The Daily Drift

Hey, wingnuts, yeah we're talking to you ...!  

 

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A Ferret Face - reminds us of some Republicans (and not in a good way) ... !

Today is - National Ferret Day
 

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Obama’s Giving A Big Middle Finger To Republicans And Heading To Kenya

There’s only one party that can lose from a birther discussion and it isn’t the Democrats.

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Have You Heard the Good News?

In the wake of the financial crisis, President Obama took the helm of a sinking economic ship and help to right it. The unemployment rate is now once again at pre-recession levels -- the lowest in seven years (5.5%).

Have You Heard the Good News?

Human Rights Group Creates Petition Urging Obama To Prosecute the shrub junta

Due you think Obama should prosecute shrub junta officials for torture?

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Rand Paul Tries To Explain The First Amendment, Fails Miserably

Rand Paul tries to explain the role of religion in government, and it’s amusing to say the least. He really missed his calling as a snake oil salesman.

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Normal people encounter this quandary daily

The Governor Of Iowa Makes Sarah Palin Seem Like A Rocket Scientist

Republicans aren’t even trying to appear smart these days.

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Who would have thought it possible, but this asshole does it ...

Insane Wingnut Blogs Freak Out Over Pretend Invasion Of American Southwest

What do the conspiracy theorists do best?
Take information, twist it into a pale imitation of itself, and then use it to spread abject fear.

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Fox News Causes Mental Illness

The reason Fox News can’t talk about mental illness is because Fox News causes it

Republicans Call Obama A Greater Threat To America Than Putin And Assad

The only things Republicans found scarier than Obama were Islamic State and Al Qaeda.

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What is so comical about this is that neither Putin nor Assad are a 'threat' to the USA as are ISIL or Al Qaeda for that matter.
Republicans, however ...

Signs Of Collective Republican Obama Related Mental Illness Found In New Poll

 

A new Reuters/IPSOS poll unwittingly revealed the depths of the collective Republican mental illness by revealing that Republicans view President Obama as the most imminent threat to America.

Reuters reported:

The poll showed 34 percent of Republicans ranked Obama as an imminent threat, ahead of Putin (25 percent), who has been accused of aggression in the Ukraine, and Assad (23 percent). Western governments have alleged that Assad used chlorine gas and barrel bombs on his own citizens.

….

Twenty-seven percent of Republicans saw the Democratic Party as an imminent threat to the United States, and 22 percent of Democrats deemed Republicans to be an imminent threat.

The poll is a direct reflection of the political polarization that currently exists in the United States. The poll is also an outstanding measure of the damage that wingnut media has done to the political consensus that used to exist. Wingnut media is a fear based industry. It is no surprise that Republicans believe that President Obama is the most immediate threat to the country. The Obama threat message has been delivered hourly on wingnut websites, hate speech radio, and Fox News.

Spreading fear of the black president has become its own industry. A lot of people earn a great deal of money by scaring Republicans. The reality is that Republicans are terrified of a president who has signed the law that lowered the cost of their health care, saved the economy from a depression, and cut their taxes. If a Republican president accomplished these tasks, wingnuts would be calling for him to added to Mount Rushmore, but the Republican fear of Obama is never about what the President has done.

Republicans spread terror over what Obama might do. Obama may come for your guns. Obama is creating death panels. Obama is telling you what you can and can’t do. Obama is out to steal the very liberty that makes you an American. These are the kinds of messages that wingnuts traffics in every single day. Because Republicans believe this stuff, they elect members of their own party who reflect their fear and hatred of the President.

Fear of the President has become a collective mental disorder, and it is the reason very little gets done in Washington.

The Republican War On Women

Boycott In Full Swing As CT Gov. Malloy Moves To Ban State Sponsored Travel To Indiana

"When new laws turn back the clock on progress, we can't sit idly by. 

