GUSTAV.

Not a lot to say on this, but thoughts with those who're about to endure the brunt of the hurricane. As for the RNC's decision to cancel part of its convention, that looks like a mixed bag: It will let them look grave and serious and somber for a few[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=09&year=2008&base_name
=gustav

Add to del.icio.us   Digg this   Post to Furl   Add to reddit   Add to myYahoo!

Mikes Blog Roundup

Informed Comment: McCain, Palin  and NOLA Democurmudgeon: Have you noticed how Republicans love the idea of a Republican, like Palin , going after the major American oil companies so she could tax them?Oliver Willis: John McCain and his roommatesKen Silverstein: Since Obama’s pastor was vetted more carefully than McCain’s running mate, now seems like a [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/09/01/mikes-blog-roundup-375/

Add to del.icio.us   Digg this   Post to Furl   Add to reddit   Add to myYahoo!

One Thing About Palin-- Unlike McCain-- At Least
She's Consistent When It Comes To Choice

She's against it. Well, McCain's against choice too-- and his anti-choice voting record is 100%-- but the Buy Bull thumpers don't trust him. They do trust Palin. And they should; her anti-choice pronouncements are unwavering and extreme.

In November 2006, then gubernatorial candidate Sarah Palin declared that she would not support an abortion for her own daughter even if she had been raped.

In Alaska that says a lot. Alaska, where the wimmin are relatively scarce, has one of the highest rape/sexual assault rates in the country, over double what it is in the Lower 48, and "25 percent of all rapes resulted in unwanted pregnancies."

Last week I was talking about this with an anti-choice friend who is otherwise very liberal. She used to be pro-choice but after having a child wound up getting sucked into the whole religionist thing and now cannot distinguish between a fetus-- even one that is one minute old-- and a healthy bouncing two-year old. To her, they are both "babies." She and I both oppose murdering children and we both think killing a baby is a capital offense-- although I think she's anti-death penalty in general (while I'm all for it, at least in theory); we just define "babies" differently. My friend, unlike Sarah Palin and the Republican Party, thinks if a 15 year old girl is raped by her grandfather she should be able to have an abortion. I asked her why. I mean, it isn't the "baby's" fault; why should the "baby" be murdered because the grandfather got boozed up and raped the girl?

Debbie Wassermann Schmaltz' pet Republican in south Florida, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, goes even further. If gramps knocks up the 15 year old and the doctor says the 15 year old is likely to die in childbirth, Ros-Lehtinen's position is that God will deal appropriately with her soul. Yet, this is hardly a view supported by anyone who isn't a delusional religious fanatic. Even in South Dakota, voters rejected legislation that would have outlawed abortions for victims of rape and incest. Palin may look like a nice, normal young woman. But she's as much an extremist as die-hard kooks like James Inhofe, Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn... and more extreme than McCain himself.

But it's not just abortion policy that has Democrats up in arms over Palin. In that same 2006 questionnaire, the soon-to-be governor said she would fund abstinence-only education programs in schools. "The explicit sex-ed programs," she added, "will not find my support." The stance, which reflected the priorities of the GOP, nevertheless led to an incredulous editorial in the Juneau Empire.

"Abstinence may be a laudable goal, but failing to educate teenagers about how to protect themselves from disease or unintended pregnancy is tragically misguided. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, abstinence-only programs do not reduce sexual activity, teen pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease. Every day 10,000 U.S. teens contract a sexually transmitted disease, 2,400 get pregnant and 55 contract HIV. Unintended pregnancies happen to Republicans, Democrats and people of all faiths."

Palin's 17 year old unmarried daughter, Bristol, is 5 months pregnant now and will, of course, have the baby. If that's her choice, I certainly respect it. I wonder, though, if Bristol hadn't just had abstinence-only education if she might not have had to go through all the anguish she must be going through now. And that's the last I'll have to say about that; basically, I agree with Barack Obama when it comes to this kind of thing: "Let me be a clear as possible: I have said before and I will repeat again, I think people's families are off limits, and people's children are especially off limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as governor, or her potential performance as a vice president. And so I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories. You know my mother had me when she was 18, and how a family deals with issues and, you know, teenage children, that shouldn't be the topic of our politics and I hope that anybody who is supporting me understands that's off limits."

