The underlying question is compelling: Do
seemingly reflex-driven sensory preferences say something about our
emotional and social dispositions?
Political Truth.
Whether you like it or not.
Whether you like it or not.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Paul Doesn’t Know His ‘Dumbass’ Livestream Is Live: ‘We Can Edit This, Right?’
The Wingnut Definition of 'Family Values' Is Bull Shit
Two advocates launch an initiative to push back against nuclear family privilege.
by Kali Holloway
The term “family values,” particularly when used in
election years, is rarely about what really matters to children and
families. Instead the phrase serves to indict those who don’t live in
traditional nuclear American homes—despite the fact that the “Leave it
to Beaver” family model, with a stay-at-home mom and working dad, is no
longer an accurate representation of how families across the country
look.In a recent piece for Salon, family advocates Mia Birdsong and Nicole Rodgers note that at “its peak in the late 1950s, 65 percent of children were living in this type of...family unit. Today, it’s just 22 percent.” Fed up with all the negative representations of non-nuclear families they encountered, the two decided to launch a new initiative called Family Story to change the way we talk about what family means. “[I]t’s past time that we take back the conservative claim to family” the Family Story website states. The organization is focused on countering the idea that there is a single “right” kind of family.
Conservatives constantly bemoan changes in the American family structure as proof of moral failing, and they have long vilified families with working mothers, single parents, LGBT parents, and non-parental caregivers. But these types of families defy conservative stereotypes and outdated stigmas. Family Story, which allows real families to tell their own stories via powerful videos and other media, will push back against these pathologizing narratives.
“I hate that ‘family values’ has become a meaningless term often tossed around by social conservatives, while all around us there are families living truly important values of love, support and connectedness who are left out,” Rodgers says. “I decided it was time to burn the old paradigm down and build something authentic and meaningful in its ashes.”
Family Story’s mission is ambitious yet necessary. The project “will develop new research, share aspirational narratives and highlight the innovative and compelling ideas, practices, and solutions that families and communities have developed. We will offer inspiring models for new American dreams. We will push back against harmful stereotypes and cultural stigma. We will separate social problems like poverty, violence, and poor school performance from family structure, and contest the myth that the nuclear family is the solution to these challenges.”
Rodgers is the founder of Role Reboot, a popular website that takes an incisive look at issues around family, gender, culture and “life off script.” Before founding and becoming co-director of Family Story, she spent years researching data proving that traditional families are not the panacea conservatives claim. Rodgers included some of this data in an article titled “Marriage Is No Safeguard Against Poverty” which was featured in the Washington Post this March.
Earlier this year, Mia Birdsong delivered an astonishing TED Talk that countered damaging, long-held ideas about poor people; it has since been viewed more than 700,000 times. Prio to becoming Family Story co-director, she served as vice president of the Family Independence Initiative, an anti-poverty nonprofit.
“Family Story is not, and will never be, about bashing nuclear families,” Nicole Rodgers says. “Two married parents raising children can be a wonderful thing; it’s just not the best or only thing. This is about building a bigger tent and respecting the dignity and value of a wider range of family arrangements.”
“It’s no surprise that conservatives have such limited, regressive views on what makes a ‘good’ family,” adds Birdsong. “But too few progressive advocates, policymakers and pundits are offering a counter-narrative. There are incredible, beautiful families who have figured out how to make it work outside the nuclear family model. It’s past time we lift up their stories.”
Texas Republican’s idiotic tweet
Trump Whines On Twitter Because A Woman Asked Him A Tough Question
Jeb Reveals He’s A Hypocrite To Pro-Family Activist
This proves that Republicans are only “pro-life” before birth.
Koch Brothers Are Trying To Build A ‘Grassroots’ Movement Here’s Why They’ll Fail
After five years of investigating, Kansas Secretary of State files three election fraud charges
by Jen Hayden
Kris Kobach, the worst secretary of state in the nation.