We are sending a message that discrimination won't be tolerated."…

The backlash against Indiana’s anti-gay law continues to gain momentum. On Monday, Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy announced that he plans to sign an executive order barring state sponsored travel to Indiana, in response to Indiana’s decision to pass a law permitting religious-based discrimination against gays and lesbians. Malloy expressed his opposition to Indiana’s law on Twitter as well. The Connecticut Governor tweeted:

When new laws turn back the clock on progress, we can’t sit idly by. We are sending a message that discrimination won’t be tolerated.

Connecticut becomes the first state to officially sanction a boycott against Indiana over the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The cities of Seattle and San Francisco have also imposed travel bans, prohibiting city-funded trips to the Hoosier state. Several private companies have also declared their intent to boycott the state.

The backlash has clearly caught Indiana Governor Mike Pence and his Republican supporters in the legislature off guard. While the hapless Indiana Governor continues to defend the discriminatory law, it has clearly become a public relations disaster of epic proportions, for his state.

Many conservative Republicans, like Pence, seem not to have adapted to the 21st century reality that courting homophobic bigots is no longer a viable political strategy for boosting one’s approval ratings. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer was smart enough to figure that out in 2014, when she rejected a similar bill in her state, but apparently Pence never got the memo. Discrimination isn’t acceptable, and it also isn’t a smart career move in American politics, at least not anymore.

What Pence fails to realize is that we’ve reached a tipping point on LGBTQ rights in America. Not long ago, right-wing politicians could use discrimination against gays and lesbians to ride to victory, and to bolster their credentials with the “Christian” Right. Now, they can still do try to do that, but it is no longer a winning issue for them, with the general public.

The fight for equality, of course, isn’t over, but increasingly the opponents of LGBTQ equality look more like losers digging in deeper for a lost cause, rather than winners successfully rolling back substantive gains. In Indiana, the side for equality may have lost the battle, but they are winning the war. The Connecticut Governor’s decision to add his state to the growing list of entities boycotting Indiana, is just one more nail in the coffin of Mike Pence’s political future.

Indianapolis Mayor to Issue Executive Order Protecting LGBT People from Discrimination

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard (a Republican!) said at a press conference Monday that he plans to issue an executive order requiring businesses to follow the city’s human rights…

Indianapolis Mayor Does The Right Thing

Fox News Hack Debunks Fox’s Own Propaganda About Indiana Religious Freedom Law

Indiana's' religious freedom' law has inspired so much backlash and outrage that Fox News hack Bret Baier debunked his own network's propaganda and misinformation. …

Debunking Fox’s Own Propaganda

Georgia's "Right to Discriminate" Bill Halted

Georgia Puts Their Anti-Gay “Right to Discriminate” Bill on Hold

You know you are wrong and in trouble when the 'Great Bastion of Tolerance and Acceptance' that is the state of Georgia thinks you are being discriminatory.

The Real Unseen Danger of Indiana’s Legal Discrimination Law

There is a legitimate reason Indiana theocrat Mike Pence claims he is surprised by the backlash against the religious law he just signed legalizing discrimination; there is nothing in the law stating it protects discrimination against, or targets the LGBT community. In fact, the law is very specifically written only to restrict the state from enforcing laws that ‘substantially burden’ religious expression; even though any sane person understands the law is specifically discriminatory on myriad levels.  Regardless what the Dominionist governor says, there is a deeper meaning to the legalized discrimination bill he just signed into law than targeting the LGBT community and it is stunning that according to the events of the past two years, most opponents of the law are missing the bigger picture.

The reason Pence signed the theocratic legislation in private was to conceal its christian fundamentalist advocates and sponsors who have, according to their bastardized religious views, decided what activities constitute a ‘mortal sin’ they will not countenance in Indiana or anyplace in America. In fact, nearly identical religious legislation is being prepared for enactment in 23 states across the nation at the behest of catholic witch-doctors, evangelical fanatics, and anti-gay groups and not one of them mention gays or discrimination. Pence actually had two separate ‘signing’ sessions to accommodate the two groups pushing the ultimate “conscience clause” that targets much more than just the LGBT community and it is something outraged opponents of the Indiana law are completely missing and it is curious why they are ignorant of what the law really means for all Indianans.

