American Angst

The Tea Party has been and is a hate group. You hear it in their discourse, they don't have much in the way of sympathy for their fellow Americans. Illinois Representative Joe Walsh shows how to ratchet up incredibly lame rhetoric. His competition this year is Tammy Duckworth, a double amputee of the Iraq war. Walsh's comments were not taken well by anyone that I can tell, except the core group of haters in the party. When referencing Tammy, Walsh said, "what else has she done? Female, wounded veteran, eh."

Compassion is not a requirement for some. Walsh was on Fox and played the victim. You know, if you make ridiculous defaming comments, it is someone else's fault.

GOP congressional candidate Chris Collins states that no one dies from breast cancer anymore while discussing his desire to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. I understand his thought that health care has improved over the years, it just wasn't the best way of conveying that thought.

Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey blows up again while on vacation. A passerby made a comment about his education policies and Christie went Christie. "You're a real big shot, a real big shot shooting your mouth off like that," Christie stated. The man replied, "just take care of the teachers." Christie fired back, "keep walking away, keep walking." 

This after he abused a reporter who asked a question the governor did not want to answer. At that incident, the Governor called the man "stupid" and apologized to the rest of the crowd for having to deal with the "idiot."

I find this fascinating only because the GOP wanted him to run for president, and he is still a possible vice-presidential candidate. He could set the whole tone for a new generation of angry republicans. The haters would love him.

Paul Ryan, the Wisconsin republican who came up with a budget plan that is embraced by the GOP, and hated by everyone else including nuns, has a new tactic in regards to health care. In negating the views of many that health care should be a right, and not a privilege, Ryan responded thusly, “I think this at the end of the day is a big philosophy difference,” he continued. “What Ms. Kennedy and others were saying is that this is a new government-granted right. We disagree with the notion that our rights come from government, that the government can now grant us and define our rights. Those are ours, they come from nature and God, according to the Declaration of Independence — a huge difference in philosophy.”

Yes Congressman, rights might possibly derive from nature, but happily god didn't have anything to do with it. I think with the current state of affairs in the republican party, the only thing they wish to give us is servitude. Obey please.

Debtor's Dilemma

Before the civil war, debtor's prisons were eliminated, but apparently here we go again. Make no mistake, this is a travesty. If you are poor, and can't pay the fine, you go to prison. The New York Times reported a story concerning Gina Ray who had a speeding ticket for $179 that ended up costing $3,170 in fines and fees. Probation companies are promising income to broke towns, which is why we see inflated fees and fines. She ended up with 40 days in jail as well, and will probably serve more since she can't afford the costs.

Apparently with misdemeanors, even with the possibility of serving time, the right to counsel is infrequently brought up. We know this problem is specific to one group, and that is the poor. If the democrats wanted to pick up a new class warfare slogan, this one would work.

Prisons for profit must be enjoying this new concept. 

Lisa Lindsay was taken away in handcuffs for not paying a $280 medical bill. A breast cancer survivor, and now a criminal.

Now it is not only a hardship to be poor, but also a criminal activity. 

Hello Hell

Though we can't say that temperatures in the U.S. are caused by global warming, they sure do give us a look into a possible future. Scientists say this is "what global warming will look like."

Droughts, wildfires that have burned up 2.1 million acres, heat waves effecting a good part of the country, all point to an impending disaster. That disaster could be seen in food shortages. Grain price are once again shooting up and have reached the 2008 levels where the world saw a shortage in food supplies. 

We know that conservatives are doing their best to insinuate that global warming is a hoax. They will do whatever is necessary to downplay anyone that publicly states climate change is real. This week, a meteorologist named Doug Kammerer matter-of-factly stated, "if we did not have climate change, we wouldn't see this." That didn't set well with the deniers at all.

Fox liar Malkin didn't like Doug's honesty and her blitzkrieg of the facts shows just how low she can go. I hope her grandchildren will love the hell she is creating. I don't know why it bothers me more that a woman takes this stance than a man, I keep thinking that mothers are more prone to nurture than kill; an abomination?