Kobach confirmed Tuesday that his office filed two cases in Johnson County in the Kansas City area and one case in Sherman County in northwest Kansas. The cases were filed Friday. Copies of the complaints were not available immediately.Wow! Five years of investigating, untold tax dollars spent, suspending the voting rights of 37,000 people, and Kris Kobach comes back with three whole cases for prosecution. He's currently facing a federal lawsuit over the massive voter purge, one that will no doubt cost the debt-ridden, cash-strapped Sunflower State even more of the precious little income trickling into the state. That's good ol' Republican fiscal conservatism for you!
Kobach told The Associated Press that each complaint deals with alleged double-voting incidents in 2010.
Kobach said the Johnson County cases were filed against a married couple and alleges each also voted in Arkansas. The Sherman County case alleges a man who voted there also voted in Colorado.
Utah Republicans kill health care plan for 95,000 poor in closed-door vote
Creepy Texas police chief indicted for sexually assaulting 14-year-old girl
Prosecutors in Ellis County said that
50-year-old Kevin Coffey to be charged with indecency with a child by
contact, indecency with a child by exposure, sexual performance by a
child, and sexual assault of a child. He could spend up to 70 years in
prison if convicted.
Arizona Wingnut: ‘Take Guns Away From Blacks As They Are The Main Killers’
Banking while black ...
Thursday, October 15, 2015
The Daily Drift
Welcome to the Thursday Edition of The Truth Be Told.
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Republicans are grouches ... !
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CNN Focus Group Says Bernie Sanders Won The First Democratic Debate
A majority of the CNN focus group who watched the first Democratic debate said that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) won the debate over former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton.
The Sanders campaign summed up the focus group reaction as
On CNN, which sponsored the debate, a majority in a post-debate focus group said Sanders was the victor. The Vermont senator was the most popular candidate among a group of young registered Democrats in a Fusion focus group. “Bernie was on fire the whole night,” according to a 24-year-old named Chauncey, who told Fusion he went into the debate undecided. And on Fox News, pollster Frank Luntz talked to Democratic voters in Florida who called him “strong” and “straightforward” and “powerful.”
In terms of speaking time, Sen. Sanders and former Sec. Clinton got the lion’s share of the time with Clinton speaking for 30:26, and Sanders speaking for 26:42.
It was clear that Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders dominated the first Democratic, and both candidates did very well. Picking a winner comes down to preference. Sanders was the candidate with the more forceful argument, but Clinton looked and sounded like an experienced presidential candidate who is ready to be president.
Both candidates had a great debate because the two campaigns had different goals. Clinton’s goals were to ease any unrest about her emails and look presidential, which she did. Sen. Sanders needed to introduce himself to a national Democratic audience and make the argument for a political revolution, which he also did.
With two big personalities like Clinton and Sanders, there was little room for the other candidates on the stage. Martin O’Malley tried to elbow his way in, but at best he is the third candidate in what is a two person race. If Vice President Biden wasn’t sure about running, the stage looked very crowded already, and the first Democratic debate did nothing to ease doubts that there would be no room in the primary for a last-second campaign from Biden.
Bernie Sanders was a clear winner, and this victory should translate into even more funds, and perhaps a bump in the polls. No matter who you think won, the overall message is that Democrats are in good shape heading into 2016.
Sanders Destroys NoLabels Talking Points On Social Safety Net
Bernie Sanders spoke to the NoLabels
conference by video, and completely undid Christie's lies about
Social Security and Medicare.
Obama Turns Trump Into A Pathetic Crybaby By Explaining Why He Won’t Win
President Obama reduced Trump to a pathetic puddle by
explaining in less than a minute why Trump won’t win the 2016 election.
Transcript via CBS’s 60 Minutes:Steve Kroft: What do you think of Trump?
President Barack Obama: Well, I think that he is a great publicity-seeker and at a time when the Republican cabal hasn’t really figured out what it’s for, as opposed to what it’s against. I think that he is tapped into something that exists in the Republican cabal that’s real. I think there is genuine anti-immigrant sentiment in the large portion of at least Republican primary voters. I don’t think it’s uniform. He knows how to get attention. He is, you know, the classic reality TV character and, at this early stage, it’s not surprising that he’s gotten a lot of attention.
Steve Kroft: You think he’s running out of steam? I mean, you think he’s going to disappear?
