New Women

post from Docudharma - Front Page on 11 May 2012 06:00:00 PM. © Docudharma - Front Page

Scanning the news in transgender America lately, it has been impossible to avoid the story of punk artist Tom Gabel coming out...not that I know who Tom Gabel is.Let's face it, I'm an old fogey now. At 64 years of age, punk was never something on[...]

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The Avengers 2 - "revenge of the god"

post from Daily Kos on 11 May 2012 05:50:04 PM. © Daily Kos

Tom the Dancing Bug. Follow @DailyKosComics and find out the instant a comic is posted!

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Gold Is Not a Growth IndustryIt Can Just Pay
Investors Big: John Hathaway

post from Jutia Group on 11 May 2012 05:34:44 PM. © Jutia Group

The Gold Report: When we spoke last October, you were bullish on gold and gold equities. You blamed lagging gold‐mining stock performance on competition from exchange‐traded funds (ETF), lack of investor confidence and investor doubts on the sustainability of higher gold prices. Now that prices are hovering around $1,600 an ounce (oz), will that dynamic change?

John Hathaway: The dynamic will change based on higher gold prices. When one looks at Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM:NYSE), which is trading at about five times cash … [visit site to read . . . → Read More: Gold Is Not a Growth Industry—It Can Just Pay Investors Big: John Hathaway

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The Chronicles of Mitt: May 11, 2012

post from Daily Kos on 11 May 2012 05:20:05 PM. © Daily Kos

pen on paper: 'Dear diary' Hello, human diary! It is once again I, Mitt Romney, your better.

I am continuing the process of writing a diary of my daily experiences on the campaign trail. My advisers continue to insist that there is little to no profit margin involved in personal diaries, but that it will provide an outlet for practicing human emotions such as "empathy," "sincerity" and "hungry." I am all three of those things, diary! There: I believe that worked. Indeed, I feel more well-liked by the common folk already.

Reporters continue to complain about my amusing hi-jinx at my old preparatory academy, Cranbrook. My advisers sought out some of my old class chums as character witnesses; irritatingly, many of them seem to retain a low opinion of me. I find this preposterous, as I am worth more money than all of the rest of them combined, which should be proof enough of my moral superiority. Eric F. assures me this is in fact true, and that this will blow over soon enough, but the questions are still disrupting my human emotion-practicing times on the campaign trail. Note to self: Look into whether buying my old school would transfer alumni remembrance rights to my own portfolio, thus corking my old chums once and for all.

Tomorrow I am expected to give a commencement address at Liberty University, which as I understand it is a religious school of some kind currently run by the relatively mediocre son of the fellow who founded it. This level of nepotism bodes well for the place; I am certain I will enjoy it. Schools, like states and nations, ought to be properly transferred from one wealthy generation to the next. It simplifies the process tremendously, and achieves certain business efficiencies (for example, the ability to continue using old stationary).

Eric F. informs me, however, that there has been a bit of a donnybrook among the deeply religious student body because of my own Mormonism since, it seems, this particular school is of the opinion that Mormonism is an anti-Christian cult, possibly even devil-inspired and/or under the ongoing influence of the devil. As the children say these days: Oops! Ha ha ha. (Note to self: Inform Eric F. of this emotional outburst on my part, I am sure he will enjoy it. If he does not enjoy it, fire him.) Accepting a speaking engagement in front of a group of people who consider me to be something slightly worse than a heathen was perhaps poor planning on the part of my advisers, but they assure me it sounded like a fine idea at the time, and that I need such appearances to better bond with the conservative religious ~~parasites~~ ~~plebeians~~ yokels.

I have spent the day brainstorming possible areas of common interest for the speech. What sorts of things might non-wealthy religious persons who are suspicious of all alternative religious beliefs enjoy hearing about? Among my ideas so far:

? ~~Tell a joke about firing people.~~ Tell a joke about Jesus firing people.

? Religious advice: If, as a youngster, you ever pin a fellow down and beat and/or disfigure them because of their irritatingly contrary lifestyle and/or beliefs, make sure to finish the job. Leave no witnesses. Witnesses cause nothing but irritation later on.

? Explain to them that I am not really a very religious fellow myself, though I hold stock in some institutions that no doubt employ individuals who may or may not be religious, but assure them that my church is frequently every bit as bigoted and uptight as their own. Note to them my contributions towards political campaigns against the homosexuals, which counts as charitable giving because it is religious.

? Talk at length about Obama and his suspiciously anti-religous tolerance. Suggest obliquely something-something-Muslim. Declare that Obama's stance on marriage equality will doom us all. (Note to self: Ask advisers to come up with plausible-sounding reasons why Obama's stance on marriage equality will doom us all.) Assure the crowd I am not nearly as tolerant?the Cranbrook episode should help my credentials, here.

