What's been going on near our DC office, over the last week, in the Virginia Legislature, has been both an embarrassment and an abomination - especially when we consider that the date on the calendar says 2012, and not 1812.
As we've pointedly noted in the news over the last couple months, several states, pushed by extremists on the far right, have been attempting to pass laws that heavily restrict women's rights. Some of these proposed laws have been in places like Oklahoma and Texas, where sadly such misogyny - even in the modern age - isn't all that surprising.
That some of these attempts have also been happening in places like Iowa - one of the first states to allow gay marriage - and Virginia, has awakened a smaller sub-section of those on the political left who thought these issues had already been decided long ago.
As the extremists on the right have made ever more clear, their full intent truly appears to be to drag the rest of America back in time, to a point at which women, and maybe minorities, once again have less rights than wealthy, white, older men.
While that may seem as crazy to all of you as it does to us, don't expect the U.S. Supreme Court to be the last bastion of sensibility, fairness, or justice if the issue arrives on their docket.
With the decision on Tuesday by four Supreme Court Justices to try a case this fall involving Affirmative Action, the concept of a trustworthy Supreme Court, instead of an extremist, conservative, activist court has been thrown into serious question.
We're also not putting our faith in the U.S. Congress to handle this issue properly. While the House Democrats have announced a hearing to be held tomorrow on the issue of Women's Health - with women both overseeing and testifying at the hearing - the Republican majority in the U.S. House, controlled by males, has already announced they won't allow Thursday's proceedings to be broadcast or recorded for TV, radio, or the internet.
Where we are planning on putting our faith, is in our neighbors, and our friends, who are in the true majority in America - women.
Just look at Virginia.
While two of the most offensive anti-womens' rights laws we've seen at a state level are in front of the Virginia House yet again today, neither has passed, in large part due to the large and growing silent protest of Virginia women right outside the doors of the Virginia capitol.
One law would allow - and in some cases mandate - state-sanctioned rape of women, while the other would allow state-funded adoption and foster care agencies to discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered families and youth. Both laws have engendered a huge protest.
However, the women of Virginia haven't been allowed to chant and cheer, march and make posters as they stand on the grounds of their capitol. Those kinds of protests are against the laws of the commonwealth.
So they have gone to the Capitol grounds and stood there. Silently.
And they are winning.
Even the Governor of Virginia, who was one of major supporters of these bills has now backed down from his unconditional support of both proposed laws.
If we were the men of the Virginia Legislature, we'd be scared as hell to go home to our wives, mothers, sisters, and female friends if we allowed abominations like this legislation to pass. Something tells us there's going to be a seriously nasty surprise for many of these men if they push this awful idea through - and an even bigger surprise for them in this fall's elections.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Strange Bedfellows - But They Picked 'Em.
As we promised at the beginning of 2012, we've generally stayed clear of the horse race that is the GOP Presidential primary, only touching on it here and there. However, after the series of comments, stumbles, backpedals, and seriously disturbing accusations by former U.S. Senator and current GOP candidate Rick Santorum this past weekend, and again on Monday, we felt we had to finally weigh in.
We've said for many years now that in politics, who you support, as well as those whose support you accept, matter a great deal. Nowhere is this more evident than in Mr. Santorum's quest for the White House.
As we briefly pointed out yesterday, Rick Santorum recently made a series of gaffes that were serious, and should give anyone pause in thinking he should be anywhere near the Presidency. First, a video came to light making it clear that Santorum thinks Protestants are not Christians. Today another video came to light where Santorum claimed that the right to privacy has ruined everything. Mr. Santorum also made comments to the effect that President Obama isn't a Christian, and made a very clear analogy that President Obama is a modern-day Hitler. Santorum even went so far as to say that government, at virtually ALL levels, shouldn't be involved with education.
After some half-hearted double-speak apologies Sunday morning, on Monday, Santorum and his surrogates not only didn't seem at all concerned with their slandering of the President over the weekend. They continued the insane lies throughout the day, calling President Obama and the Democratic party "anti-science", while Santorum's own spokeswoman claimed his 'phony theology' gaffe was really referring to radical Islamic policies from the President - policies which don't actually exist.
All this happened while Santorum continued to press hard on the idea that government shouldn't tell you what to do - unless you're a woman, and then government shouldn't allow you to have contraception at all. Apparently, Rick Santorum wants to shrink government down to a small enough size where it will fit inside the private regions of America's women.
If all these things sound insane to you, we're glad, because it proves Rick Santorum's special brand of insanity hasn't infected you yet, and made you think what he's saying is acceptable.
Sadly, if you're a Republican - and we know some of our readers are - this man represents you and all those in your political party to the outside world. The face of your party is no longer Sarah Palin, or Karl Rove, or even Grover Norquist, who are all deranged enough in their own ways.