Trump responded on Fox and Friends, “Well, I watched his performance last night, and I thought it was terrible. I thought it was sad because there’s nothing positive….I thought it was a little bit sad because there’s much negativity. It’s just very negative.”
The lack of energy from Trump during the Fox and Friends interview was obvious. It is interesting that Trump is whining about negativity when his whole campaign is based on emphasizing the negative. Trump’s negativity towards immigrants is what is driving his campaign momentum, and his negativity is what Republican primary voters find appealing about his candidacy.
President Obama was correct. Trump’s narrow and negative vision of the country won’t win a general election. Trump may be able to win the Republican nomination with such talk, but the Republican frontrunner is increasing becoming a whining crybaby rich boy.
A few comments from President Obama reduced Trump to an unenergetic puddle of despair.
Trump’s tough talk is quickly evolving into constant complaining.
Democrats Are Too Strong So Hypocrite Mitch McConnell May Gut The Filibuster
After Democrats have been dominating the Senate, McConnell is hypocritically exploring ways to gut the filibuster.
The Hill reported:McConnell has appointed a special task force to explore changes to the filibuster rule and other procedural hurdles — including whether to eliminate filibusters on motions to proceed to legislation. That’s a tactic the minority often uses to shut down a bill before amendments can be considered.
McConnell doesn’t want to kill the filibuster, but he is under pressure from his own Republicans to change the rules. The reason for this is that Senate Democrats have been too good at their jobs. A key part of the Republican argument for 2016 is going to be that they need a Republican pretender to advance their agenda. Republicans wanted to make President Obama look like an obstructionist by forcing him to veto lots of legislation.
The problem is that Senate Democrats have been blocking the Republican passed legislation from ever reaching the President’s desk. Thus, making McConnell and the Republicans look incompetent and not capable of governing.
The reality is that McConnell and the Republicans are in danger of losing their Senate majority next year, and time is running out on them.
Mitch McConnell lasted less than a year under some of the same conditions that Harry Reid struggled with during the majority of the Obama presidency. McConnell obstructed anything and everything while he was in the minority. Reid and the Democrats have not behaved the same way, but McConnell has been unprepared and outmaneuvered on every major piece of legislation.
Now that the shoe is on the other foot, McConnell is turning yellow and trying to change the rules.
McConnell couldn’t handle the heat, so he is trying to close down the Democratic kitchen.
Despite growing Republican cabal worries, Carson vows to keep saying horrible things
Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson
says he will not be silenced or corrected by critics who disapprove of
his recent statements or quibblers who claim that he has been factually
inaccurate.
Republican lunatic fringe extremists allow most successful parks program to die
One of the most successful conservation programs in modern history—the
Land and Water Conservation Fund—died Thursday when the Republican House
refused to extend it, giving the Koch brothers a win.Despite broad bipartisan support, and despite a deadline that was no
surprise to anyone, Congress failed to take action to reauthorize it.
That means that offshore oil and gas producers will no longer be paying
into the chest that funds the program—and now that the funding
connection has been broken, reinstating it will be very difficult,
especially given the tone of this Congress. Instead, lawmakers will be
dickering over how to divvy up former LWCF appropriations, which will
now be going into the gneral treasury.
Earlier this summer, dozens of representatives on both sides of the aisle had signed a letter in support of the perpetually underfunded program, which has conserved more than seven million acres so far. LWCF purchases wildlife habitat, buys private inholdings within wildernesses and national parks, preserves cultural heritage sites, provides public access for fishing and hunting, and pays for urban parks, playgrounds and ballfields. (The Center for Western Priorities created an interactive map showing how LWCF has made national parks whole by paying to buy inholdings from private landowners.) And if put to a straight-up vote, reauthorization would pass both the House and Senate with bipartisan majorities.
But action on LWCF was derailed by far-right opposition, led by Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, House Natural Resources chairman, reflecting the anti-public-land and anti-federal sentiments afoot in some quarters of the West. Bishop is floating his own reforms to the program, which include redirecting most of the money to state and local projects (in the 1970s, Congress removed a requirement that states get 60 percent of LWCF funding).
