Thursday, October 27, 2011

50% of All Workers Made Less than $26,000 in 2010 - Derek Thompson - Business - The Atlantic


50% of All Workers Made Less than $26,000 in 2010 - Derek Thompson - Business - The Atlantic: "Today we get our first look at American wages in 2010 based on payroll taxes reported to the Social Security Administration. David Cay Johnston picks out the most important takeaways, including:

1) Half of all workers made less than $26,364, the median wage in 2010. That means the typical wage is at its lowest level since 1999, after adjusting for inflation."

'via Blog this'

Oakland Police Critically Injure Iraq War Vet During Occupy March







Oakland Police Critically Injure Iraq War Vet During Occupy March: "The Oakland Police Department fired tear gas on Occupy Oakland demonstrators Tuesday night as they marched through downtown, determined to reclaim the camp that officers destroyed that morning. As the marchers zigged and zagged in search of safe ground, authorities bombarded and barricaded the activists into a drawn-out stalemate that resulted in further arrests.

The local police's use of force seriously injured an Occupy activist and Iraq War veteran.

Scott Olsen, 24, remains sedated on a respirator, in stable but critical condition at Oakland’s Highland Hospital after being hit in the head with a police projectile."

'via Blog this'

Occupy Oakland: Iraq war veteran in critical condition after police clashes

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

A heads up on the Greedy Old Party.


nintai: "A heads up on the Greedy Old Party."


A heads up on the Greedy Old Party.


'via Blog this'

Climate Change Skeptic's Talking Points Melt Away (12:42PM)– audio

 

A scientist known for his skepticism over climate change released a new study this month with surprising results. UC Berkeley astrophysicist Richard Muller and a team of other scientists recently set out to test whether measurements of Earth's temperature are too flawed to show that the Earth is warming. The analysis of more than 1.6 billion temperature measurements led him to write in a recent op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, "You should not be a skeptic, at least not any longer. Global warming is real." Muller is a complicated character, writes Andrew Revkin in the Dot Earth blog for the New York Times.

Outspoken Climate Skeptic Admits He Was Wrong About Global Warming

Outspoken Climate Skeptic Admits He Was Wrong About Global Warming
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-muller-global-warming-2011-10#ixzz1bpVQH4le

UC Berkeley physicist, and longtime climate skeptic, Richard Muller has finally gone on the offensive, publicly admitting he was wrong to doubt global-warming data in a piece for The Wall Street Journal.  

The outspoken professor, who gained notoriety in the climate-denial community for his rants against Al Gore and fueling the fire on Climategate, decided to take matters into his own hands earlier this year by creating an independent study to assess specific objections raised by climate skeptics.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-muller-global-warming-2011-10#ixzz1bpVUwECz

Rockville nursing home double shooting was murder-suicide, police say

At 9:30 a.m. Monday, Albert Ballard, 80, arrived at a nursing home in Rockville to visit his wife, Sandra, 74, as he did most every day. He signed in and was given a badge so he could move around the place.

Minutes later, shots were heard from Sandra Ballard’s room. The couple, married for more than four decades, were dead.

Montgomery County police classified the case as a murder-suicide, and officials said Albert Ballard shot his wife and then himself.

Conservatives Rediscover The Horrifying Truth: Mitt Romney Is Not One Of Them

Okay, Okay..  The 2012 Presidential election is going to be good and funny as conservatives sell their principles and vote her Romney. 

One of the reasons conservatives are trying so hard to embrace anyone but Mitt Romney as the GOP candidate is their ongoing suspicion that Mitt Romney isn't really a conservative.

And Romney keeps giving them material to justify this suspicion.

Today, Mitt Romney walked into a room filled with conservative activists who are trying to save Ohio Governor Jon Kaisch's public-sector union reforms from repeal.

Romney couldn't bring himself to endorse their work.

