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Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Michelle has Moxie



Michelle Obama arrived in Denmark before 5 a.m. CST and was greeted by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and his wife, Maggie. Two hours later, Oprah landed. President Obama is supposed to visit Denmark on Friday.

President Obama will make a presentation in Copenhagen on Friday. He will be the first time a U.S. president who has appeared before the International Olympic Committee to lobby for an Olympics. The Chicago Olympics should spur economic recovery in the Mid West

graphic courtesy nonnie9999--http://mikk2.wordpress.com/

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Homosexual activists discover gay and lesbian marriage loophole

This discovery will undoubtedly laed to more legislation on the part of evangelicals and conservatives to 'close the gay loophole.'


Conservatives Warn Quick Sex Change Only Barrier Between Gays, Marriage

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Joy Behar and Ann Coulter Spar Over Sarah Palin


First Posted: 09-30-09 06:31 PM | Updated: 09-30-09 07:25 PM

Conservative Ann Coulter was a guest on Joy Behar's new CNN Headline News show and the two sparred over a subject about which they both feel passionate: Sarah Palin. The subject of Palin came up during a discussion about the hysteria over so-called death panels, which Coulter acknowledges began from "one little Twitter from Sarah Palin" concluding that this makes Palin "a powerful woman."

Behar agreed with Coulter on this, but not for the same reasons. Behar suggested Palin does not speak coherently. Coulter thinks Palin draws large crowds in part because of her coherence.


Rightardia thinks the MILF factor has a great deal to do with Palin's appeal. 

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/30/joy-behar-ann-coulter-spa_n_305644.html


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Billionaire French Canadian clown blasts off into outer space



Canadian billionaire and circus entrepreneur Guy Laliberté has blasted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome with the 21st mission to the International Space Station. RT's Gayane Chichakyan was there to witness the event. 

Guy Laliberté is the founder and chief executive officer of Cirque du Soleil. He is the first clown to be launched into space. 


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Rightardia Center for Inquiry (CFI) submission


click graphic to enlarge

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Today, Sept. 30th, is Blasphemy Day

 Tomorrow is the deadline for the Blasphemy Day contest.




Are there topics you shouldn’t be allowed to discuss?
Some governments and institutions—and even some individuals—want to keep certain topics off limits.  This is especially true with religion.  In many places, discussions and questions about religion are discouraged, even punished.  But how can we come to our own conclusions about religion if we can't freely examine and discuss it?

To encourage free expression and to celebrate Blasphemy Day 2009 (September 30), CFI and its sister organization, the Council for Secular Humanism, are sponsoring a Blasphemy Contest.
 
Blasphemy: n. the act of denying or scoffing at God or God's alleged attributes.

To enter, all you have to do is create a phrase, poem, or statement that would be or would have been considered blasphemous.  Entries may take any form (haiku anyone?), but must be 20 words or less.  The top 5 winners will receive CFI t-shirts with their submission printed on the shirt.  In addition to the shirt, the first place winner will also receive a mug imprinted with the winning phrase, recognition in Free Inquiry magazine, general publicity, and, naturally, eternal damnation.
DEADLINE: ONE WEEK
Entries must be received by midnight, October 1, 2009.


Here is an example of a really well-done blasphemous poster: 



Source: http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/cfi_blasphemy_contest/

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Zogby-Scoop 44 interactive survey: Is Bush to blame for the economic downturn?



There’s a new president in office, but a new Zogby-Scoop 44 interactive survey shows nearly half of likely voters – 47% — put the blame for the nation’s current job losses squarely on the previous administration.


While it comes as no surprise that Democrats are quick to find fault with the Bush administration and Republicans are much more likely to believe the policies of the Obama administration are largely responsible for the current unemployment figures, political independents are much more closely divided.

Independent likely voters are slightly more likely to blame Bush administration policies (42%) than Obama administration policies (36%), and nearly one in five (18%) said neither administrations’ policies are the cause of rising unemployment.



The vast majority of those who believe the country is now headed in the right direction – 93% — believe that the previous administration is to blame for the country’s current job woes. Those who believe the country is on the wrong track, however, take the opposite view – 70% who think the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction also believe Obama administration policies are directly responsible for the nation’s job losses since he took office in January.