Here's just some of what this program has accomplished since being created in 1964—all without any taxpayer money. It "pumped almost $17 billion into federal, state, and local parks. It has protected more than 500 million acres of land, ranging from neighborhood playgrounds to dramatic basalt cliffs in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The program also paid for almost two-thirds of the Appalachian Trail." It funded nearly 90 percent of the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown, Pennsylvania. Again, without any taxpayer funding being spent. The fund is payed for by revenues paid by oil and gas companies drilling offshore in waters owned by the American people.
Bishop calls those who fought to preserve the LWCF (including Republicans Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Ryan Zink of Montana) "special interests that seek to hijack LWCF to continue to expand the federal estate and divert even more monies away from localities." Make no mistake, this is part of furthering the Koch agenda to end the creation of new national parks and to undermine public ownership of any land that might, just might, have extractable resources under it.
Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell offered this statement.
Earlier this summer, dozens of representatives on both sides of the aisle had signed a letter in support of the perpetually underfunded program, which has conserved more than seven million acres so far. LWCF purchases wildlife habitat, buys private inholdings within wildernesses and national parks, preserves cultural heritage sites, provides public access for fishing and hunting, and pays for urban parks, playgrounds and ballfields. (The Center for Western Priorities created an interactive map showing how LWCF has made national parks whole by paying to buy inholdings from private landowners.) And if put to a straight-up vote, reauthorization would pass both the House and Senate with bipartisan majorities.
But action on LWCF was derailed by far-right opposition, led by Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, House Natural Resources chairman, reflecting the anti-public-land and anti-federal sentiments afoot in some quarters of the West. Bishop is floating his own reforms to the program, which include redirecting most of the money to state and local projects (in the 1970s, Congress removed a requirement that states get 60 percent of LWCF funding).
Here's just some of what this program has accomplished since being created in 1964—all without any taxpayer money. It "pumped almost $17 billion into federal, state, and local parks. It has protected more than 500 million acres of land, ranging from neighborhood playgrounds to dramatic basalt cliffs in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The program also paid for almost two-thirds of the Appalachian Trail." It funded nearly 90 percent of the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown, Pennsylvania. Again, without any taxpayer funding being spent. The fund is payed for by revenues paid by oil and gas companies drilling offshore in waters owned by the American people.
Bishop calls those who fought to preserve the LWCF (including Republicans Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Ryan Zink of Montana) "special interests that seek to hijack LWCF to continue to expand the federal estate and divert even more monies away from localities." Make no mistake, this is part of furthering the Koch agenda to end the creation of new national parks and to undermine public ownership of any land that might, just might, have extractable resources under it.
Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell offered this statement.
After 50 years of resounding success in enriching America's great outdoors, the Land and Water Conservation Fund needlessly faces an uncertain future. I am extremely disappointed that, despite overwhelming bipartisan support, Congress has allowed this innovative and effective program to expire. As a result, America's national parks are now at a higher risk of private development within their borders, we will have fewer tools to protect access to hunting and fishing spots, and local parks and open space projects in all 50 states may face delays or cancellation in the year ahead.
Koch Republicans Advance Plan To Eliminate America’s National Parks
Now that the Kochs own Congress and were able to install a willing
anti-government Republican as Chairman of the House Natural Resources
committee, they were thrilled to learn ...
It is hardly a secret that Republicans wholly-support and agree with
their masters, the Koch brothers, that every sector of government has to
be eliminated. In fact, Republicans so hate the government, that they
deliberately find extremely successful, wildly popular, and revenue
neutral programs to either underfund to prove government cannot work, or
just do what comes naturally and destroy them with extreme prejudice.
There is a Koch brother mindset that Republicans willingly embrace that the United States government has no legal right to own land, and that the National Parks system and wilderness areas are abominations to the fossil fuel, mining, and logging industries’ profits. Without success in forcing the federal government to cede its ownership and protection of the American people’s National Parks, wilderness areas, and cultural heritage sites to the Koch brothers, Republicans did the next best thing and defunded the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
Now that the Kochs own Congress and were able to install a willing anti-government Republican as Chairman of the House Natural Resources committee, they were thrilled to learn they succeeded in killing the LWCF in yet another step toward turning over government to corporate control. It is irrefutable that the LWCF is one of the most successful conservation programs in America’s history with no cost to taxpayers, and it is why it was crucial for the Koch brothers to score a win for themselves and jeopardize America’s national parks.