In the first ‘official’ signing session, Pence is surrounded by 18 primarily religious supporters including the law’s three main sponsors, and several Franciscan monks and nuns. One of the monks celebrating preacher Pence signing the law, Fr. David Mary Engo of the franciscan brothers minor in New Haven, was a key voice in testifying for the bill’s passage during legislative hearings. Engo complained about righteous adherent’s desperate need for relief from the substantial government burden being place on their right to free expression of religion. By now only a fool does not comprehend that in 21st Century America ‘free expression’ of religion means the legal right to impose theocratic tyranny on other Americans. For Catholic clergy, the right of ‘free expression’ is primarily controlling ‘sinful’ women who believe they have a Constitutional right to choose their own reproductive health; that the government protects their right is a burden on the cult’s right to free expression. It was the impetus of the vatican-5’s ruling in Hobby Lobby that did not go far enough for catholic leaders.

Make no mistake, franciscan monks and catholic nuns are not concerned about following a Jesus Pence asserted would never welcome a sinner in his business; their primary regard is outlawing women’s access to birth control their Vatican regards as a ‘mortal sin.’ It is why during Pence’s signing statement he specifically noted Notre Dame’s crusade against government overreach in the courts to prevent any women from accessing contraception the cult claims is a mortal sin. Of course the American cult hates the gay community with religious delusion, but they hate ‘artificial contraception’ even more. The new law gives them religious and legal cover to deny women access to what the catholic Humanae Vitae labels a “dire mortal sin;” artificial birth control.

It is why although the law appears only to target the LGBT community and allow the ‘faithful’ to legally punish same-sex marriage partners by refusing to hire, serve, or provide them with medical care, it is important to remember there is no mention of gays in the law. In fact, there were amendments offered to the bill that were designed to make it explicitly clear that the law was not singling out the LGBT community, but Republicans rejected them out of hand several times; likely after the franciscan monk testified that the cult’s religious freedom was under government assault by not allowing them to control the people.

On Sunday, Pence defended the law and claimed it had nothing to do with discrimination and everything to do with “protecting religious liberties” and reminded that the 'Religious Freedom Restoration Act' allowed private individuals and ‘corporations’ to cite religious belief exemptions during litigation. As Pence said, “This is not about discrimination, this is about empowering people to confront government overreach.” When Pence says government overreach, he means laws preventing religious fanatics from controlling women as much as the 14th Amendment protecting the LGBT community’s equal and civil rights.

In a second signing session staged for the benefit of another theocratic group, religio-wingnut leaders crusading against the gay community, sworn enemies of homosexuals and same-sex marriage dominated the gathering. Of particular note in attendance were Micah Clark who is an anti-gay crusader who preaches that homosexuality is a treatable disease and publicly raged against a lesbian high school student over a prom tuxedo; Curt Smith, who helped write the Indiana license to discriminate legislation and equates homosexuality with bestiality and adultery, and  Eric Miller who distributed flyers claiming that preachers are due to be imprisoned for preaching against homosexuality directly after same-sex marriage passed. Every time Mike Pence claims the law he signed is not about discrimination, he is lying through his teeth; a sin and violation of the christian bible’s ninth commandment.

Obviously the Indiana law, like the 23 other states preparing to follow suit and usher in an age of religious tyranny and the end of equal and civil rights all have an anti-gay agenda. However, as ‘religious liberty’ laws they duly have no mention of the word discrimination, gays, or same-sex marriage that the overwhelming majority believes is their sole intent. These are conscience clause laws meant to give legal cover to any so-called religious devotee who takes it upon themselves to determine what is a sin, and how they react to that ‘sinner.’ That means that medical professionals can refuse to treat an injured person if they determine the person is a sinner. It also means a pharmacist can refuse to dispense contraceptives to a woman whether they are married or not.