Meanwhile, Kath25, did an incredible job on DailyKos the other day explaining why exactly McCain-Palin is an abysmal choice for American women. I recommend it heartily. As my friend Debra pointed out today, "Woman still make 77 cents to every dollar a man makes for doing equal work. I think it's actually declined under George Bush. Despite almost 40 years of the women's movement women still get paid less than men for doing equal work... that was exactly the point of the Lily Ledbetter lawsuit. The governor's salary in Alaska is about $82,000. If Sarah Palin was paid like other women, she would have been paid only about $63,000. She, though, is protected by law and statute. She wants to deny other woman that protection and that right."

Obama's problem with Palin is that she's just the same as McCain and Bush on women's right's to equal pay for equal work. "We're going to make sure that equal pay for equal work is a reality in this country," Obama said at an economic forum in Toledo, Ohio, a battleground state this fall. Alluding to Palin without saying her name, he told about 200 people sitting on a sun-drenched office rooftop that she "seems like a very engaging person, nice person. But I've got to say, she's opposed, like John McCain is, to equal pay for equal work. That doesn't make much sense to me."

Read The Full Article:
http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2008/09/one-thing-about-palin-unlike-mccain-a
t.html

Add to del.icio.us   Digg this   Post to Furl   Add to reddit   Add to myYahoo!

"Beauty And The Beast."

I know that his "O" ness said to back off the beauty queen, and that attacking her family is off limits. But.....sorry "O" man, I can't just yet. Besides, I am not an Obamaholic, so what you say holds no weight with me. So if you don't mind, I am going to talk about the beauty queen once again.




Now folks, I am not big on rumors and innuendos. For days now, folks have been e-mailing me and commenting on this blog about the rumors surrounding the beauty queen's new baby. The word in the lefty blogosphere was that it was really her daughters baby, and that she was covering it up. Now honestly, I never really believed it. Because you have to believe that if it was true, somewhere in A-merry-ca, there would be a vagina mechanic (otherwise known as an OBGYN) or a nurse, willing to come forward and tell the truth about what really happened. And so far, no one has come forward. So for now, I am going to go ahead and say that little Trig belongs to the beauty queen.


Now what I know is true, is that her daughter, Bristol, is five months pregnant, (who is the "baby mama" now bitches?) and mommy was keeping quiet about that too. That is until she felt a need to come forward with the truth. ---Thank you left blogosphere for forcing her hand----Now I saw on CNN today today where Bill Bennett and company were outraged that some folks on the left would make this a political issue. We should all follow Obama's lead and leave family out of this, he was saying. Yeah right, like if this was one of the Obama's daughters you mofos would be leaving it out of the discussion. I guarantee that you would have found a way to talk about it. See, we really need to do something about inner city pregnancy. Because not even the Obama's daughter are immune from its effects.

Now I could insert all types of jokes here about the beauty queen, but I won't. Because unlike the scumbags on the right, I am above that type of thing.....okay, okay, the truth is, I haven't gotten any really good jokes just yet, but I am working on it.

Honestly, the more I read about this lady the creepier she seems. For instance, I was shocked to read about her responses to the questionnaire for the 2006 governors race in Alaska. This woman actually believes that the founding fathers wrote the pledge of allegiance. (Thanks for hipping me to this nsangoma). Not to mention her scary ass views on the issue of abortion. Yes ladies, even in a case of rape or incest the beauty queen does not want you to touch that fetus. Most reasonable people, even the ones who are against abortion would agree that in extreme cases, the woman should be allowed to do what she wants to with her body. Not the beauty queen; oh no, she leads by example, and she will be damned if she waivers on her principles. Then there is the fact that she wants our teachers to teach creationism in public schools. Maybe you didn't read that; I said public schools. And, of course, she does not think humans have anything to do with climate change. Sorry A-merry-ca, there is nothing beautiful about this beauty queen. Lord please let Mr. Morton live a long and healthy life like his mama, because if this clown ever makes it to the White House, we will all be in trouble. The fact that the folks on the right are in love with this lady ought to tell you all you need to know. I know Mr. Morton is a little unstable, but I don't think he realized what a lunatic he was selecting as his side kick. ---Hell, he only met her once before for crying out loud.--- How could he have?

But I should stop complaining. Because when "beauty and the beast" gets into the White House I might just have to take an early retirement and blog all day long. I was planning on traveling the world, but with these two clowns in office, blogging should be a lot more fun.
Anyway "O" man, you just keep taking that high road. I am going to keep talking about the beauty queen/church- lady, and let the chips fall where they may. Honestly, there is just so much to talk about with her, and most of it ain't good.


















Read The Full Article:
http://field-negro.blogspot.com/2008/09/beauty-and-beast.html

Add to del.icio.us   Digg this   Post to Furl   Add to reddit   Add to myYahoo!

Where does your member of Congress stand on
health

Where does your member of Congress stand on health?