The survey also found that most 18- to 29-year-olds blame the economic policies of the Bush administration for the nation’s continued job losses . . .


Those from less –affluent households are most likely to blame Bush administration policies for the country’s job losses – nearly two-thirds of those with less than $25,000 in household income (62%) say the previous administration is responsible for job losses. As household income increases, likely voters are less likely to put the blame on Bush, but likely voters from all income levels are more likely to believe the Bush administration is more at fault than the Obama administration.

source http://www.zogby.com/blog/loader.cfm?p=/2009/09/29/is-bush-to-blame/

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WSJ: Rundown on forthcoming Supreme Court cases

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case challenging Chicago's ban on the possession of handguns. WSJ's Jess Bravin details this case and previews others the Court will hear in the coming weeks.



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Russia officials welcome EU war report


Rightardia suggests the 'US  diplomacy' and the ABM deployment in Eastern Europe provoked the Russians. The EU Report is a slap in the face to the Bush administration.

21:3830/09/2009
MOSCOW, September 30 (RIA Novosti) - Russian officials and politicians welcomed the EU-commissioned report on the Russia-Georgia war last August, dismissing its criticism of excessive use of force.

The Foreign Ministry highlighted that the report, prepared by a Swiss diplomat in cooperation with European military, legal and history experts and released on Wednesday, blamed Georgia for the start of the conflict.

"Any reasonable person would draw a core conclusion from the report that aggression against South Ossetia on August 8, 2008 was launched by Georgia's current leaders," the ministry said in a statement.

Georgia said it attacked its breakaway region to prevent Russia's invasion of the Caucasus state.

But the ministry pointed to what it called a series of ambiguous statements in the report, including on Russia's disproportionate use of force and at the same time the acknowledgement of the legality of the retaliation.

The report said Russia's response to the Georgian aggression was "legal," as the initial military operations were of a defensive nature, but subsequent Russian actions "went far beyond the reasonable limits of defense" and were "in violation of international law."

A senior Russian lawmaker also hailed the acknowledgement of Georgia's responsibility for the beginning of the conflict and dismissed accusations of excessive use of force as a result of pressure from Georgia's Western allies.

"The main positive meaning of the report is that it calls things by their proper names," Konstantin Zatulin said.

"It is important as it cuts the ground from under the feet of those who want to portray the conflict as Moscow's plot against democratic Georgia or a provocation staged by Russia's military and security forces," he said.

He drew a parallel to the U.S.-led operations in the former Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan, saying Western powers were never condemned internationally for using military force disproportionately.

Germany's Foreign Ministry thanked the independent commission for their investigation into the causes of the conflict and said it showed that the conflict must not be repeated.
The EU Report confirms what the Russians had been saying about the war all along. 
source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090930/156306380.html

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Mayor of Newark bitch slaps Conan O'Brien

Posted by mario piperni On September - 30

In a Democratic party filled with too many Max Baucus types, Newark Mayor Cory Booker is a shining light and the future of the party. This guy is young, bright, fast, articulate and seems to have his act together. Here he is showing he has a sense of humor too. The Democratic Party needs More Cory Bookers. Bookers has been promising to clean up Newark which is a tall order.

Conan is a progressive comedian, but he needs to apologise to Newark for his slur.



source: http://mariopiperni.com/

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LtSaloon: Book cover for Sarah Palin's new Book




This is latest Palin book cover that the Democratic underground has uncovered. We understand several are still being considred. Below is another one that Rightardia discovered yesterday:



graphics courtesy of LTsaloon.org and cheezeburger.com

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Empire State building to celebrate 60th Anniversary of Chinese Communism

The US has been friends with China for 30 years since Richard Nixon established diplomatic relations with China. China could have easily invaded Taiwan, but has not.

The Red Chinese revolution started in WW2 and  ended in 1949. The average Chinese person would probably indicate that China is better off under socialist leadership than that of the old nationalists that were defeated. Regardless of whether you like the Chinese government or not, it is a reality. The government is embraced by young Chinese men and women. A modicum of respect is appropriate.

Rightardia congratulates the Chinese people on their 60th anniversary. We also wish John Huntsman the best of luck with his new post as the US ambassador to China.