The list of scenarios where a religious person can use ‘religious liberty’ as a legal defense is endless and although it appears Indiana’s law was created to target the gay community, believing it will stop there is a monumental error. Americans have underestimated the impending doom religious fanatics can bring on the nation for too long and what is happening in Indiana, and soon 23 other states, is a direct result of foolish thinking this country is immune from religious tyranny. If there is one thing history has borne out, there is no end to the damage religion can wreak on a society and American naïveté has played a major role in allowing this nation to fall prey to something as despicable as laws legalizing discrimination or controlling women. It is heartening that some members of the public are protesting the Indiana law because it targets the gay community, but the real danger is that they are missing the bigger picture that no group, race, or demographic in America is safe; including Americans protesting religious tyranny.

Author note: The ‘alleged’ quote from Governor Pence regarding jesus never welcoming a sinner in his workplace cannot be verified unconditionally. It was gleaned from a Facebook group’s posting here that included the statement in quotes attributed to Pence. There is, however, no way of knowing what Pence uttered during two different private signing ceremonies where in all likelihood Pence may have made the remark based on his ardent defense of the law. The statement has been removed; all due apologies.

Indiana Religious Freedom Law Ushers In First Church Of Cannabis For Weed Worshipers

March Madness may be coming to Indiana, but so is reefer madness and the weed worshipers are ready to start rolling.

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Now They’re Trying To Claim The Pilot That Crashed The Lufthansa Plane Was Gay

The media is desperately trying to find a reason a white man would do something like that.

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Walmart and 20 other companies are lobbying hard to gut workers' comp

One more thing to protest Walmart over.Many states have gutted workers' compensation laws in recent years, but that's not enough for a group of major corporations-including Walmart, Safeway, and, as a "sponsoring member," Whole Foods-that are trying to rewrite workers' comp laws around the country, Molly Redden reports:

The companies have financed a lobbying group, the Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers' Compensation (ARAWC), that has already helped write legislation in one state, Tennessee. Richard Evans, the group's executive director, told an insurance journal in November that the corporations ultimately want to change workers' comp laws in all 50 states. Lowe's, Macy's, Kohl's, Sysco Food Services, and several insurance companies are also part of the year-old effort. [...]

ARAWC's mission is to pass laws allowing private employers to opt out of the traditional workers' compensation plans that almost every state requires businesses to carry. Employers that opt out would still be compelled to purchase workers' comp plans. But they would be allowed to write their own rules governing when, for how long, and for which reasons an injured employee can access medical benefits and wages.

Workers' comp is supposed to take care of workers who are hurt on the job. But already, more than half of workers who might be eligible never even apply, and workers' comp pays for just a small share of the expenses injured workers face. That's still too much for these massive, highly profitable corporations, though. Already, the Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers' Compensation has helped write a bill in Tennessee:

The bill as introduced does not require employers to pay for artificial limbs, hearing aids, home care, funeral expenses, or disability modifications to a home or a car for injured workers. All of these benefits, notes Gary Moore, president of the Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council, are mandated under the state's current workers' comp system. [...]

Under the current system, employers must cover a worker's medical expenses for as long as he needs treatment. Green's bill would allow companies to stop paying lifetime benefits after three years or $300,000, whichever comes first..

Not a bad deal for employers! No matter how badly a worker is hurt on your watch, working to create profit for you, you know your expenses will be limited according to legislation you paid to have written. Not such a good deal for workers, though, who may be unable to find work without the prosthetic, hearing aid, or modified car they need, and who may be stuck with huge, ongoing medical bills long after the company responsible for their injuries has bailed. Not such a good deal for taxpayers, either-already, federal, state, and local governments bear nearly as much of the cost for workplace injuries as workers' compensation does. Under corporate-written laws, how long do you think it would take for taxpayers to be paying significantly more of the costs than the companies responsible?

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