The Koch’s victory was in spite of alleged broad bipartisan support to keep the LWCF in operation, but since they own the entire Congress, the Kochs’ anti-government acolytes refused to reauthorize the program effectively killing it. What that means for the offshore oil and gas production fees funding LWCF is that Koch Republicans will shift LWCF funding into their favorite special interests such as partisan political campaigns against Hillary Clinton, subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, tax cuts for the rich and corporations, and of course the military industrial complex and Israel.
As head of the Natural Resources Committee, the Mormon Bishop marshaled support from other Koch sycophants on the far right who believe that the federal government is criminal in thinking it can own or preserve federal land for the American people. Bishop, like his Mormon cohort Cliven Bundy, is very anti-federal government and contends that like federally-owned land and national parks, any money collected from oil and gas producers belongs to his state to do with as it pleases. This in spite of Congress eliminating a bizarre requirement in 1970 that funding from offshore drilling goes to state projects that Republicans typically hand directly to the wealthy and corporations in the form of greater tax cuts.
What is somewhat surprising is that earlier this summer, dozens of representatives on both sides of the aisle signed on to a letter calling for more support for the perpetually underfunded program that has already conserved more than seven million acres for the American people to enjoy. LWCF purchases wildlife habitat, buys private inholdings within wildernesses and national parks, preserves cultural heritage sites, provides public access for fishing and hunting, and pays for urban parks, playgrounds and ball fields in communities across America. All of those benefits are anathema to Koch extremists running Congress, and it is noteworthy that if funding LWCF into perpetuity was allowed “a straight-up vote, reauthorization would pass both the House and Senate with large bipartisan majorities.” Reauthorizing LWCF will never be put up for a vote because the Kochs will not allow it.
Since its creation in 1964, the LWCF has accomplished, without using even one penny of taxpayer money, “pumping almost $17 billion into federal, state, and local parks, protected more than 500 million acres of land, paid for almost two-thirds of the Appalachian Trail.” LWCF also funded over 90 percent of the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania without using one penny of taxpayer money. LWCF is wholly-funded by revenues from gas and oil companies’ fees for drilling offshore in water owned by the American people; another atrocity according to Republicans and the Koch brothers.
The Mormon doing the Koch brothers’ bidding, Utah Representative Rob Bishop, said that any legislator, including any Republican, who fought to preserve the LWCF for the American people are “special interest traitors seeking to hijack LWCF to continue to expand the federal land holdings and divert even more monies away from localities.” Bishop is a typical lying Mormon; LWCF money could not possibly be “diverted” from localities because it was never theirs to begin with. Further, when Bishop cites “localities” he means areas that the Kochs want under the purview of the fossil fuel, mining, and logging industries. Bishop’s crusade is, without any possible doubt, furthering the Koch brother agenda to put an end to the government owning land, creating or maintaining the National Park system, and particularly to eliminate public use of government land they think just might have what Bishop contends are “extractable resources under it.”
There is a movement to reauthorize LWCF forever being pushed by Representatives Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PN) who co-sponsored a permanent reauthorization bill. Grijalva said on introducing the legislation,
“Drawing out the uncertainty over the program’s funding every few years serves no one, especially when our constituents so strongly believe in the LWCF’s mission and value to the country. We should make it permanent, avoid prolonged budget battles and get back to the business of protecting our natural spaces. Anything less is a disservice to the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt and the generations of Americans who gave us the many beautiful American landscapes we enjoy today.”
He also had some harsh words for Koch extremists who killed LWCF. He said,
“You can see just how extreme some House Republicans really are when a popular conservation program with a spotless, fifty-year history of bipartisan reauthorization expires thanks to their partisan games. They can’t pass a highway bill, they can’t fund the government, they’re still struggling with a defense bill, and now they insist that LWCF funding has to stop.”