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Gallup Poll: Obama on the rebound



The right wing keeps predicting the demise of Obama.  We follow the Gallup Poll on presidential favorability every day and President Obama seems to be holding his own.

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Colbert Report: The Spider Pope

The Colbert Report
Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Spider-Pope
www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Political Humor
Michael Moore


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White House blog: Fox News Disinformation called out


 
 WED, SEPTEMBER 30, 1:15 PM EST
 
Posted by Jesse Lee
Reality Check
Last night Fox News continued its disregard for the facts in an attempt to smear the Administration's efforts to win the Olympics for the United States. In the past, hosting the Olympics has been a source of pride and unity for the country, but once again Fox News' Glenn Beck program has shown that nothing is worthy of respect if it can be used as part of a partisan attack to boost ratings.
 
RHETORIC:          BECK SAID VANCOUVER LOST $1 BILLION WHEN IT "HAD THE OLYMPICS."   Glenn Beck said, "Vancouver lost, how much was it? they lost a billion dollars when they had the Olympics."  [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]
 
REALITY:              VANCOUVER'S OLYMPICS WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL 2010.   Vancouver will host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games from February 12 – 28, 2010 and March 12-21, 2010, respectively. [Vancouver2010.com, accessed 9/29/09]
 
 
RHETORIC:          VALERIE JARRETT "WAS LAST SEEN WITH THE NEA."  Beck's guest, FOX News contributor Pat Caddell, said, "[Obama] is going to go [to Copenhagen] with Valerie Jarrett who was last seen with the NEA pumping up their use of, you know, money." [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]
 
REALITY:              VALERIE JARRETT WAS NOT ON THE NEA CONFERENCE CALL.   Valerie Jarrett was not a participant in the August 10, 2009 United We Serve/NEA conference call.
 
 
RHETORIC:          CHICAGO IS CLOSING THE GOVERNMENT SEVERAL DAYS A WEEK BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO BE OPEN. Beck's guest Caddell said, "Chicago is closing the government several days a week because they cannot afford to be open. They are going to go and reward -- this is the biggest scandal." [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]
 
REALITY:              CHICAGO HAS HAD ONE REDUCED-SERVICE DAY IN 2009, AND WILL HAVE TWO MORE ON THE FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING AND ON CHRISTMAS EVE.  On August 17, 2009, CBS Chicago reported, "If you planned to check out a library book, visit a city clinic or have your garbage picked up on Monday, you're out of luck.   The City of Chicago is basically closed for business on Aug. 17, a reduced-service day in which most city employees are off without pay. City Hall, public libraries, health clinics and most city offices will be closed.  
 
Emergency service providers including police, firefighters and paramedics are working at full strength, but most services not directly related to public safety, including street sweeping, will not be provided.  That also includes garbage pickup. Residents who receive regular collection on Mondays should expect trash to be picked up on Tuesday. Some other customers may experience a one-day delay as collectors catch up. 
 
As part of the 2009 budget, three reduced-service days were planned for 2009, days which are unpaid for all affected employees -- the Friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve; and New Year's Eve. The City Council recently approved moving the reduced-service day planned for New Year's Eve to Monday.  
 
The 2009 budget anticipates saving $8.3 million due to the reduced-service days.   In addition to reduced service days, all non-union employees were asked to take a series of furlough days and unpaid holidays, and most non-sworn union employees agreed to similar unpaid time off." [CBS Chicago, 8/17/09]
 
 
RHETORIC: VALERIE JARRETT WILL BENEFIT FINANCIALLY. Beck asked, "Is it possible that she is going to benefit if the Olympics come to Chicago?" Caddell responded, "Well, that’s the word. She has certainly had a lot of dealings going on in real estate." [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]
 
REALITY: UPON ENTERING GOVERNMENT, VALERIE JARRETT DIVESTED ALL HER REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS EXCEPT FOR A SINGLE INVESTMENT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OLYMPIC BID. Valerie Jarrett divested all her investment real estate holdings upon entering government except for a single real estate holding that she was unable to sell. 
 