In the end I think the standard campaign speech will suffice, although I may have to wedge in a bit more religious pandering than usual. Our requests to the old Santorum campaign that they make Rick available for coaching on the subject have thus far been met with pouting, so we will have to make do with the usual stuff. We are already drafting updated anti-homosexual talking points, however, and this will be a good opportunity to test them in front of a sufficiently bigoted audience.

Very well, I believe I have expressed enough human emotion for one day, Mr. Diary. I am now off to continue my efforts on the campaign trail. In one bit of other news, it turns out one of my old competitors, Michele Bachmann, was secretly Swiss! I have heard of many secret Swiss bank accounts, but this is the first time I have heard of a secret Swiss person. I plan on calling to congratulate her on that rather impressive feat. It strikes me that there may be some tax advantages to secretly being a citizen of another nation: I am going to call my fellow in the Caymans and inquire on this point. It would be good to be able to visit my accounts there on a more regular basis.

Tax havenly yours,
Mitt

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The Thing That Couldnt Die: Yucca Battle
Continues in Congress and in the Courts

post from Firedoglake on 11 May 2012 05:10:42 PM. © Firedoglake

It is hard not to think of this black and white bubbe meise while reviewing the most recent chapters in the battle over the future of the partially excavated, purportedly moribund Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository in southwestern Nevada.[...]

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Consultant Convicted In Ehrlich Election Day
Robocall Case

post from TPMMuckraker on 11 May 2012 05:01:48 PM. © TPMMuckraker

Republican campaign consultant Julius Henson was convicted of conspiracy on Friday in a case involving robocalls to Maryland voters apparently intended to keep black voters from the polls in 2010, the Associated Press reports.

The election day robocalls told voters to "relax" and that Gov. Martin O'Malley and President Obama had won. "The only thing left is to watch on TV tonight."

Henson, who was working for former Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich's campaign in 2010, but had worked for Democrats in the past, was acquitted on three other charges which alleged he influenced or attempted to influence a voter's decision to go to the polls through use of fraud.

"Obviously, we're elated," Henson said, according to the AP. He was found guilty of conspiring to send out the robocalls without a message disclosing that the campaign was responsible for the recording. His lawyer told the judge he would file for a new trial on that charge.

Henson's lawyers argued that "dirty tricks" are a form of free speech. The robodialing company which placed the calls told TPM that over 50,000 calls went out.

Ehrlich campaign manager Paul Schurick was also convicted for his involvement with the robocalls.

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JP Morgan Mess Enters Prez Campaign

post from Talking Points Memo on 11 May 2012 05:00:47 PM. © Talking Points Memo

The Obama camp takes it first shot at Mitt Romney since the JP Morgan debacle over his opposition to financial reform. [...]

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_embraces_failed_policy.php

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Jon Stewart on How Far We've Come in a Matter of
Five Years on Gay Marriage

Jon Stewart Explains Just How Far We've Come in a Matter of Five Years on Gay Marriage

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After President Obama finally came out in support of gay marriage this week, The Daily Show's Jon Stewart explained this Thursday evening just how far we've come as a nation on the issue when this is the change in the narrative over at Fox News.

STEWART: And this is the true measure of how far we?ve come as a nation. In like five years, the prime talking point from Republicans about people who support gay marriage has gone from, "It will destroy society via turtle f**king," to, "Oh, of course you?re for it. You?ll say anything popular to get re-elected." And that is progress.

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In Albuquerque There Is Just One Progressive
Democrat We Can Count On To Fight For The 99%

In the race for Congress in New Mexico?s open blue First CD, only one candidate stands out as a true progressive fighter for the 99%: Eric Griego. That's why he was one of the first candidates anywhere endorsed by Blue America this cycle.

If we call ourselves progressives, we believe in the common good and lifting up all boats. That is why Eric Griego fought to increase the minimum wage in Albuquerque. In contrast, his corrupt ConservaDem opponent, Marty Chavez, sided with the Republican city councilors to oppose it. Griego is well known in New Mexico politics for having taken on conservatives in the legislature who wanted to balance the budget on the backs of working families by cutting Medicaid and the retirement savings of public workers.

If we call ourselves progressives, we believe that the best way to restore our economy is by generating aggregate demand-- by putting Americans back to work, not cutting jobs and services helping families. Conservatives argue that cutting the deficit they created with two wars, tax cuts for the rich, and the Great Recession caused by their deregulation of Wall Street should take higher priority than creating jobs. That kind of Austerity thinking is what lost Sarkozy his reelection bid in France over the weekend and what has failed conservative politicians being voted out of office all over Europe.

