroborate such a suspicion:

"I'm in for 2012 in that I want to be a part of the conversation in making sure that President Obama only serves one term, not two, because I want to make sure that we get someone who's going to be making the country work again. That's what I'm in for," Bachmann said.

Being "part of the conversation" sounds a lot more like "getting people to pay attention to me" than "running for president." But CNN is now reporting that Bachmann, presumably having received a personal request from God, will form an exploratory committee sometime around June, or even before then if it's required for participation in the campaign season's early debates, which start in May:

"She's been telling everyone early summer," the source told CNN regarding Bachmann's planned June filing and announcement. But the source said that nothing is static.

"If you [debate sponsors] come to us and say, 'To be in our debates, you have to have an exploratory committee,' then we'll say, 'Okay, fine...I'll go file the forms.'"

If she does run, could Bachmann win the Republican nomination? Almost definitely not. Even Republicans will likely recognize that she has too little experience — the last president who hadn't previously served as a senator, governor, or vice-president was Herbert Hoover — and too much crazy to beat President Obama, which is ultimately more important to voters than ideological purity. But she'd throw the reddest of red meat to the tea party crowd, stealing votes, dollars, and media attention from similar candidates hoping to appeal to the same audience. And she'd make the race a hell of a lot more entertaining.

CNN Exclusive: Michele Bachmann to form exploratory committee in June, possibly earlier [Political Ticker/CNN]
Palin 2.0? Bachmann Tells ABC News, "I'm In!" [ABC News]

added by: TimALoftis
211 comments

Source: http://hotair.com/archives/2011/03/25/gallup-huckabee-leading-a-broad-gop-pack/

Gallup: Huckabee leading a broad GOP pack

Second choice for Palin voters?

Source: http://current.com/studios/create-episodes/series-questions/getthewordout/

Get the Word Out

Source: http://hotair.com/archives/2011/03/24/report-bachmann-presidential-exploratory-committee-coming-in-june-or-sooner/

Report: Bachmann presidential exploratory committee coming in June or sooner

Hmmm.

Scottish Christian Missionary Killed in Palestinian Bomb Attack

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gatewaypundit2/~3/7vN_m-4d9pI/

Red Eye Reveals Exclusive Robot Video of Media Matters Boot Camp Training (Video)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gatewaypundit2/~3/mpAAg1zBaf8/

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Public Parts subtitle help

Friends, I need help choosing a subtitle for Public Parts, my book. You all were helpful with What Would Google Do? (which I initially wanted to call WWGD?, but the publisher fought me and you convinced me the publisher was right). Many of you have already been helpful with great suggestions via Twitter (some inspired [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/buzzmachine/~3/XVOcm8UUbWQ/

Source: http://current.com/news/93099628_us-soldier-admits-killing-unarmed-afghans-for-sportjeremy-morlock-23-tells-us-military-court-he-was-part-of-a-kill-team-that-faked-combat-situations-to-murder-afghan-civilians.htm?xid=RSSfeed

US soldier admits killing unarmed Afghans for sportJeremy Morlock, 23, tells US military court he was part of a 'kill team' that faked combat situations to murder Afghan civilians

An American soldier has pleaded guilty to being part of a "kill team" who deliberately murdered Afghan civilians for sport last year.

Army Specialist Jeremy Morlock, 23, told a military court he had helped to kill three unarmed Afghans. "The plan was to kill people, sir," he told an army judge in Fort Lea, near Seattle, after his plea.

The case has caused outraged headlines around the world. In a series of videotaped confessions to investigators, some of which have been broadcast on American television, Morlock detailed how he and other members of his Stryker brigade set up and faked combat situations so that they could kill civilians who posed no threat to them. Four other soldiers are still to come to trial over the incidents.

The case is a PR disaster for America's military and has been compared to the notorious incidents of torture that emerged from the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. This week the German magazine Der Spiegel published three pictures that showed American soldiers, including Morlock, posing with the corpse of a young Afghan boy as if it were a hunting trophy.

Some soldiers apparently kept body parts of their victims, including a skull, as souvenirs. In a statement issued in response to the publication of the photos the US army apologised to the families of the dead. "[The photos are] repugnant to us as human beings and contrary to the standards and values of the United States army," the statement said.

Morlock has told investigators that the murders took place between January and May last year and were instigated by an officer in his unit, Staff Sergeant Calvin Gibbs. He described how elaborate plans were made to pick out civilian targets, kill them and then make their deaths look like they were insurgents. In his confession Morlock described shooting a victim as Gibbs tossed a grenade at him. "We identify a guy. Gibbs makes a comment, like, you know, you guys wanna wax this guy or not," Morlock said in the confession.

Morlock now stands to be sentenced to at least 24 years in jail but with eligibility for parole after seven years. That has come about because Morlock struck a plea bargain that will see a lighter sentence in return for testifying against his fellow soldiers.

added by: letsliveinpeace
54 comments