And now conservative commentators are flipping out.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/conservatives-rediscover-the-horrifying-truth-mitt-romney-is-not-one-of-them-2011-10#ixzz1bpUQAGA1

New target for 'Occupy Wall Street' critics: Media - Keach Hagey - POLITICO.com


New target for 'Occupy Wall Street' critics: Media - Keach Hagey - POLITICO.com: "Conservatives looking to delegitimize the Occupy Wall Street protests have a new tactic — targeting journalists.

The criticisms are a kind of conservative twofer, allowing them to hit old targets like NPR and The New York Times by raising questions about their objectivity, while at the same time undermining the grass-roots claims of the new protest movement by suggesting it has professional help — or at least professional cheerleaders."

'via Blog this'

Children locked in wire dog kennels at faeces-strewn mobile home 'to stop them escaping', says mother | Mail Online






Children locked in wire dog kennels at faeces-strewn mobile home 'to stop them escaping', says mother | Mail Online: "Four children have been rescued from a faeces-strewn mobile home after police found two boys, aged three and five, locked in a tiny wire dog kennel.

Officers were called to the property in North Platte, Nebraska, by a concerned member of the public."

'via Blog this'

Monday, October 24, 2011

The Romney Economy



Img:

The Romney Economy: "At Bain Capital, Romney remade one American business after another, overhauling management and directing vast sums of money to the top of the labor pyramid. The results made him a fortune. They also changed the world we live in."

'via Blog this'

Condoleezza Rice During Katrina: 'We Clearly Have A Race Problem'


Condoleezza Rice During Katrina: 'We Clearly Have A Race Problem': "Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said President George W. Bush had a "race problem" during Hurricane Katrina, but she defended him against his critics who, she said, tried to use the "race card" against him, according to excerpts from her upcoming memoir, No Higher Honor, published in Newsweek."

In the book, Rice recounted how she went shopping at the expensive Ferragamo shoe store in New York and returned to her hotel:

The airwaves were filled with devastating pictures from New Orleans. And the faces of most of the people in distress were black. I knew right away that I should never have left Washington. I called my chief of staff, Brian Gunderson. "I'm coming home," I said.
"Yeah. You'd better do that," he answered.
Then I called the President. "Mr. President, I'm coming back. I don't know how much I can do, but we clearly have a race problem," I said.



'via Blog this'

"Jesus is with the 99%"

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

snopes.com: Eisenhower on Social Security




"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes that you can do these things. Among them are a few Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, l952-----

snopes.com: Eisenhower on Social Security:

'via Blog this'

15-year-old girl shot during lunch at Cape Fear HS in Fayetteville | NBC17.com

15-year-old girl shot during lunch at Cape Fear HS in Fayetteville | NBC17.com: "School officials are beginning the process of releasing students at Mac Williams Middle and Cape Fear High schools following a shooting at the high school campus Monday afternoon.

Sheriff Earl "Moose" Butler says he's not sure what happened but says apparently a girl was shot by a small caliber gun while walking towards the breezeway during lunch.

"She turned to walk toward the breezeway and she failed," said Butler."

'via Blog this'

Sunday, October 23, 2011

CainInterview - YouTube

"I feel that strongly about it. If we can get the necessary support and it comes to my desk I’ll sign it. That’s all I can do. I will sign it," he said.

Unfortunately for Cain, as Politico's Ben Smith points out, the president doesn't sign constitutional amendments. In fact, he plays essentially no role in the process.




'via Blog this'

Friday, October 21, 2011

Few Americans take immigrants' jobs in Alabama

Qadhafi death 'victory' for Obama | POLITICO 44




Qadhafi death 'victory' for Obama | POLITICO 44: "Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) hailed the reported death of Muammar Qadhafi as a “victory” for President Obama.

“This is a victory for the president, the Obama administration but most importantly” for the Libyan people, McCain said on Fox News Thursday morning. "

'via Blog this'

Senate blocks money for teachers, firefighters - The Washington Post


Senate blocks money for teachers, firefighters - The Washington Post: "Nine days after President Obama’s $447 billion jobs package was blocked in the U.S. Senate, one of the plan’s key components — which would provide $35 billion to states and local governments to hire teachers and first responders — suffered the same fate late Thursday.