The Keystone XL Pipeline being pushed by the climate killing conservatives in power. Whether we know positively that we are seeing the effects of climate change or not, we do know what effect tar sand oils will have on the climate.James Hansen, who in the early 80's predicted what our climate after the turn of the century would look like, has gone on record saying that sand tar oil creates three times the global warming emissions as conventional methods.

Climate scientists say we are debating the wrong problem. It is not whether climate change is a fact, it is. The debate should be about how bad it will be and by when. Instead we have the Malkin's of the world control the conversation with uninformed opinions.  

Bible Belt

The American home of god, the deep south, is also the home of god's white men. Pastor William J. Collier of Alabama is holding a christian conference and everyone should come, as long as you're blindingly white. I only comment on this because of Collier's amusing statement,"We don't have the facilities to accommodate other people. We haven't got any invitations to black, Muslim events. Of course we are not invited to Jewish events and stuff." Does anyone but me wonder what special facilities are needed to accommodate americans that aren't white? Even if he meant he doesn't have the room to house all his guests should everyone come, it still could have been first come first serve, right? The best part, the conference will end with a "sacred christian cross lighting." 

The bible belt could easily be described in a more accurate manner; the porn belt. God's blessed really enjoy all types of porn, warehouses are full of whatever a good christian needs to survive. Porn should be political this year, since there is a full blown war on women in progress, maybe conservatives should be taken to task over their family values. The heart of conservatism is synonymous hard core sex, should we ask them all about this? Social conservatives have always railed against pornography, lets see what answers they come up with.

Quick fact, the top ten states downloading gay porn are all red. Anti-gay maybe, but gay porn? Love it!

Occupy Oasis

The revolution will not be covered.

In 2008, a factory owned by Bank of America closed its doors. Vacation pay and  wages were all denied by the bank, and the occupation began. The company was bought by Serious Energy, who is now getting ready to sell. The occupation begins again. According to union officials, Serious agreed to find a buyer for the factory, and they do have a bid. Seemingly they've changed their minds. They are no longer looking to keep it a functioning factory, apparently the sell off will benefit several local investors from the area.

If we have learned anything from the Occupy movement, it is that the police are here to protect the wealthy. There is an argument being expressed that police are here to insure inequality; race, class, gender, sexuality and so on. We do seem to have a highly militarized police force, and we are probably too late to stop it.

In Philadelphia, occupiers flashed a large 99% We The People message over Independence Hall, which was seen as a crime. Subsequently, those who accomplished the feat were arrested. It appears that Occupy is still a force to be reckoned with, even if you have to search to find news on the movement. This is possibly the biggest social movement ever, and it is ignored.

Sickly Sorrows

Pennsylvania conservative Governor Tom Corbett has found a glitch in the system, and has saved the state some money by knocking 89,000 children off of medicaid. Wasn't hard, those who need the service were given ten days to not only file, but to have the paperwork processed as well. The deluge of mail couldn't be handled. Good job Governor, the children with leukemia, heart defects and cerebral palsy salute you. This is besides the 800,000 that will not get to benefit from the Affordable Care Act if he continues to be a dick.

I will keep these thoughts in your mind, because they are atrocious.

In Florida Governor Scott will deny 1 million citizens medicaid if he holds to his promise of opting out of the Affordable Care Act. Somehow prohibiting the sick from health care is the right decision for the people. 

In South Carolina, same idiocy. Governor Haley says her state will opt out as well, leaving 330,000 hated citizens without health care.

Mississippi's Governor Bryant also states that giving health care to 500,000 citizens would not be good for the state. He should say, not good for his buddies.

Louisiana's Governor Jindall compares the ACA to buying a Chevy Volt. I'd like to see him wiggle through that statement. He's hoping for a new president so he can withhold humanitarian actions to hundreds of thousands of citizens. I haven't been able to find the exact number.