This single real estate investment has been determined by White House Counsel and the independent Office of Government Ethics to present no conflict of interest in performing her duties as a White House advisor.  It has nothing to do with the Olympic bid.
--
For even more Fox lies, check out the latest "Truth-O-Meter" feature from Politifact that debunks a false claim about a White House staffer that continues to be repeated by Glenn Beck and others on the network.

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NY Post: Palin Lectures Not Selling, No One Wants To Book Her

First Posted: 09-30-09 08:39 AM



Sarah Palin is not selling well on the lecture circuit.  This is according to an industry insider who talked to the New York Post.

"The big lecture buyers in the US are paralyzed with fear about booking her, basically because they think she is a blithering idiot," the source said. "They don't want to tick people off."

Palin's speech is Hong Kong indicated the Wall Street melt down was caused by the government [of George W. Bush]. Many Democrats blames the melt down on the repeal of the Glass-Steagal Act that was written by a GOP Congress and signed into law by Bill Clinton. The SEC also relieved the five biggest Wall street banks from maintaining appropriate reserves for mortgages in 2004. These were the same banks that failed.

Rightardia predicted that Palin would not do well in insider GOP circles because of her disloyalty to John McCain during the presidential campaign.

The publishers of Palin's book, Going Rogue: An American Story, is also delaying the release of the digital e-book version which is peculiar. We’ll see what we learn,” Brian Murray, chief executive of HarperCollins Publishers, told the Wall Street Journal yesterday.

“The publishing plan is focused on maximizing velocity of the hardcover before Christmas, at a time when hardcover sales in the industry are down 15 percent.”

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/30/palin-lectures-not-sellin_n_304020.html

source: http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/09/30/why-is-harper-delaying-the-digital-release-of-sarah-palin-book/

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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

New chruch is very popular with conservatives



"And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall." — Ezekiel 8:7

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Silvio Berlusconi meets Michelle Obama at the G20


The beautiful woman is the Prime Minister's estranged wife,  Veronica Lario

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Palin's Book Title: Going Rogue



Book cover of Going Rogue: An American Life

It's not the first time former Gov. Sarah Palin has finished early. A
mere four months after embarking on her memoir, Palin is done, and
consequently the release date for Going Rogue: An American Life has been
bumped up to November 17, after originally being slated for a spring
release.

The book clocks in at 400 pages, and the publisher of Harper
said Palin had thrown herself into writing it with great enthusiasm:
"Gov. Palin has been unbelievably conscientious and hands-on at every
stage, investing herself deeply and passionately in this project.

It's her words, her life, and it's all there in full and fascinating detail."
The book will have a first printing of 1.5 million copies, equal to the
first printing of Ted Kennedy's memoir.


Rightardia note: the dinosaur is a metaphor for Sarah Palin's view of John McCain.

Read it at Associated Press:
http://e.thedailybeast.com/a/tBKwfzFB7SwhTB7vB5f-chc-qJR/dail2

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Politico.com: Late Night TV



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Could this be class warfare?



It's funny how Karl Rove compalined about class warfare, but the GOP has been attacking minorities, the poor and unions for years. A little turn-about is fair play, isn't it?

graphic courtesy of LtSaloon

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Michele Bachmann: Dollar to be replaced by international currency



The right wing started the Amero rumour about a currency that the US, Canada and Mexico would use. Now this.


Amero bank note


Amero coins

The reality is there has been talk in international circles about unlinking national currencies from the dollar to a more stable currency that is likely to be the Euro.

This change was spurred by the Wall Street meltdown and it has little to do with the Democratic Administration of Obama.

See the Rightardia article on the 'new international currency:' the Unero at
rightardia.blogspot.com/2009/09/russia-today-unero-to-repalce-dollar.html

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Gallup Poll: Obama ratings rise again 9/29/2009




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Republican 'Love Letters'

Jay Leno and  Bill Maher compare and contrast Republican straight and gay love.



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Al Jazeera: UN investigator defends Gaza report

Rightardia comment: The Israelis refused to cooperate with the investigations an are getting their just rewards. The US needs to stop enabling this 'rogue nation.'



A United Nations investigator has defended a report published earlier this month that accuses Israel and Palestinian fighters of war crimes following the Israeli offensive in Gaza earlier this year.