The vote represented the legislative part of a strategy by Democrats to convince voters that they are pushing popular job-creation bills that are being thwarted by Republican opposition.

"

'via Blog this'

Bill O'Reilly Book Burned By Soldiers In Afghanistan (PHOTOS)


Bill O'Reilly Book Burned By Soldiers In Afghanistan (PHOTOS): "A group of soldiers recently burned a box of Bill O'Reilly's books that had been sent to them in Afghanistan.

An anonymous soldier going by the name of Everqueer posted pictures of the burning on their Tumblr page. The book in question was "Pinheads and Patriots," which O'Reilly has sent to Afghanistan through a charity group."

"Some jerk sent us two boxes of this awful book (SPOILER ALERT: George Washington - Patriot; George Soros - Pinhead) instead of anything soldiers at a remote outpost in Afghanistan might need, like, say, food or soap," the soldier said. "Just burned the whole lot of them on my Commander's orders."



'via Blog this'

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Holy El Shit - Marco Rubio’s compelling family story embellishes facts, documents show

Marco is an anchor baby!



During his rise to political prominence, Sen. Marco Rubio frequently repeated a compelling version of his family’s history that had special resonance in South Florida. He was the “son of exiles,” he told audiences, Cuban Americans forced off their beloved island after “a thug,” Fidel Castro, took power.

But a review of documents — including naturalization papers and other official records — reveals that the Florida Republican’s account embellishes the facts. The documents show that Rubio’s parents came to the United States and were admitted for permanent residence more than 21 / 2 years before Castro’s forces overthrew the Cuban government and took power on New Year’s Day 1959.

update - OWS


tumblr_ltby11xW8c1qzl2uzo1_1280.png (720×484):

'via Blog this'

Douglas Foshee, El Paso CEO, To Get $95 Million Exit Package: Report



Douglas Foshee, El Paso CEO, To Get $95 Million Exit Package: Report: "Foshee's big exit pay may not be completely uncharacteristic among CEOs. C-suite level executives that don't work in finance make up the biggest share of the top 1 percent of income earners, according to a recent report."

'via Blog this'

U.S. Deportations Skyrocket in 2011 | News | BET


U.S. Deportations Skyrocket in 2011 | News | BET: "USCIS director John Morton said that a total of 400,000 people were removed from the country during the last fiscal year. If the affected countries are similar to those in 2010, the deportations are likely to have an impact on the thousands of Black immigrants from nations in Africa and the Caribbean that call the U.S. home.
 
Although the official data for the 2011 fiscal year has yet to be released, in 2010, Dominican Republic, Brazil and Nigeria"

'via Blog this'

Study: South Carolina voter ID law hit black precincts hardest - Mackenzie Weinger - POLITICO.com


Study: South Carolina voter ID law hit black precincts hardest - Mackenzie Weinger - POLITICO.com: "A new South Carolina voter identification law is impacting predominantly black precincts more than others in the state, according to a study by The Associated Press.

The measure requires that every person have a photo ID of some kind when they vote, whether it is a driver’s license, military ID or passport, the AP wrote. The law has been under review by the Department of Justice to see whether it violates the Voting Rights Act."

'via Blog this'

Team viewer - cool app

Hey, Protesters, Want To Stay Popular? Throw The Jew-Haters In The River


Hey, Protesters, Want To Stay Popular? Throw The Jew-Haters In The River: "Just as the Occupy Wall Street protest was starting to gain some momentum and support from mainstream Americans, we get some anti-Semitic bastard holding up a sign like this (see right):
That's despicable."