Governor Brownback of Kansas also states he will deprive 130,000 citizens of a basic human necessity. He is also betting on a long shot presidential win. Another third of a million people denied.

In Texas, 1.5 million people will be effected by Governor Perry's stance on the ACA. Let me say that again, 1.5 million people. 

Fifteen states are saying they will opt out in all. 

Education Enemies

Updates on the plan to rewrite American History in Texas. 

Texas had 4.8 million textbook reading school children in 2011. Much of the country uses their textbooks which is why the amendments they propose and pass effect so many. 

Texas originally gained control by paying 100% of the costs of all public school textbooks, as long as they were approved by their board. Money once again repressing education in the states. The whole process is a sham, and once had the "New Deal" tossed out of our history.

Starting in 2010 and still moving are the following changes that not only distort history, but brainwash the students into ideology instead of critical thinking. 

Everyone still remembers Thomas Jefferson being deleted. In the section of great Enlightenment thinkers, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes and others were all removed from the books. Jefferson was finally put back in, but they removed the word "Enlightenment," which greatly changes the context of his contributions. The philosophers were replaced with religious leaders like Aquinas; which should have horrified every atheist in the country. 

Religious freedom barely a footnote, christianity is where it is at.

No more capitalism, it is now the free enterprise system. Sounds so much nicer doesn't it?

No talk about progressive or minority issues, instead it focuses on the conservative resurgence of the 80's and 90's. The Moral Majority, the NRA and the Heritage Foundation, all heroes in our new history. And please give Reagan much more coverage, after all, he defeated communism.

Now students must learn about the unintended consequences of the Great Society. You know, affirmative action and Title IX. Wasn't really that great I guess.

McCarthy was right, there were communists infiltrating our government.

Hip Hop doesn't exist, we should go back to the gold standard, etc.

A big win for conservatism if this garbage is being taught across much of the country. 

Whether it is about science, history or any other part of the education system, should we allow any ideological rewrites? They now include on the subject of evolution thatchildren consider gaps in the fossil records and if natural selection is enough to explain the complexity of human cells. 

I have to get a hold of some local textbooks and check it out. I remember the outrage at the time, but I don't remember much being changed. Can you imagine a whole generation of Americans that you can't find common ground with?

Planet Politics

The crisis in Europe continues, and Americans get a front row seat to see what austerity measures do to a populace. 

Spain's third largest bank, Bankia, was the benefactor of a public bailout to the tune of 23 billion euros. We know this story, banks profit always, the public loses; always. There as here, we have some who protest. Three cantaora singers entered the bank and began singing cante jondo, Andalusion gypsy songs of grief, pain and protest. I like.

It would seem to be the usual work of greed, but what is different than what Americans are used to is that there is an investigation into the bank's tactics; maybe they will get justice while we wait? Only months after Bankia's IPO, they were filing bankruptcy. The High Court is investigating allegations of fraud. 

Greece has decided that unchecked capitalism is the way to go. They intend to privatize natural gas and water, hell; Greece is up for sale. International investors will be in control of their natural resources soon. 

France is also selling off government run or supported entities. Capitalism is alive and well on the European continent, no matter who they elect. They do appear to have laws on the books to prevent unchecked capitalism, but their way of life is changing like the rest of the world's is.

Interesting enough, Finland isn't putting up with the crisis. They still have a triple A rating and according to their finance minister, will leave the eurozone instead of contributing to the collapse. If anyone gets a hand from them, they better come up with collateral. 

Italy is trying to drive a hard bargain by insisting that borrowing costs be reduced. Good luck with that.

These tidbits all center around one thought, austerity measures. I think it would be a good thing for us all to watch how that plays out.

American Angst

The big news is that the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the individual mandate which is the central piece of the legislation. Basically the entire law was upheld except that states can now opt out of medicaid expansion; that was not a part of the original legislation. 