No, the man your political party has crawled into bed with appears to be far crazier than the former half-term governor from Alaska, at this point.
Even Ms. Palin never said anything close to the idea that Protestants are not Christians. Surprisingly, Ms. Palin also hasn't seemed to have invoked Godwin's law at the height of a major national campaign, like Mr. Santorum.
In short, the man who is currently leading some national polling in the Republican nomination for President is way nuttier than we once thought Sarah Palin was.
That is the current face of the Republican Party.
Don't blame us if so-called independents and moderate Republicans try to sneak away from the GOP now, if they hadn't climbed on the last bus out of crazy town already.
We've said for many years now that in politics, who you support, as well as those whose support you accept, matter a great deal. Nowhere is this more evident than in Mr. Santorum's quest for the White House.
As we briefly pointed out yesterday, Rick Santorum recently made a series of gaffes that were serious, and should give anyone pause in thinking he should be anywhere near the Presidency. First, a video came to light making it clear that Santorum thinks Protestants are not Christians. Today another video came to light where Santorum claimed that the right to privacy has ruined everything. Mr. Santorum also made comments to the effect that President Obama isn't a Christian, and made a very clear analogy that President Obama is a modern-day Hitler. Santorum even went so far as to say that government, at virtually ALL levels, shouldn't be involved with education.
After some half-hearted double-speak apologies Sunday morning, on Monday, Santorum and his surrogates not only didn't seem at all concerned with their slandering of the President over the weekend. They continued the insane lies throughout the day, calling President Obama and the Democratic party "anti-science", while Santorum's own spokeswoman claimed his 'phony theology' gaffe was really referring to radical Islamic policies from the President - policies which don't actually exist.
All this happened while Santorum continued to press hard on the idea that government shouldn't tell you what to do - unless you're a woman, and then government shouldn't allow you to have contraception at all. Apparently, Rick Santorum wants to shrink government down to a small enough size where it will fit inside the private regions of America's women.
If all these things sound insane to you, we're glad, because it proves Rick Santorum's special brand of insanity hasn't infected you yet, and made you think what he's saying is acceptable.
Sadly, if you're a Republican - and we know some of our readers are - this man represents you and all those in your political party to the outside world. The face of your party is no longer Sarah Palin, or Karl Rove, or even Grover Norquist, who are all deranged enough in their own ways.
No, the man your political party has crawled into bed with appears to be far crazier than the former half-term governor from Alaska, at this point.
Even Ms. Palin never said anything close to the idea that Protestants are not Christians. Surprisingly, Ms. Palin also hasn't seemed to have invoked Godwin's law at the height of a major national campaign, like Mr. Santorum.
In short, the man who is currently leading some national polling in the Republican nomination for President is way nuttier than we once thought Sarah Palin was.
That is the current face of the Republican Party.
Don't blame us if so-called independents and moderate Republicans try to sneak away from the GOP now, if they hadn't climbed on the last bus out of crazy town already.
Monday, February 20, 2012
A Wave Of Hysteria
While our staff celebrated birthdays, and cleaned our offices and homes, a disgusting but sadly unsurprising amount of needless hype hit the media this weekend - and that's outside of the overblown coverage of Whitney Houston's memorial service.
One of those hysterical story lines focused on Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, who whined and backpedaled his way through several interviews, trying to parse some video where he boldly, arrogantly, and ignorantly claimed that Protestants were not true Christians. Santorum even desperately resorted to throwing out the lie that's been disproved MANY times, that President Obama isn't a Christian, and that President Obama's political ideas are a "phony theology."
Another story that bored members of our profession were hyperventilating over this weekend was the price of gasoline, and the reaction of Iran cutting oil exports to France and Britain.
It's sad, really, that more of our colleagues either don't keep files on what's been recently produced in the media, or simply don't care to pay attention to what others in their profession have been doing. We addressed this very topic at the beginning of January, nearly a month and a half ago, along with journalists from Bloomberg and Reuters.
Once again, a desperate Republican field has already ginned up their propaganda machines, claiming that the same President Obama they say has overreached on subsidizing alternative energy is now "anti-American energy" as Newt Gingrich claimed over the weekend. Rick Santorum, already proven to be ignorant of basic facts about religion, also weighed in, falsely claiming that President Obama has made America more dependent on foreign oil.
The facts, of course, support neither man, and make them both appear to be chronic liars.
As Bloomberg pointed out in January, America's reliance on foreign oil - specifically from the Persian Gulf - is down to 9% and continuing to fall. In November of 2011, the Wall Street Journal - which is absolutely NOT a liberal media outlet - pointed out that America was a net EXPORTER of oil in 2011. That means America sold more oil to other nations than we imported last year. USA Today confirmed in December; for the first time since 1949, the U.S. exported more oil and oil products than it imported in 2011.