Eric Griego is calling for massive public works projects to rebuild and modernize our country's transportation and coast-to-coast broadband infrastructure, and to lead the world in the clean energy economy. In contrast, his self-styled ?progressive? opponent Michelle Lujan Grisham parroted Republican talking points by telling the Albuquerque Journal that job creation should be ?maybe tied, or right underneath? the deficit and the budget.

Progressives believe in speaking truth to power. Eric Griego made national headlines last October working with several other progressive Democratic candidates for Congress to deliver over 35,000 petitions to the Speaker of the House, demanding that Boehner and the Republicans ?stand with the 99%? and pass President Obama?s jobs plan. He also organized local seniors to deliver over 5,000 petitions to his Republican opponent, Janice Arnold-Jones, to get her on the record as supporting the Ryan budget plan to end Medicare and cut Social Security. Griego proudly joined other progressive legislators around the country to call on Democrats to drop their membership in ALEC. In contrast, Marty Chavez had attacked progressive U.S. Senator Tom Udall as ?far to the left? and as ?endangering national security."

If we call ourselves progressives, we believe in collective responsibility; that the cost of public education, healthcare, transportation, and national security that benefit all of us should be borne fairly by all. That's why Griego had sponsored legislation to close corporate tax loopholes and to increase taxes on the rich. And he not only wants to end the Bush tax cut for millionaires, but also pass the ?Buffett Rule? and restore the Clinton era tax rates to restore fairness, and institute a quarter-to-half-cent tax on Wall Street speculation. While many Democrats talk about fairness and justice for the middle class, there is only one Democrat in this race for Congress who has spelled it out with such force of conviction.

If we call ourselves progressives, we believe that the elderly who have worked a lifetime and paid into Social Security and Medicare should be able to retire with dignity through these guaranteed programs. That is why Eric Griego says he will never let the Tea Party Republicans cut Social Security and Medicare, and opposes raising the retirement age or privatizing those programs. He's still the only candidate in the race who has publicly said on the record supporting removing the income cap on Social Security tax to keep the program solvent for generations. Marty Chavez, on the other hand, told the Albuquerque Journal that cuts to Social Security and Medicare ?should be reviewed by Congress? and the Washington Post reported that ?he?s open to entitlement cuts.?

Progressives believe in getting the right things done for the 99%. When Michelle Lujan Grisham claimed in the Albuquerque Journal on April 12th that she ?has a knack for finding creative ways to get things done,? she should explain if that meant she would find creative ways to give up progressive principles to the Blue Dogs and the Republicans in the name of getting something--anything-- done. Progressives are sick of poll-driven Democrats who say they want to get things done-- but don?t (or won?t) fight to get the right things done. We?ve seen plenty of Democrats get things done-- without the public option or even a whimper for Medicare for All, without strong labor and environmental standards in trade deals, without real teeth to enforce Wall Street regulations. It?s time we send more real movement progressives like Eric Griego to Congress who will fight to get the right things done.

If we call ourselves progressives, we believe in science and that protecting the environment and creating jobs are not mutually exclusive. Eric Griego is one of only three current state legislators with a lifetime 100% rating from Conservation Voters New Mexico, and is endorsed by CVNM, League of Conservation Voters, and the Sierra Club. In the State Senate, Griego sponsored and passed a green jobs training legislation and dedicated state investments in clean renewable industries. He also led a fierce effort to successfully defeat rollbacks of state-only carbon cap and participation in the Western Climate Initiative. On the Albuquerque City Council, Griego spearheaded the city?s Water Conservation Task Force and led the passage of the Renewable Incentive Program, which attracted green jobs to the city.

Griego has the boldest pro-environment platform in the race. He has made it a top priority to fight for legislation to put a down-payment of at least $150 billion towards building a clean energy economy. He is modeling his proposal after the 2009 House-passed American Clean Energy and Security Act, but stronger. And while many Democrats prefer to talk in abstract about the need to move forward beyond fossil fuels to invest in clean renewable energy, Griego has been unafraid to go on the record to offer concrete positions. He would fight for a moratorium on building new coal power plants and phase out existing ones. When most Democrats were nervously looking to see which way the political wind would blow on extracting oil from tar sands, Griego opposed the Keystone XL pipeline early-- in September 2011.

Chavez also touts his green credentials and his support for investing in clean renewable energy. But according to the Albuquerque Journal, Chavez said that he would ?work as an advocate" in Congress for the state?s natural gas industry while pushing to repeal tax incentives for Big Oil companies. He did not address the fact that three of the five of the five targeted Big Oil companies-- ConocoPhillips, BP and Exxon-- are New Mexico?s three largest natural gas producers by volume.? Instead of voicing his commitment to be an advocate for the state?s solar, wind, geothermal or biomass industries, it is revealing that Chavez chose to advocate for fossil fuels instead. The Albuquerque Journal also wrote on January 13, 2008 that Chavez?s claims of reducing carbon pollution as mayor was ?full of hot air? and criticized him for ?greenwashing? his record.