The expected answers from the conservative governed states is that they are happy they can opt out of expanding medicaid and not be penalized for doing so. The expanded medicaid coverage would allow non-elderly individuals with incomes up to 133 percent of the poverty line to receive health benefits. This would cover another 16 million citizens by 2019. 

Silly conservatives. The federal government would pay 100 percent of the expansion for the first three years and then slowly go down to 90 percent of the cost by 2020 and every year after. Sounds like the cost/benefit ratio for individual states would be good thing, unless you are a Republican.

Mitt Romney's campaign is still saying they'll repeal the law, but if they lose this election they might as well give up on the thought. The benefits of the act will by then be effecting millions of Americans, and they will not want to give those benefits away.

No need to point out the states that are claiming they will opt out. If it is conservative led, citizens will be denied that basic human need; health care.

In a bright moment for FOX and CNN, both reported that the ACA had been overturned by the Supreme Court causing ten minutes of insanity from politicians and talking heads. 

Chief Justice John Roberts has been taking a lot of flack for his decision, by those that are supposedly on his side. No good deed goes unpunished in GOPville. It would seem a victory for conservatives in at least one point. Roberts has gutted the Commerce Clause, which in the long run is something conservatives will embrace.

The Supreme Court has been busy. This week they also struck down most of Arizona's immigration laws. Unfortunately they approved the part that allows officers of the law to check the immigration status of anyone they pull over. Still racial profiling to me. 

The court also upheld their Citizen's United case by overturning Montana's long standing "copper kings" law. There was hope that Montana's rejection of Citizen's United might bring the case back up for review; no joy there.

The tea party controlled house voted to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt for giving them everything they asked for. Though possibly not as important as the ACA ruling, it is the oddest political story I've seen in a long time. The history behind the pursuit of Holder by conservatives is one long strange road; think NRA and supposed crazy conspiracies by the left to use the issue for gun control.

Education Enemies

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney stated last Wednesday that students should get as much education as "they can afford." Since he supports the Paul Ryan budget plan to cut Pell grants, and he supports profit driven education, students would be wise to be out in force coming election day. If you're poor, you will always be poor since you will not have access to higher education. 

Another defeat for education was the extension of the student loan interest rate. Though it kept the rates from doubling, it will add 20 billion dollars worth of debt for students. Starting this week all federally subsidized student loans will be charged interest. It used to be that no interest was accrued on loans while in school or for a 6 month grace period after finishing. 

This didn't accomplish the goal.

God's Greatest

American Family Association's pundit Bryan Fischer went all in with his latest rant. If you care about the environment, Satan is behind you. Gay rights and abortion, all the devil's doing. Apparently this is a weekly thing for him now, his last rant was that by allowing gay couple to have families we are all supporting child abuse.

Jan Michelson is upset that nuns are riding around on a bus protesting the Paul Ryan budget. His solution? Drag them off the bus and pistol whip them. Shows the lack of respect christian conservatives have for women, even women believers are fair game.

Nuns, get your guns.

Wicked Women

In Mississippi a new law that requires abortion providers to be certified OB/GYNS and have privileges at the local hospital will apparently shut down the last remaining clinic in the state. 

Starting today in South Dakota, a new law comes into effect that will require doctors to ascertain whether she has been coerced into having an abortion, or if she is at risk of psychological disorders. Happily a federal judged blocked much of the law. No 72 hour waiting period and no visits to anti-abortion clinics.

In New Hampshire, Governor John Lynch vetoed a bill preventing late term abortions. That veto has been overturned by the legislature and will become law. Governor Lynch stated there was already a federal law on the books about late term abortions, but the legislative bodies disagreed. Now if a woman's life is in danger from her pregnancy, two doctors must concur that there is a danger. 

In Florida, a woman is being allowed to sue over denial of contraception. The lady was raped. A doctor gave her two emergency contraception pills, but when she filed the report on the rape, officers found out she was wanted. She was put in jail and her items confiscated, including the other pill that she was supposed to take. The next morning she asked for the pill, the guard refused claiming it was a matter of conscience. 