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, Richard Goldstone said a lack of accountability for war crimes committed in the Middle East had reached "crisis point", undermining any hope for peace in the region.
The former South African judge rejected criticism by Israel that the 575-page report was politically motivated.

He said his team was led by a belief in the rule of law, human rights and the need to protect civilians during war.


US pressure

 
Goldstone said the report had investigated 36 incidents surrounding Israel's military operation.


IN DEPTH

 Video interview: Richard Goldstone
 Timeline: Gaza War
 Analysis: War crimes in Gaza?
 UN inquiry finds Gaza war crimes
 'Half of Gaza war dead civilians'
"A culture of impunity in the region has existed for too long, the lack of accountability for war crimes and possible war crimes against humanity has reached a crisis point," he said. "The ongoing lack of justice is undermining any hope for a successful peace process and reinforcing an environment that fosters violence."

Goldstone's report urged the UN Security Council to refer the allegations to the International Criminal Court in The Hague if either Israeli or Palestinian authorities failed to investigate and prosecute those suspected of such crimes within six months.


Michael Posner, the US assistant secretary of state, called on Israel on Tuesday to conduct credible investigations into the allegations, saying it would help the Middle East peace process.


Israeli rejection

 
Posner said that Hamas' leaders also had a responsibility to investigate crimes and to end what he called its targeting of civilians and use of Palestinian civilians as human shields in the strip.


Israel did not co-operate with the UN inquiry and has rejected the report as biased.


Hamas, which helped facilitate the work of the UN in compiling the report, has agreed that local authorities will investigate the relevant cases in the inquiry.
"We encourage Israel to utilise appropriate domestic [judicial] review and meaningful accountability mechanisms to investigate and follow-up on credible allegations," Posner said in a speech to the Geneva forum.


"If undertaken properly and fairly, these reviews can serve as important confidence-building measures that will support the larger essential objective which is a shared quest for justice and lasting peace."


The US joined the council, set up three years ago, for the first time earlier this year.


Posner reiterated Washington's view that the council paid "grossly disproportionate attention" to Israel, but said that the US delegation was ready to engage in balanced debate.


'Barrage of criticism'

 
Goldstone said his four-member panel had been hit with a "barrage of criticism" on its findings and it was important not to ascribe collective guilt to a people.



Goldstone says he found evidence that Israel targeted civilians [AFP]
"People of the region should not be demonised," he said. Goldstone urged the 47-member state forum to adopt the report which would mean it is referred to the UN Security Council for further action.

An Arab-backed resolution to accept the findings is opposed by European countries and the United States because of concerns about how the report was compiled.


In his report, the judge said that he had found evidence that Israel had targeted civilians and used excessive force in the assault which took place from December 27, 2008 to January 18, 2009.


"The mission concluded that actions amounting to war crimes, and possibly in some respects crimes against humanity, were committed by the Israel Defence Force," Goldstone said.


While the report was more sharply critical of Israel, it also said that there was evidence "that Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes, as well as possibly crimes against humanity", by firing rockets into southern Israel.

'Well-documented case'

Saad Djebbar, an international lawyer and the deputy director of the Centre for North African Studies, said that the investigators must be given credit for a well-documented case.


"I think you have to start somewhere and usually we criticise the UN and such bodies, like the human rights council, for not doing enough. But to focus on one particular situation and do it well goes to the credit of the council," he told Al Jazeera.


"Before we complained that there wasn't must interest in the Palestinian issue by the uinternational community because of the influence of Israel."


More than 1,400 Palestinians - about a third of them women and children - were killed in the offensive.


Thirteen Israelis died during the same period, mostly due to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.



source: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2009/09/200992993333512634.html

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Netcraft rank and origin of the blog name

Rightardia took another jump and is now ranked 7893 in the world.

Our readers have asked about the origin of the name that is kind of an 'in joke' in progressive circles.

Rightardia is the alternate universe where the right wing functions. It is a world where there are no taxes, everyone carries a gun and vigilantes make up the 'police force.'Churches provide charity to the poor and unemployed. The government is run by white oligarchs who prefer war to peace.