Michelle Lujan Grisham lacks a record on protecting the environment and clean energy. More worrisome is her apparent lack of interest or knowledge on the issue. She doesn't even bother to address it at all on her website?s issues page.

Progressives need an explanation from the Blue Dogs? favorite candidate. Chavez is obviously not a progressive. Michelle Lujan Grisham should explain her credibility as a self-styled progressive when she had served in the same cabinet with Republicans Heather Wilson (who is now running against Democrat Martin Heinrich for the U.S. Senate in New Mexico) and Darren White (who ran against Heinrich for Congress in 2008) to implement libertarian Republican Governor Gary Johnson?s slash-and-privatize agenda. She must also explain why she was able to earn the endorsements of the state?s leading corporate Blue Dogs, such as John Arthur Smith, Tim Jennings, and Mary Kay Papen. These right-wing ?Democrats? are in a coalition with the Republicans and ALEC to cut public education, cut Medicaid, and cut public pensions while extending tax cuts for the rich and tax loopholes for big corporations. You don't find these kinds of political hacks endorsing Griego. Chavez and Grisham split them all between themselves.

Progressives believe in government of the people, by the people, and for the people-- and that corporations are not people. Eric Griego fought to pass public financing of elections to get corporate money out of politics in Albuquerque elections, and supports public financing for all elections. Griego was also in the vanguard of a national progressive effort to make New Mexico?s legislature only the second in the nation to call on Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution to overturn Citizens United. After trying desperately but failing to win the support of labor unions (such as AFSCME, AFT, CWA, NEA, the Teamsters and UFCW), environmental groups (such as the Sierra Club and LCV), and progressives (such as Blue America, Daily Kos, DFA, MoveOn, PCCC and PDA), Chavez has taken to attacking the Democratic base as ?corrupt third party? groups for supporting the progressive Griego.

Progressives believe that public servants should be held to high ethical standards. That's why Eric Griego fought to create the inspector general?s office in the city of Albuquerque to investigate rampant fraud and abuse in City Hall under Chavez when he was mayor. He also sponsored bills to close the revolving door between lobbyists and politicians in the state legislature and to create an independent ethics commission to keep the politicians honest. Unfortunately, his efforts were rebuffed by conservative Blue Dog Democrats-- the same ones supporting Grisham in the current race-- who did not want to give up their access to corporate cash.

Chavez has a long and sordid history of using his office to enrich himself and his friends at taxpayers? expense. As he was ending his last term as mayor, he gave himself thirty-seven thousand dollars in worker?s comp and put his political appointees in lower-level positions at higher salaries. He was even officially reprimanded by the city?s ethics board for creating an illegal political committee, the ABQPAC, and taking tens of thousands of dollars from city employees and contractors to pay for his family?s personal travel and unpaid loans he had made to his 1993 mayoral campaign.

Michelle Lujan Grisham also has glaring ethical flaws. She claims to have ?aggressively addressed poor quality care in nursing homes? as the Director of Aging. In fact, she ?censored, squelched and threatened? her agency?s independent watchdog. When her agency?s ombudsman brought concerns about a nursing home operating without a license, Lujan Grisham complained saying ?don?t create a paper trail to show they are not doing their job? and that she ?could lose her job over his behavior.? Lujan Grisham also restricted the watchdog?s access to state officials to retaliate for exposing her conflict of interest, because she ?received a substantial portion of her household income from the long-term care industry,? including income from one of the state?s largest nursing home operators. She even eased enforcement of nursing home regulations because her Republican boss, Governor Gary Johnson, received $55,000 in campaign contributions from Sun Healthcare, the largest nursing home operator in the state.

If we call ourselves progressives, we believe that we need to increase our number in the Congressional Progressive Caucus to fight for the 99% and get the best deal possible in any legislative negotiation. Eric Griego is the one Democrat in this race for Congress whose record and passion we can count on to fight for the 99%. And he has proudly committed himself to join the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and has the support of both of the co-chairs of the caucus Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN).

On June 5th, we can send a real movement progressive to Congress. Please consider contributing what you can to Eric's race, here on the Blue America page.

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CFTC Commissioner blasts CEO Dimon, calls out
Wall Street

It's really a must read column at CNBC today because the commissioner he confirms what many of us have known since the initial banking crisis starting. The bankers are little more than a bunch of gamblers and their crying to Washington has been proven to be false with this latest collapse.Thankfully the most arrogant and most obnoxious mouth on Wall Street has been the CEO of JP Morgan, the...