Planet Politics

I will not being doing planet politics very often. I do not think I have the understanding that a native of a certain country would have on local news and politics. 

So, to all of our members who live around the world, if you have a story of interest you'd like to publish, I'd be happy to edit the article and add it to this blog. Language and grammer I will help with, and I will make sure it represents your thoughts correctly.

Thank you!

Neal's Nook

Hate

Clenched fists and tight lips

Squinting bloody eyes, brows furrowed in rage

Slurs at your fingertips, frothing at the mouth

Spittle mixed with words, you can’t wait to get out

The passion is fed

Red, red, red; from birth to death

Corded sinews, heaving chests

Until life’s fire is entirely spent

Keep the blood; boiling

Keep sowing the seeds

Keep the discord; flowing

Hate needs to feed

It’s a living hell, a physical torment

Frozen in agony, hair stands on end

Living heat finally cooled

Living fools, better off dead

Frame the words, in quaint terms

Forge the tool, never let it cool

So called leaders, conservative hate

Definitely the feeders, we are unable to sate

Keep the blood; boiling

Keep sowing the seeds

Keep the discord; flowing

hate needs to feed

Your brothers and sisters, your neighbors and friends

Your list gets bigger, it will never end

So called leaders, conservative cronies

Definitely the feeders, we are unable to sate

A conspiracy born, baseless rumors spread

Keeping dull minds fed, blood runs red

Rile them up, spit in their faces

who do you hate, who must go next

Keep the blood; boiling

Keep sowing the seeds

Keep the discord; flowing

hate needs to feed

Angry America

Hat tip to Adriana for pointing out a blog to me on atheist republicans; the gist being how can you support a party who hates you? Though atheism doesn't exactly preclude conservatism, the inherently religious statements in the republican platform would make it seem to be a match more likely to be found in a mythical hell.

State by state conservatives have platforms that are meant to establish god as truth. In Iowa, besides the anti-science plank when it comes to the environment and the anti-women's health issues, they also want to reframe education. Yes, evolution is not a fact and creationism should be taught side by side. They want the books supporting the nonsense in publicly funded libraries as well. Interesting enough they intend to help that thought along by downsizing the Iowa Department of Education and eliminating their federal counterpart. 

You can look at each and every state's republican party platform and read the same nonsense, It would be impossible for me to be a republican since so much of it is based on falsehoods

Their National Platform isn't any better. One line says it all:

"We ask all to join us in rejecting the forces of hatred and bigotry and in denouncing all who practice or promote racism, anti-Semitism, ethnic prejudice, or religious intolerance."

They lump the religious thought with easily discernible ones; of course a person should not be judged by any of the above, yet religion's creed has always been one of intolerance. Is this statement meaningful or confusing? Liberals for the most part agree with the basic message against intolerance, but we do not ignore the fact that large privileged right wing religious groups whose intolerance for race, women, ethnicity and gender preference are apparent. 

The right's obsession with groups that they don't agree with getting "special" privileges is a twisted reality; what all those groups desire is the benefits from rights that are already in place.

In a weird twist, the Secular Coalition of America has hired a conservative, Edwina Rogers, to help build coalitions in all fifty states. Looking to unite atheists as a voting block by hiring a conservative who knows how to twist the truth with the best of them seems absurd to anyone who relies on facts to make their personal decision.

Apparently she's looking to recruit secular republicans, but to be fair, she is also involved in keeping religion out of health care, education and policies that discriminate because of religion. 

Gay endorsements for conservatives are as bad as atheist endorsements; possibly worse. GOProud describes its members as gay, yet three out of the seven board members are straight. GOProud has endorsed Mitt Romney, two out of the four gay board members went for Romney and all three of the straight members.

Presidential politics continues the grind. President Obama announced his plan on immigration. Conservatives fight back by attacking Attorney General Eric Holder. Childish.