The Secretary of Interior, Sally Jewell, fairly summed up why allowing the Koch brothers to declare victory at killing a very successful and popular program is just another Republican atrocity and why letting the Kochs buy Congress is a truly unmitigated disaster. Jewell said,
“After 50 years of resounding success in enriching America’s great outdoors, the Land and Water Conservation Fund needlessly faces an uncertain future. I am extremely disappointed that, despite overwhelming bipartisan support, Congress has allowed this innovative and effective program to expire. As a result, America’s national parks are now at a higher risk of corporate development within their borders, we will have fewer tools to protect access to hunting and fishing spots, and local parks and open space projects in all 50 states face cancellation.”
Americans should not expect LWCF to be reauthorized despite broad bipartisan support, or its popularity with over 200 million Americans who visit and recreate on federal land and national parks every year, because the Kochs will not allow it and Democrats are powerless to drive legislation of any kind.
Remember, after Republicans wiped out unemployment benefit extensions, voting rights, renewable energy and workplace protections and Democrats pledged to fix the problems, nothing happened because they do not set the legislative agenda; the Koch Republicans do. Since the Kochs ordered Republicans to kill LWCF there is nothing Democrats, or reasonable Republicans, can do because thanks to the Koch brothers and voter apathy, the Republican cabal has majority power in both houses and Americans have no power to protect their National Parks or wilderness areas; the Koch brothers have directed Republicans to ensure that sad, sick fact of life remains in perpetuity.
There is a Koch brother mindset that Republicans willingly embrace that the United States government has no legal right to own land, and that the National Parks system and wilderness areas are abominations to the fossil fuel, mining, and logging industries’ profits. Without success in forcing the federal government to cede its ownership and protection of the American people’s National Parks, wilderness areas, and cultural heritage sites to the Koch brothers, Republicans did the next best thing and defunded the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
Now that the Kochs own Congress and were able to install a willing anti-government Republican as Chairman of the House Natural Resources committee, they were thrilled to learn they succeeded in killing the LWCF in yet another step toward turning over government to corporate control. It is irrefutable that the LWCF is one of the most successful conservation programs in America’s history with no cost to taxpayers, and it is why it was crucial for the Koch brothers to score a win for themselves and jeopardize America’s national parks.
The Koch’s victory was in spite of alleged broad bipartisan support to keep the LWCF in operation, but since they own the entire Congress, the Kochs’ anti-government acolytes refused to reauthorize the program effectively killing it. What that means for the offshore oil and gas production fees funding LWCF is that Koch Republicans will shift LWCF funding into their favorite special interests such as partisan political campaigns against Hillary Clinton, subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, tax cuts for the rich and corporations, and of course the military industrial complex and Israel.
As head of the Natural Resources Committee, the Mormon Bishop marshaled support from other Koch sycophants on the far right who believe that the federal government is criminal in thinking it can own or preserve federal land for the American people. Bishop, like his Mormon cohort Cliven Bundy, is very anti-federal government and contends that like federally-owned land and national parks, any money collected from oil and gas producers belongs to his state to do with as it pleases. This in spite of Congress eliminating a bizarre requirement in 1970 that funding from offshore drilling goes to state projects that Republicans typically hand directly to the wealthy and corporations in the form of greater tax cuts.
What is somewhat surprising is that earlier this summer, dozens of representatives on both sides of the aisle signed on to a letter calling for more support for the perpetually underfunded program that has already conserved more than seven million acres for the American people to enjoy. LWCF purchases wildlife habitat, buys private inholdings within wildernesses and national parks, preserves cultural heritage sites, provides public access for fishing and hunting, and pays for urban parks, playgrounds and ball fields in communities across America. All of those benefits are anathema to Koch extremists running Congress, and it is noteworthy that if funding LWCF into perpetuity was allowed “a straight-up vote, reauthorization would pass both the House and Senate with large bipartisan majorities.” Reauthorizing LWCF will never be put up for a vote because the Kochs will not allow it.