To be a citizen you have to serve in the armed forces for at least two years. You must own property to vote. Right to work laws aren't necessary because unions are illegal. All medical services are fee based so employers don't provide health insurance. There is no Social Security. You parents will have to live with their children when they get older or go homeless.



Women have been subordinated to men so they don't complain that they make half of what men make. The glass ceiling is now made of reinforced concrete. Homosexuality and inter-racial marriage are illegal in Rightardia.

The citizens of Rightardia are called 'rightards' because they are retarded right wingers. Welcome to the brave new world of the Republican Party.

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Monday, September 28, 2009

New Nazi comics for conservatives and right wing fascists


 



click graphics to enlarge

To be 'fair and balanced,' we have added some content for our right wing readers.

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Greetings from the US Ambassador to China, John Huntsman



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Workers Need Employee Free Choice to Get Ahead

by Seth Michaels, Sep 28, 2009

 
   
Here are two great recent pieces on the need for the Employee Free Choice Act, proposed federal legislation to give workers the tools they need to build a better life for themselves and a strong economy for everyone.

Writing at the Drum Major Institute, Amy Traub says that just investing in training and education isn’t enough to help workers earn their way out of the economic slump and into the middle class. They need the freedom to form a union:

Education alone won’t solve the economic problems underlying the middle-class squeeze. If it were, college graduates would be doing better. And while educated workers are more likely than those without a degree to enjoy a middle-class standard of living, wages for most college graduates have grown sluggishly in recent years and their access to employer-provided health care and pensions has dropped. And then there are the tens of millions of Americans who work at jobs that don’t require a college degree.


The solution, Traub says, is to make sure all workers have the ability to bargain for a fair share and get the leverage they need to ensure they have good pay, good benefits, safe conditions and respect on the job:

The Employee Free Choice Act is a game-changer, directly attacking the systemic problem of employees’ lack of power in the labor market. The impact would boost low-wage service employees struggling to gain a middle-class standard of living as well as college-educated professionals trying to hold onto it…empowering people to join unions directly redistributes economic power back to working people, enabling Americans to win gains for themselves in the workplace.

Writing in the Muncie Star Press, Indiana State AFL-CIO President Ken Zeller calls the Employee Free Choice Act a commonsense update of the nation’s labor laws and a way to make sure workers can get a fair first contract:

Today, many companies refuse to bargain with the union their employees elected to represent them in negotiations because there is no penalty for doing so. The fact is that no CEO works without a contract, so why should workers?
As long as workers are denied a seat at the bargaining table, corporate greed will continue to run roughshod over our economy. The Employee Free Choice Act will give workers the power to bring a measure of democracy back to the workplace.


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Billionaires for Wealthcare release new Gated-Community Chest Monopoly Cards

September 27, 2009



The Monopoly Man is a legend among tycoons. He’s a beloved figure: be it as Lord of his Park Place Penthouse; dashing and debonaire stepping out to catch a Broadway show; or as Absentee Slum Lord threatening to break legs over rent on Baltic Avenue. No matter your standing, you know not to come between him and his profits.

That’s why he’s agreed to join the Billionaires For Wealthcare in their fight against reform. Because when it comes to the Healthcare status quo, Monopoly is the name of the game! And for us he’s throwing his top hat into the ring with our very own custom Billionaires For Wealthcare – Hands Off Our Profits! Gated-Community Chest cards.  Meant to remind friend and foe alike just how much is at stake for the very few seeking to profit off of the many, should Healthcare Reform succeed. Collect them all today!

source: Billionaires for Wealthcare

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Conservatives exercising their Second Amendment rights?

More than 730 people had taken the poll, that Facebook later removed. The poll is now being probed by the Secret Service. Read more about the investigation here.

The poll was included on the list of the top 100 most popular polls on Facebook.



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Rush Limbaugh: I am mad as hell!


"When I see a conservative that goose steps like a fascist and hates minorities like a fascist and rants like a fascist, I'd call that Republican a Nazi."


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Why things went so bad while Bush was president



George W. Bush said this during one of his inaugural balls in 2001.

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Want to guess where the uninsured live?


click graphic to enlarge

Here we go again. Rightardia has published several articles that point out that most of the unemployment in the US is in the South and the West. Most of the people who don't pay federal income tax live in the South and the West. Most of the recipients of appropriations from Federal Income Tax live in the South and West. Most of the 'donor states' for Federal Income tax are in the  North East and Left Coast. The women who have the lowest vaccination rates for HPV also live in the South and West.