What is interesting about the contempt charge, is that it doesn't matter whether they get the paperwork or not. Congressman Issa said House Republicans would have to see the documents before delaying or canceling a contempt vote. “We can’t have a promise that we’re going to be satisfied and dismiss this contempt,” he said.

Well, no need to give them the paperwork then.

Health Hypocrites

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has vetoed a bill that would have allowed vaccinations of seventh graders against a cancer causing sexually transmitted virus. HPV infection, no problem. Though at one time supporting a mandate for the vaccination, she has now decided it is better politics to fight reality.

We know that there has been a battle between the Catholic Church and the administration going on over contraceptives. What I find interesting is their view on why conscience is important. They relate the civil rights movement with women's health issues as if they are one and the same. The civil rights movement was a religious movement according to them, which is of course a hard thought to accept; we know what the bible and other musings from history say about slavery. I guess it's a subtle form of rewriting the bible one more time.

The statement that says it all is this:

"This is a matter of whether religious people and institutions may be forced by the government to provide such coverage even when it violates our consciences." 

I must give them credit for the subterfuge. Combining "people" and "institutions" as if they are one and the same; does an institution have a conscience? Then there is the "forced" to provide;  another nice framing of the discussion. It is all about them, not you. 

The Catholic Church is a willing participant in spreading more than mental diseases. This month they were outraged that a lesbian employee sued St. Joseph's Medical Center. What is it that this woman would want? The same rights as heterosexual couples. 

Childhood Cancelled

This is one of those subjects that should aggravate any caring human on the planet. The Senate passed the Farm Bill, which cuts 4.5 billion from SNAP. Basically SNAP is the newer term for Food Stamps. This will effect a half a million low income Americans, because you know, those people are freeloaders to begin with. 

This is significant in two ways. Besides once again taking away needed assistance to the poorest of us to give to the billionaires, it effects the moral constitution of this country. It reduces the monthly benefit for families by 90 dollars. For some of us, 90 dollars may not be that big of a deal, but to a growing population of impoverished humans, this is a big blow.

Next time you hear about a CEO making a shit load of cash, think; 90 dollars. A 4.5 billion dollar subsidy cut for the wealthiest corporations on the earth would not make a difference in their lives, while 90 dollars goes a long way in helping feed a family.

Once again, a fetus is worth so much more than a child. 

Liberals supported the bill, and it did have a couple of progressive causes added to the bill. 

Jerry Sandusky was convicted of 45 child sex abuse counts. The problem with this case is that it is not over. Sandusky is a criminal, doesn't seem to be much doubt about it. The problem here is not only Sandusky, it is an entire institution. How many people are involved in the coverup is the story line.

But even that doesn't get to the root of the problem; greed and power seems to be always at the center of perversion.

Planet Politics

Egypt has a new leader, President Morsi. The Muslim Brotherhood will now lead the country, kind of. Apparently it really didn't matter who is the president, the military still is in control. 

Greece shows us that politics is generally the same in western countries. The strong divide in ideology and the excessively bad behavior is unfortunately getting commonplace. Most of us have seen the clip of Ilias Kasidiaris throwing a tantrum on live television. Then he raised tempers by saying he was going to sue the victims of his attack for provoking him. As far as I can tell, he is still in hiding.

Very conservative people really are angry.

Pakistan has a new prime minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf. Apparently corruption and other problems may make life tough for the gentleman. 

Turkey is upset with Syria, as the rest of the world is. Syria has formed a new government, with all the old faces; not much help. Turkey's dismay over having one of their jets shot down could open the door for military intervention.