'via Blog this'

Finally! The Protesters Have Drafted A Set Of Demands For The Jobs Crisis


Finally! The Protesters Have Drafted A Set Of Demands For The Jobs Crisis: "We demand a massive public works and public service program with direct government employment at prevailing (union) wages paid for by taxing the rich and corporations, by immediately ending all of America's wars, and by ending all aid to authoritarian regimes to create 25 million new jobs to:
Expand education: cut class sizes and provide free university for all;
Expand healthcare and provide free healthcare for all (single payer system);
Build housing, guarantee decent housing for all;
Expand mass transit, provided for free;
Rebuild the infrastructure—bridges, flood control, roads;
Research and implement clean energy alternatives; and
Clean up the environment."

'via Blog this'

America's new favorite team: Wounded Warriors - CBS News



America's new favorite team: Wounded Warriors - CBS News: " "Half these guys are Army, the other half are Marines," said Dave Van Sleet, describing the Warriors softball team. "And they're best friends now."
Van Sleet is the coach and creator of the Wounded Warrior Amputee softball team. CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann reports Van Sleet spent 32 years working at Veterans Affairs hospitals, fitting prosthetic limbs on wounded soldiers."

'via Blog this'

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Americans Against Americans' With 'Take Our Country Back' Rhetoric (VIDEO)

Amazing Charts Show How 90% Of The Country Has Gotten Shafted Over The Past 30 Years...



Amazing Charts Show How 90% Of The Country Has Gotten Shafted Over The Past 30 Years...: "The Economic Policy Institute has put together an amazing interactive chart that shows the growth of incomes in the U.S. over the past 90 years — broken down by who the gains went to.
(Thanks to Barry Ritholtz, for alerting us to this and for running some numbers himself.)"

'via Blog this'

Ex Marine Sgt Speaks on Occupy Wall Street Incident


After the violent clashes between police and protesters at Saturday’s massive Occupy Wall Street demonstration in Times Square, a marine who served in Iraq delivered an impromptu speech in front of some NYPD officers, denouncing their crowd-control methods and police brutality.
“This is not a war zone!” he yells at NYPD officers. “These are unarmed people.”
A crowd eventually gathers around the marine, identified as Sergeant. Shamar Thomas, who served with the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion USMC in Iraq.

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/10/18/ex-marine-sgt-speaks-on-occupy-wall-street-incident/

Marine Corps veteran Sgt. Shamar Thomas on Occupy Times Square, veterans’ rights - Countdown with Keith Olbermann // Current TV




Marine Corps veteran Sgt. Shamar Thomas on Occupy Times Square, veterans’ rights - Countdown with Keith Olbermann // Current TV: "Marine Corps veteran Sgt. Shamar Thomas on Occupy Times Square, veterans’ rights"

'via Blog this'

Monday, October 17, 2011

Tonight on 'Countdown': Occupy Times Square participant Marine Sgt. Shamar Thomas - Countdown with Keith Olbermann // Current TV





Tonight on 'Countdown': Occupy Times Square participant Marine Sgt. Shamar Thomas - Countdown with Keith Olbermann // Current TV: "“I took an Oath that I live by. am NOT anti-NYPD. I am anti-Police Brutality. I am no longer under contract with the USMC so I do NOT have to follow military uniform regulations. I DON’T affiliate myself with ANY GROUPS or POLITICAL ORG. I affiliate myself with the AMERICAN PEOPLE that’s it. I REFUSE to affiliate with anything that SEPARATES. There is an obvious problem in the country and PEACEFUL PEOPLE should be allowed to PROTEST without Brutality. I was involved in a RIOT in Rutbah, Iraq 2004 and we did NOT treat the Iraqi citizens like they are treating the unarmed civilians in our OWN Country. No one was brutalized because our mission was to ‘WIN the hearts and minds.’ why should I expect anything less in my OWN Country.”"

'via Blog this'

Picture of the Day: Mitt Romney's Money Shot - Chris Good - Politics - The Atlantic


Picture of the Day: Mitt Romney's Money Shot - Chris Good - Politics - The Atlantic: "Mitt Romney made a lot of money, has a lot of money, and spends a lot of money campaigning. Now we know he also once posed with money."