Rightardia guesses the conservative idea of 'freedom' is being unemployed with no medical insurance so it citizens can avoid paying federal income tax. The welfare state is alive and well in the South and West.

Who do these conservatives who live in the South and West think they are kidding?

See the interactive map of the uninsured at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113042669

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Willy Geist's Zetigeist: Is this Angelina Jolie?



Rightardia doesn't not believe this is Angelina Jolie. The reference to an Angelina double gave it away. This women's voice is different than Angelina's and her face, particularly the jaw line, is rounder. Angelina Jolie has never worn her hair in this particular style either.  This women also appears to be younger than Angelina Jolie.

Nice try, Zeitgest.

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Supression of the Arts






Is it any surprise that people on the far left and far right want to suppress the arts?

In 1937, the government of Nazi Germany held two bizarre art exhibits in Munich. The "Great German Art" exhibition opened in the new House of German Art, which was built to look like a huge Greek temple.

This exhibit was launched with a rousing speech by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and a lavish parade with people dressed as Greek gods and goddesses. The exhibit housed what the Nazis proclaimed as the best art in Nazi Germany. They believed this art showed that Third Reich could produce art that rivaled the ancient Greeks.

A few hundred yards away, the Nazis held the second exhibit in a small building. In nine rooms, they crammed nearly 700 paintings and sculptures created by German artists. On the walls, they scrawled words insulting the works. This exhibit housed what they called "Degenerate Art," art that the Nazis believed was harmful and repugnant. Modern, or avant-garde, art filled these rooms. The exhibit was meant to hold modern art up to public ridicule.

The Nazis placed the two exhibits near each other so people could compare them. The Great German Art exhibit showed the kind of art approved of by the Nazi state. The Degenerate Art exhibit showed the kind of art that the Nazi state prohibited. The exhibits were part of an incredible Nazi campaign to put art under control of the state.

Of interest, the GOP made a big issue of a $50 million dollar appropriation for the National Endowment of the Arts during the Economic Stimulus debate.

"There is absolutely no way this will stimulate the economy," argues Brian Riedl, a senior federal budget analyst for the Heritage Foundation. He believes funding for the NEA — like several other items in the stimulus package — will not grow the economy.

"The only way to increase economic growth is to increase productivity," Riedl says. "Government policies that make people and workers more productive will increase productivity.

Michael Kaiser, head of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, says the arts industry is made up of thousands of small organizations, so they don't always make headlines when they go bankrupt.

"The arts as a totality in this country employs 5.7 million people," Kaiser says, "so we're not a small sector of this economy. Our employment levels are important to this economy."

Artists, writers and musicians often have a progressive view of America and artists are willing to express dissenting views in their work. Both the far left and far right look at atists and writers as a threat to the status quo. This is why art and music have long been suppressed by totalitarian governments.

A good example of the animosity between musicians and the GOP occurred during the 2008 elections. the music group 'Heart' did not want Sarah Palin to use its song 'Barracuda' in the campagn.

Singer Jackson Browne also won a copyright battle against Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), getting an apology and an undisclosed sum of money from the 2008 presidential nominee for a pro-McCain Web video that appropriated the artist's hit song "Running On Empty."

McCain, the Republican National Committee and the Ohio Republican Party jointly settled the lawsuit and issued a statement saying:

"We apologize that a portion of the Jackson Browne song 'Running On Empty' was used without permission. Although Senator McCain had no knowledge of, or involvement in, the creation or distribution of the Web campaign video, Senator McCain does not support or condone any actions taken by anyone involved in his 2008 presidential election campaign that were inconsistent with artists' rights or the various legal protections afforded to intellectual property."


Of course, Republicans are not against all art and music. Many Republicans prefer the music of bygone eras like the Big Bands of the 1940s. They also like the traditional art of Norman Rockwell, particularly if it has an American flag in the painting, something that a serous artist would consider a cliché. Did you notice the ethnic diversity in this painting?

source: http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-13-2-b.html

source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99916513


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