Are they with you, standing for quality affordable health care for all? Or are they with the insurance companies, working to increase their profits?

Don't know? Click here to call your member of Congress and find out!

Hope, Change, and Health Care

I want you to ask this question because, whatever your party and whatever your preference between one candidate and another, most Americans like you have been supporting change in this election year. And they have been embracing hope for the future, hope that our government can once again address our deepest problems with innovative solutions that serve us all.
We know, however, that real change won?t occur just by electing a new President and Congress. Powerful forces stand in the way of the change we need. A new President and Congress will need a movement of people committed to real change in order to overcome that opposition.
So in asking you to contact our member of Congress about health care, I?m asking you to join, a new movement for one of the changes we need, Health Care For America Now (HCAN)!

The Critical Importance of the Health Care Issue

Americans want an economy that creates opportunities and sustainable prosperity for everyone, not just for a few.

Americans want an economy that creates opportunities and sustainable prosperity for everyone, not just for a few. That means we have to deal with the environmental and energy problems that not only hinder economic growth but make it impossible for our growth to be sustainable. And it means with have to deal with the health care problems that not only hinder economic growth but make it impossible for our growth to be equitable.

Our economy cannot grow as it should when health care and health insurance costs are rising at rates that far exceed rates of inflation and wage growth and when concerns about health insurance prevent Americans from moving into new jobs. And it can?t grow in a way that benefits us all when so many people don?t have health insurance they can count on.

Today, a critical barrier to creating an economy that serves everyone is the failure of the private health insurance industry. Its problems are well known:

Health insurance premiums, co-pays, and deductibles are rising at rates that far exceed rates of inflation and wage growth. They are a major financial burden on the middle class. Many employers and individuals have been forced to drop insurance.

American workers are too often stuck in jobs that don?t suit them?or that don?t make the best use of their talents?because they are afraid that changing jobs would cost them their health insurance. And American businesses cannot compete in a world market when their health care costs are so high.

Insurance companies are restricting coverage and denying care. Even people who have insurance find out that they can?t get the best care and, in far too many cases, any care at all.
Too many people are uninsured. And that hurts us all. Health care costs go up for everyone when people who are uninsured or underinsured receive expensive treatments in hospitals that would have been unnecessary if they had received early and inexpensive care in a doctor?s office. Over ten per cent of our premium costs go to provide health care for the uninsured.

Two Paths To The Future in Health Care

We know that change is inevitable in health care because it is happening now. But we have to choose between two possible paths to the future.

The path we are now on has been set by the private insurance industry. It leads to a future in which we are left on our own to deal with the insurance industry. There will be no controls on insurance company premiums or profits, no guarantees on the benefits we receive, and no limits on how much drug companies can charge for prescriptions. Insurance companies will be free to deny us coverage or charge exorbitant rates if we have had some health problems in the past.
If we go in this direction, soon many of us will only be able to afford high deductible, high premium insurance plans with limited coverage. Government will offer nothing but tax deductions for health insurance that subsidize insurers while being of little value to most Americans. And all of us who get health insurance from our employers will have to pay taxes on it.

The future proposed by HCAN is different. We seek a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for all. Americans will have a choice between the health insurance they have now, another private insurance program or a new, public health insurance program. All plans will offer comprehensive benefits and a choice of doctors and hospitals. All will charge premiums according to the ability to pay.

If we go in this direction, new rules for insurance companies will require that they make money the old fashioned way, by insuring more people, not by denying coverage and care. And the public health insurance program will be open to all. It will control costs by bring drawing on the administrative efficiencies and buying power created by large insurance programs.

Our Question

HCAN is a movement that will incessantly ask citizens and politicians to answer one question, ?Which side are you on?? Do you want a future that serves the insurance companies or a future that benefits the citizens of this country? We will:
· Show Americans how the health insurance industry has been undermining our health care.
· Build a grassroots movement of health care activists.
· Secure the commitment of the members of the next Congress to our principles of reform now.
· Make this election is about the choice between the two directions in health care reform
· Use events, house parties, email and the internet as well as paid advertising to get our message out.
· Spend over $40 million dollars to build this movement.
Which Side Are You On?
So now is the time for you to answer this question. If you are on our side:
· Call your member of Congress and ask them ?which side are you on?? You can use our online tool to do this or you can call toll free at 1-888-436-8427 to be connected to your member of Congress.
· Sign on to our petition to the new President and Congress.
· Volunteer for HCAN Pennsylvania at http://healthcareforamericanow.org/page/s/PAvol

It?s Not Just About Health Care

Restoring equity in health care is the critical issue for those of us who care about social justice because health care is so important and has become so expensive. But if we are successful in reshaping health care in a way that benefits the vast majority of Americans, we will do far more than meet this critical need. We will re-legitimate government for the next generation and point the way to other reforms that serve us all.