Since its creation in 1964, the LWCF has accomplished, without using even one penny of taxpayer money, “pumping almost $17 billion into federal, state, and local parks, protected more than 500 million acres of land, paid for almost two-thirds of the Appalachian Trail.” LWCF also funded over 90 percent of the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania without using one penny of taxpayer money. LWCF is wholly-funded by revenues from gas and oil companies’ fees for drilling offshore in water owned by the American people; another atrocity according to Republicans and the Koch brothers.
The Mormon doing the Koch brothers’ bidding, Utah Representative Rob Bishop, said that any legislator, including any Republican, who fought to preserve the LWCF for the American people are “special interest traitors seeking to hijack LWCF to continue to expand the federal land holdings and divert even more monies away from localities.” Bishop is a typical lying Mormon; LWCF money could not possibly be “diverted” from localities because it was never theirs to begin with. Further, when Bishop cites “localities” he means areas that the Kochs want under the purview of the fossil fuel, mining, and logging industries. Bishop’s crusade is, without any possible doubt, furthering the Koch brother agenda to put an end to the government owning land, creating or maintaining the National Park system, and particularly to eliminate public use of government land they think just might have what Bishop contends are “extractable resources under it.”
There is a movement to reauthorize LWCF forever being pushed by Representatives Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PN) who co-sponsored a permanent reauthorization bill. Grijalva said on introducing the legislation,
“Drawing out the uncertainty over the program’s funding every few years serves no one, especially when our constituents so strongly believe in the LWCF’s mission and value to the country. We should make it permanent, avoid prolonged budget battles and get back to the business of protecting our natural spaces. Anything less is a disservice to the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt and the generations of Americans who gave us the many beautiful American landscapes we enjoy today.”
He also had some harsh words for Koch extremists who killed LWCF. He said,
“You can see just how extreme some House Republicans really are when a popular conservation program with a spotless, fifty-year history of bipartisan reauthorization expires thanks to their partisan games. They can’t pass a highway bill, they can’t fund the government, they’re still struggling with a defense bill, and now they insist that LWCF funding has to stop.”
The Secretary of Interior, Sally Jewell, fairly summed up why allowing the Koch brothers to declare victory at killing a very successful and popular program is just another Republican atrocity and why letting the Kochs buy Congress is a truly unmitigated disaster. Jewell said,
“After 50 years of resounding success in enriching America’s great outdoors, the Land and Water Conservation Fund needlessly faces an uncertain future. I am extremely disappointed that, despite overwhelming bipartisan support, Congress has allowed this innovative and effective program to expire. As a result, America’s national parks are now at a higher risk of corporate development within their borders, we will have fewer tools to protect access to hunting and fishing spots, and local parks and open space projects in all 50 states face cancellation.”
Americans should not expect LWCF to be reauthorized despite broad bipartisan support, or its popularity with over 200 million Americans who visit and recreate on federal land and national parks every year, because the Kochs will not allow it and Democrats are powerless to drive legislation of any kind.
Remember, after Republicans wiped out unemployment benefit extensions, voting rights, renewable energy and workplace protections and Democrats pledged to fix the problems, nothing happened because they do not set the legislative agenda; the Koch Republicans do. Since the Kochs ordered Republicans to kill LWCF there is nothing Democrats, or reasonable Republicans, can do because thanks to the Koch brothers and voter apathy, the Republican cabal has majority power in both houses and Americans have no power to protect their National Parks or wilderness areas; the Koch brothers have directed Republicans to ensure that sad, sick fact of life remains in perpetuity.
Gay-Hating Wingnuts Must Stop Using Google, Drinking Coke, And Having Abortions
Bristol Palin Shocked To Learn She Is A Idiot
Commenters, we need to ask you a question, and we PROMISE we
will not get mad. Has somebody out there been doing some rogue,
face-to-face guerrilla truthing? Because somebody marched right into
the medical office where Bristol Palin works when she’s not showing off
her baby bump for money at abstinence conferences or poorly dancing on
reality television, and said, RIGHT TO HER FACE, that she is A Idiot.
And she was stunned! Why would this mean lady say such a true thing,
right to ...
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
The Daily Drift
Welcome to the Wednesday Edition of The Truth Be Told.
Our latest comment:
Go Forward.
~ Kurt Dunne
Our latest comment:
Go Forward.