Final Fixation

The Death Penalty

Killing is for the weak

an eye for an eye

thinking people are freaks

death doesn’t make them complete

Bitter because life is not just

they have lost, now so will you

won’t bring back the loved one

won’t heal your heart

An eye for an eye is cruel

leaves us with blinded fools

compounds the crime

adds another death rhyme

From unwilling hands of mine

that dole out another dime

to torture and kill

a citizen possibly innocent

Hang your heads in shame

because you’re part of the blame

doesn’t make it right

doesn’t make it good

Doesn’t mean you should

because you have the power

doesn’t mean you have the right 
it creates a moral blight

Stay that hand of might

think of the legacy you leave

stay the hand that’s built on fright

think of all the bereaved

Most have children and families

you kill a father you create another

you kill a brother you shame another

you kill a son you kill a daughter



You all cry out for death

as long as it isn’t one of yours

you demand death

as long as it isn’t one of yours

you need death

as long as it isn’t one of yours

A faulty thought of thinking apes

extinction would be better

a sickness never cured

religion warps our matter

Humans die daily
children wail in loss
sick minds killed at birth

may satisfy your need

Now we kill the defenseless
the same as any killer
it feeds on our thoughts

death and loss

Did it bring back your mother
or maybe a lover
there is no satisfaction
only false righteousness

You all cry out for death
as long as it isn’t one of yours

you demand death

as long as it isn’t one of yours

you need death

as long as it isn’t one of yours

Angry Americans

President Obama breaks a move. A policy change on Friday will allow "dreamers" to legally remain in the country for two years while the battle on immigration continues. The President had to deal with the usual lack of civility from the right that he has encountered since taking office.

Neil Munro from The Daily Caller, a hack job news service run by Tucker Carlson, decided to interrupt the president's speech because of his false self-image of importance. The President kindly scolded the child and continued with his prepared remarks.

As Mr. Munro makes it apparent; it is very easy to be a clown.

Starting off with Representative Wilson's "you lie!" statement during the President's State of the Union address, and continuing with that bastion of conservatism, the Supreme Court's Alito's "not true" comment; the lack of respect continues.

Elizabeth Warren is the center of a manufactured controversy. As the polls show her climbing in the Massachusetts senate race, the opposition gets frantic. If you were to watch FOX - and I do not recommend anyone ever watching FOX - the "Cherokee" statement would be the only piece of information you would need to make up your mind on who gets your vote. 

Unfortunately, Warren stated that she had Cherokee blood in her family line, and conservatives want her to prove it. This is the big news of course, anything that actually has to do with running the country is off limits to right wing media. 

Massachusetts voters do not care, but conservatives will keep drilling her on the topic until it becomes the central issue regarding her electability.

Can you blame them though? Warren is a liberal rock star right now. A populist message that voters embrace; she is a strong democrat that we should all support right now. This senate race will be one of the most expensive this year; big money has a need to stop her.

These lines say it all:

“The Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, said, ‘Corporations are people.’ No, Mitt, corporations are not people,” she said to cheers. “People have hearts. They have kids. They get jobs. They get sick, they laugh, they cry, they dance, they live and they die. Learn the difference.”

Democrats need her strength, support this woman.

State Scum

My home state of Michigan with it's Tea Party Governor and state legislature have decided to bring the war on women home. At one time I stopped calling this a war, because in wars people die. I'm back to calling it a war, because women will die.

Michigan has been taken over by conservatives. The Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, House, Senate, Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Not good days for the state at all. Besides the implementation of non-democratic Emergency Financial Managers, the taxing of the poorest to pay for the tax cuts of the richest, the union busting and civil rights destroying tactics; we now must stop abortion at all costs.

State Representative Mike Shirkey has made this perfectly clear with his statement regarding the legislation; "Until we completely eliminate abortions in Michigan and completely defund Planned Parenthood, we have work to do."

Any questions?

Once again woman to the rescue. The opposition started off with Representative Rashida Tlaib telling the GOP controlled House that the men there should stop having sex with women, they should find someone else to have it with. She also asked all women in Michigan to stop having sex. Representatives Lisa Brown and Barb Byrum were both banned from speaking on the House floor after the use of the words "vagina" and "vasectomy."

Planned Parenthood supporters descended on the capital in force. Yelling, "this is our house" and "we'll remember in November," they will not stop fighting.