So join HCAN today. And click here to find out which side your member of Congress is on.
Contact us
Feel free to contact me with questions, comments, or suggestions.
Marc Stier
Pennsylvania State Director
Health Care For America Now
info@hcanpa.org
(800) 764-1832


Health Care For America NOW (HCAN) is co-chaired nationally by SEIU and AFSCME. There are over 150 organizations that have signed on with us nationally. You can see the whole list at http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/who_we_are/

Our Pennsylvania organization is staffed by me and Gregg Potter, who is the head of the AFL-CIO CLC in the Lehigh Valley and by Ali Kronley, Ian Phillips, and MaryEllen Hayden of Acorn; Jeff Garis and Richard McVay of Penn Action and Antoinette Kraus of PUP. Our coalition and includes the AFL-CIO, UFCW Local 1776, the Communications Workers of America, Mon Valley Unemployed Committee, Community Action Association of PA, Keystone Progress, the Jewish Labor Committee, Philadelphia Jobs with Justice and Philly for Change with other groups joining every day.

Read The Full Article:
http://keystoneprogress.blogspot.com/2008/09/where-does-your-member-of-congress.h
tml

Add to del.icio.us   Digg this   Post to Furl   Add to reddit   Add to myYahoo!

Stupid stupid stupid

How can anyone be so stupid as to even remotely think this was true?

According to the Latest Census Figures UPDATED    [Ramesh Ponnuru]

Wassila turns out to have more people than Delaware—and it has been growing fast. (I can't get the links to work right now but it's easy to look up.)

Given that the estimated population of Delaware is 864,764, that would make Wassila the 12th largest city in the United States, below Detroit and ahead of Jacksonville. The largest city in Alaska is Anchorage, with a population of 279,671.

Eventually, someone took mercy on Ponnuru and pointed out his hilarious mistake:

4:00 update: oh how very embarrassing. A typo in the site I was looking at—totally wrong, by a factor of a hundred. Ouch.

Really, if Wasilla was as big as Ponnuru originally thought, Alaska would have more than its single House seat. But making that logical connection would require some moderate level of electoral knowledge, and that's something the folks at NRO have in short supply.

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/380494545/92980

Add to del.icio.us   Digg this   Post to Furl   Add to reddit   Add to myYahoo!

Hurricane Gustav

It made landfall this morning.

This is an Open Thread.

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TalkleftThePoliticsOfCrime/~3/380495868/41239

Add to del.icio.us   Digg this   Post to Furl   Add to reddit   Add to myYahoo!

Slowdown in Consumer Spending Could Lead to
Recession by Year-End

Consumer spending, responsible for the bulk of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), slowed in July as the effects of the government?s stimulus package tapered off.

The Commerce Department announced that consumer spending grew at a 0.2% rate in July. But on…

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/jutiagroup/~3/380534497/

Add to del.icio.us   Digg this   Post to Furl   Add to reddit   Add to myYahoo!

In Honor of Labor Day: The Lattimer Massacre

I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,Alive as you and me.Says I “But Joe, you’re ten years dead”“I never died” said he,“I never died” said he-Alfred HayesThere are many versions of this song, one by Joan Baez used in the movie of Hill’s life is especially moving, but there is only one definitive recording [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheStrangeDeathOfLiberalAmerica/~3/380523984/in-ho
nor-of-labor-day-the-latimer-massacre.html

Add to del.icio.us   Digg this   Post to Furl   Add to reddit   Add to myYahoo!

Obama says Palin pregnancy story off limits

That's right. I am delighted to say that my candidate, Barack Obama, is smarter than I am and has better judgment, a stronger character, more dignity, and more class than I do. Barack Obama says the story of Sarah Palin's daughter's pregnancy is off limits, so I won't be writing about it again--even though my point was that American parents ought to give their kids more information and not keep them ignorant, if they genuinely care about their future.

Ahem.

Even so, let me reiterate: Barack Obama is a good man, a good Democrat, a good leader, a good father, and an inspiration. So I will now follow his lead and drop the subject.

Vote for the good guy.

Read The Full Article:
http://hickwithmasters.blogspot.com/2008/09/obama-says-palin-pregnancy-story-off.
html

Add to del.icio.us   Digg this   Post to Furl   Add to reddit   Add to myYahoo!