~ Kurt Dunne
The Truth Be Told is read in 205 countries around the world.
Republicans can't understand - it involves science ... !
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- Bulgaria - Czech Republic - England - Finland - France - Germany -
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Romania - Russia - Scotland - Serbia Slovenia - Spain - Sweden -
Switzerland - Turkey - Ukraine - Wales
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R.I.P Republican Cabal
The Slow Death Of The Republican Cabal
by John DeProspo
Starting with the junta of Ronald Reagan, who famously stated at his first inauguration, “Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem,” the cabal of Lincoln and Eisenhower has had the heat slowly turned up on itself by a lunatic fringe that always existed within its ranks. The slow process of listing further right over the years culminated with the wholehearted embrace of the radical teabaggers after the election of Barack Obama in 2008.
The problem with the Republican cabal isn’t only with what’s taking place in the House, where a small group of mostly teabaggers, paradoxically calling themselves the Freedom Caucus, will not support any Speaker who dares speak the word “compromise,” it can also be seen in the Republican pretender nominating contest.
The Republican frontrunner for the nomination is a TV celebrity/ real estate billionaire who is as loony as they come. The man with zero political experience is followed by a 'christian' fundamentalist doctor and a failed CEO… all with the same political experience: zip, nada. Could there be more of a repudiation of the cabal establishment than this?
But all this begs an important question: who is the party establishment? Who are the leaders of the Republican cabal? If you were to answer Roger Ailes or Rush Limbaugh, you’re probably not far off. That listing boat is today totally rudderless.
What we are witnessing is something not very often seen … the death of a political cabal as we once knew it. The process leading up to its demise was slow and steady, too gradual for the republican cabal to notice and jump out of the pot.
The story of the frog in boiling water is a metaphor for the inability or unwillingness of someone or something to react to threats that occur gradually, such as having your political party hijacked by a bunch of political nihilists.
R.I.P Republican cabal. Sorry, but no one will miss you.
A House Divided Against Itself
by John DeProspo
On June 16, 1858, at the Republican State Convention in Springfield,
Illinois, a lanky, rather homely politician was chosen as the party’s
senatorial candidate. When it was time to address his Republican
colleagues, the nominee uttered these famous words, “A house divided
against itself cannot stand.” Of course the politician, Abe Lincoln,
would lose that particular election but go on to bigger and better
things.To say the Republican house (both literally and figuratively) is in disarray is beyond an understatement. It is what happens when a national party sells its soul to the Devil for short-term political gain.
By embracing the teabagger fanatics only a few years ago, the Republican cabal is reaping what it sowed. The lunatics have taken over the asylum. The welcomed guest is about to devour its host.
By voting in radicals whose mantra was Reagan’s “government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem;” and who believed the Federal government should be shrunk in size so it could be “drowned in a bathtub,” Republican voters are now seeing that those “fresh, new, anti-establishment” teabaggers they liked so much actually meant what they preached.
The United States House of Representatives, divided against itself, needs a new Speaker… but no one wants the job! It’s a dead-end; a career-ender for any ambitious politician. That is why Ryan, the one person with the most support, keeps saying ‘no’ to what was once seen as a dream job. What Speaker wants to be the adult in the room with a group of spoiled children who refuse to share or compromise? Who would want to preside over such a dysfunctional mess? No thanks!
Reed (R. N.Y.), a big Ryan supporter and fellow member of the House Ways and Means Committee, is just one of many House members begging Ryan to become the next Speaker.
“Obviously, being a vice pretender candidate, there’s a calling to serve,” Reed said. “I think what he’s going through is making the analysis of how best can he serve the country, how best can he serve the American people. And that’s why this is a tough decision for him.”
No, Reed. Ryan is not thinking of how best to serve his country or the interests of his cabal. He is looking out for what’s best for a young politician who has aspirations much greater than House Speaker. Even though Speaker of the House is only second in line to the presidency, his sights are set on something much higher: the Oval office.
Here Are the People Who Sent the Republican cabal Into Chaos
If we're to trust media reports--yes, an iffy proposition at times--McCarthy's bid for speaker was derailed by …
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