Further, when the White House released its 2013 budget proposal last week, the President renewed his call for ending subsidies to Big Oil and natural gas companies, and doubled down on renewable energy investments – all while Congressional Republicans have been fighting him all the way.
All this adds up to reflect the fact that America is LESS dependent on foreign oil under President Obama, while Obama has been continuing to fight for America to generate MORE of its own energy needs.
It would be journalistic malpractice for us if we didn't note the Obama Administration IS concerned about the price of fuel and its impact on our economy. They and other nations are deeply concerned about rising gas prices, and have been for some time.
That's why, as we, Reuters, and Bloomberg noted back at the beginning of January, the Obama Administration and other leaders around the world have been planning and preparing for events like an international temper tantrum by Iran's leaders for some time. Obama and others already have several solutions to try and keep oil prices down, including tapping oil reserves in Europe, Japan, and the U.S.
If Republican candidates were being honest, they'd acknowledge that most world leaders - save those that are part of OPEC - have little control of the price of oil. The price of oil is determined by supply, demand, and oil futures trading. To that end, President Obama has already made plans to increase the supply, has helped America's oil producers make more oil, and had the Democrats in Congress pass more regulations to restrict oil futures traders. In other words, Obama has already done everything he can.
There may indeed be a wave of gasoline price hikes coming - but there is always a rise in fuel prices in the spring. Anyone who truly loves America should be hoping that this seasonal price hike won't derail the fragile economic recovery – not desperately reaching and failing to graft religion onto politics.
One of those hysterical story lines focused on Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, who whined and backpedaled his way through several interviews, trying to parse some video where he boldly, arrogantly, and ignorantly claimed that Protestants were not true Christians. Santorum even desperately resorted to throwing out the lie that's been disproved MANY times, that President Obama isn't a Christian, and that President Obama's political ideas are a "phony theology."
Another story that bored members of our profession were hyperventilating over this weekend was the price of gasoline, and the reaction of Iran cutting oil exports to France and Britain.
It's sad, really, that more of our colleagues either don't keep files on what's been recently produced in the media, or simply don't care to pay attention to what others in their profession have been doing. We addressed this very topic at the beginning of January, nearly a month and a half ago, along with journalists from Bloomberg and Reuters.
Once again, a desperate Republican field has already ginned up their propaganda machines, claiming that the same President Obama they say has overreached on subsidizing alternative energy is now "anti-American energy" as Newt Gingrich claimed over the weekend. Rick Santorum, already proven to be ignorant of basic facts about religion, also weighed in, falsely claiming that President Obama has made America more dependent on foreign oil.
The facts, of course, support neither man, and make them both appear to be chronic liars.
As Bloomberg pointed out in January, America's reliance on foreign oil - specifically from the Persian Gulf - is down to 9% and continuing to fall. In November of 2011, the Wall Street Journal - which is absolutely NOT a liberal media outlet - pointed out that America was a net EXPORTER of oil in 2011. That means America sold more oil to other nations than we imported last year. USA Today confirmed in December; for the first time since 1949, the U.S. exported more oil and oil products than it imported in 2011.
Further, when the White House released its 2013 budget proposal last week, the President renewed his call for ending subsidies to Big Oil and natural gas companies, and doubled down on renewable energy investments – all while Congressional Republicans have been fighting him all the way.
All this adds up to reflect the fact that America is LESS dependent on foreign oil under President Obama, while Obama has been continuing to fight for America to generate MORE of its own energy needs.
It would be journalistic malpractice for us if we didn't note the Obama Administration IS concerned about the price of fuel and its impact on our economy. They and other nations are deeply concerned about rising gas prices, and have been for some time.
That's why, as we, Reuters, and Bloomberg noted back at the beginning of January, the Obama Administration and other leaders around the world have been planning and preparing for events like an international temper tantrum by Iran's leaders for some time. Obama and others already have several solutions to try and keep oil prices down, including tapping oil reserves in Europe, Japan, and the U.S.
If Republican candidates were being honest, they'd acknowledge that most world leaders - save those that are part of OPEC - have little control of the price of oil. The price of oil is determined by supply, demand, and oil futures trading. To that end, President Obama has already made plans to increase the supply, has helped America's oil producers make more oil, and had the Democrats in Congress pass more regulations to restrict oil futures traders. In other words, Obama has already done everything he can.
There may indeed be a wave of gasoline price hikes coming - but there is always a rise in fuel prices in the spring. Anyone who truly loves America should be hoping that this seasonal price hike won't derail the fragile economic recovery – not desperately reaching and failing to graft religion onto politics.
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