'via Blog this'

The Reagan Administration supports "Islamic Fundamentalism"

Ronald Reagan meets Afghan Mujahideen Commanders at the White House in 1985 (Reagan Archives)

Todays the Taliban, Al Qaeda and terrorists - yestarday the big American allied forces. In 1982, Ronald Reagan dedicated the Space Shuttle Columbia to the resistance fighters in Afghanistan. Just as the Columbia, we think, represents man's finest aspirations in the field of science and technology so too does the struggle of the Afghan people represent man's highest aspirations for freedom. I am dedicating, on behalf of the American people, the March 22nd launch of the Columbia to the people of Afghanistan.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=20958

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Obama courts Arizona Senate candidate, may contest state 'heavily' - Alexander Burns - POLITICO.com

Obama courts Arizona Senate candidate, may contest state 'heavily' - Alexander Burns - POLITICO.com: "President Barack Obama called former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona last month to urge him to run for Senate in Arizona, two Democratic sources told POLITICO.

The call signals that Obama is engaged in recruiting a strong Senate candidate in a state Democrats have eyed as a presidential battleground."

'via Blog this'

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Beyond The Battlefield: Lack Of Long-Term Care Can Lead To Tragic Ends For Wounded Veterans


Beyond The Battlefield: Lack Of Long-Term Care Can Lead To Tragic Ends For Wounded Veterans: ""Beyond the Battlefield" is a 10-part series exploring the challenges that severely wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan face after they return home, as well as what those struggles mean for those close to them. Other stories in the series can be found here.

Jimmy Cleveland Kinsey II was a good Marine who got blown up in Iraq and struggled for years with his wounds and with the demons that came with them. Eventually he lost, dying sick and alone, facedown on the floor of a Houston hotel room. He was 25 years old."

'via Blog this'

Message from the 1%!

who are people like Rush Limbaugh NOT calling parasites these days?

From: Tumblr – Girininjou

  • squoose said: So, between soldiers, teachers, fire fighters, and police who are people like Rush Limbaugh NOT calling parasites these days? The true parasites are those that make their money by shifting numbers around, resell loans, or simply talk for a living.

 

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

U.S. accuses Iran of plot to kill Saudi ambassador–video

 

Holder is the man!

Mexican cartels, C-4 explosives and the $1.5 million plot: Details emerge of ...

 

The Obama administration on Tuesday accused agents of the Iranian government of being involved in a plan to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the thwarted plot would further isolate Tehran.

Two people, including a member of Iran's special operations unit known as the Quds Force, were charged in New York federal court. Justice Department officials say they were working with a person they thought was an associate of a Mexican drug cartel to target the Saudi diplomat, Adel Al-Jubeir. But their contact was an informant for the Drug Enforcement Agency who told U.S. authorities about all their planning.

FBI Director Robert Mueller said many lives could have been lost in the plot to kill the ambassador with bombs in the U.S. But Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, said no explosives were actually placed and no one was in any danger because of the informant's cooperation with authorities.

Netanyahu Announces Deal to Free Shalit

Israel and Hamas have reached a tentative agreement on a proposal brokered by Egypt to exchange Palestinian prisoners for an Israeli soldier held captive for more than five years, both sides said Tuesday. The Israeli cabinet was meeting in emergency session to discuss it.

The agreement would exchange Sgt Schalit, 25, for around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Israel had previously refused to consider Hamas' demands because some of the prisoners are serving lengthy sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis. Exact details of the deal were not immediately available.

Sgt Schalit's plight has captured the attention of Israel, where military service is mandatory for Jewish citizens and families identify with the Schalit family's pain.