House Speaker Jase Bolger stated that it is his job to maintain the decorum of the house. I guess vagina and vasectomy are new four letter words for conservatives. If you have the time and inclination, tweet "vagina" to @mihousegop; they are getting bombed.

Right to Life of Michigan helped write the current crop of bills that will basically make it illegal to have an abortion in the state.

This is democracy in action:

Silent Suicide

Global Warming, or what conservative strategist Frank Lutz managed to change to "Climate Change" so it didn't sound so bad, is to the best of our knowledge slowly destroying our planet. The Rio+20, the United Nation's Conference on Sustainable Development is under way.

It appears that the global demand for resources is fifty percent higher than the rate that nature can regenerate them. Does this not compute? We are reaching the point of no return. Politics and greed are more important than life. Our oceans are polluted, the planet is warming and species are disappearing; and the world does nothing. Drill for more oil, blow off mountaintops for coal, fracking for natural gas; hastening our demise appears to be the only goal.

Why we will not confront the problem is simple, there are forces keeping the discussion at bay. The Heartland Institute last May made it clear that those who worry about the science of climate change are left wing extremists. Santorum says climate change is not real, because plants like CO2. As far back as 2009, congress was told that global warming is not real. The biblical world view looks at the earth as being well designed, no reason to do anything. Then we have several climatologists who are not associated with big oil that deny there is a problem. There work has been discredited, but that isn't stopping them from creating confusion.

As a freethinking group, should atheists in general support the theories that have been accepted by the scientific community, or are we like much of the rest of the planet's population, apathetic?

Jehovah Jackasses

Apparently mormons have an extra chromosome when it comes to American exceptionalism according to Senator Mike Lee of Utah. One can take comfort in the thought that if they do have that extra chromosome, it makes up for the lack of grey matter.

A religious discrimination suit against Taco Bell was recently settled for $27,000. A man who refused to cut his hair because of his religious beliefs was the center of the controversy. Apparently religious beliefs are more important than hair in your food.

The sacred hair battle continues in New York City where a man was cut by the police department. The gentleman, a Hasidic Jew, is the man behind the law suit. It worked for him in the army, he's giving it a shot now with the police department. The NYPD says that the gentleman was aware of the restrictions while in the Academy, so this appears to be a setup.  

A Muslim in Washington D.C. is suing over religious discrimination as well this month. He needs Fridays off to attend prayer services. 

All of these stories are examples of an increasingly popular theme; religious people are being allowed to subvert society by imposing their personal religion on us all. This is how to gain a foothold in America that will be hard for secularists to regain. If we keep rolling over to the nonsense that theists are being picked on, we have lost the battle.

Entertain no doubts, this is a perversion of everything the U.S. once stood for.

Supreme Stupidity

A fairly new poll is out showing that the Supreme Court favorability is down to 44%. Only one in eight Americans think the justices decide cases on their merits and 75% of the respondents said that cases were decided on personal and political views. 

I'll keep this short with just one thought. Why would Arizona remain so adamant about their immigration laws, or Florida fighting for the right to remove legal voters from the polls unless they know they have friends in the highest court of the land?

Conservatives are thumbing their noses at Obama's administration because they have a bought and paid for court. 

Citizen's United, the soon to be heard ruling of the Affordable Care Act; this court could prove that citizens have no rights and only the powerful are allowed to participate in democracy.

Final Fixations

First off, happy made up holiday to all the fathers out there. This edition of The Sunday Planet is being published early so I can keep my father-in-law company.

Here for your enjoyment, selected holidays in March:

March 3rd - If Pets Had Thumbs Day

March 5th - Multiple Personalities Day

March 9th - Panic Day

March 15th - Everything You Think Is Wrong Day

March 20th - Extraterrestrial Abductions Day

And a personal favorite:

March 26th - Make Up Your Own Holiday Day

From 31 Wacky Holidays in March.