The soldier's father, Noam, has become a well-known public figure by leading a campaign to win his son's freedom, leading demonstrations and sleeping in a tent outside Netanyahu's residence.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/israel-agrees-captive-soldier-swap-16062529.html#ixzz1aVVaV0lL

Did You Hear About The Conservative Blogger Who Got Pepper Sprayed While 'Infiltrating' Occupy DC?– video

 

On Saturday, Occupy DC (Occupy Wall Street's Washington arm) was in full march mode, 100 people strong — but they didn't know they had a spy in their midst.

Patrick Howley is an editor at the conservative blog, The American Spectator. He infiltrated Occupy DC to expose how radical they are, but ended up getting pepper sprayed himself for leading a charge into the Air and Space Museum.

The protesters' plan was to enter the museum and stage a "die-in" — a demonstration where individuals lay down and play dead — at the foot of an exhibit displaying U.S. drone weapons. Remember, last week marked the 10th Anniversary of the Afghan War.

However, Howley, who led the charge up the steps and into the museum, ended up being the only protester that managed to get beyond the vestibule.

 

occupy dc protesters flee air and space museum pepper spray

 

Dress For Protest: Group Wants Wall Street Occupiers To Suit Up

Dress For Protest: Group Wants Wall Street Occupiers To Suit Up

Want to help? You can give them money over here or you can send nice suits you aren't using anymore to:

Proper Business Attire Working Group
C/O The House of Yes
342 Maujer Street
Brooklyn, NY
11206

Any extra suits will go to threads for success. Suit up!

Occupy Boston protesters on the Greenway Express before police arrest–video

The police in Boston arrested more than 100 people early Tuesday morning following a march tied to a national protest movement that began on Wall Street in New York.

Boston.com reported on the protest, known as Occupy Boston, which swelled as protesters walked, sometimes in the middle of the street, on the North Washington Street Bridge. Organizers estimated that 10,000 people took part.

Koch Brothers Flout Law Getting Richer With Secret Iran Sales - Bloomberg


Koch Brothers Flout Law Getting Richer With Secret Iran Sales - Bloomberg: "In May 2008, a unit of Koch Industries Inc., one of the world’s largest privately held companies, sent Ludmila Egorova-Farines, its newly hired compliance officer and ethics manager, to investigate the management of a subsidiary in Arles in southern France. In less than a week, she discovered that the company had paid bribes to win contracts."

'via Blog this'

Art Pope, Citizens United, and North Carolina Politics : The New Yorker


Art Pope, Citizens United, and North Carolina Politics : The New Yorker: "Phillips argues that the Court’s decision, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, has been a “game changer,” especially in the realm of state politics. In swing states like North Carolina—which the Democrats consider so important that they have scheduled their 2012 National Convention there—an individual donor, particularly one with access to corporate funds, can play a significant, and sometimes decisive, role. “We didn’t have that before 2010,” Phillips says. “Citizens United opened up the door. Now a candidate can literally be outspent by independent groups. We saw it in North Carolina, and a lot of the money was traced back to Art Pope.”"

'via Blog this'

Monday, October 10, 2011

Want To Know What Occupy Wall Street Wants? Watch Their New Commercial–video

Critics have asked this a thousand times, "what do you want, Occupy Wall Street?"

The group just released a video that has some answers, and in terms of video quality, it's pretty good. Conent-wise, it's a simple montage of protesters talking about what they want to see happen in the U.S.

Some of the desires are not very concrete: one man says he wants more serious political discussion (and I bet both sides of the aisle would say they're serious), and another man says he wants "true democracy for the 99% of us that don't have it anymore."

But there are legitimate policies in there too. One girl says she wants to see the rich pay higher taxes, and for that money go to education. Another man says he wants more regulation for Wall Street.

PICTURES: 1920s Wall Street Bombing

With Occupy Wall Street gaining traction and the country at large seeing greater inequality than ever, it's time to look back on what happened in the Roaring 20s.

During this period anarchists and socialists held protests on Wall Street out of a similar sense of frustration and rage at the banking system. The movement culminated in what was known as the greatest act of terrorism on American soil: the 1920 bombing outside J.P. Morgan and Company.