February 5, 2014

LOL!!- Legal Experts GOBSMACKED After British Judge Orders Mormon Leader To PROVE FAITH'S ORGIN

gobsmacked |ˈgäbˌsmakt|
adjectiveBrit. informal
utterly astonished; astounded.






A disgruntled former Mormon has convinced an English court to file two summonses to appear against Thomas S. Monson, the current president of the Mormon Church. Tom Phillips based his complaint on the Fraud Act of 2006, a British law that outlaws making a profit off of false representations. According to Phillips, this is precisely what the Mormon Church does — it uses statements it knows to be factually untrue in order to secure tithes from members of the Church. The facts in question, " target="_blank">court records show, are tenets of the Mormon faith, including that Joseph Smith translated The Book of Mormon from ancient gold plates, that Native Americans are descendants of a family of Israelites, and that death didn’t exist on this planet until 6,000 years ago.


“These are not statements of mere ‘beliefs’ or opinions or theories,” Phillips wrote. “They are made as actual facts and their truthfulness can be objectively tested with evidence.” Although Phillips can prove that Native Americans are not of Middle Eastern origins using contemporary genetic evidence, it is unlikely that such a finding would have the force of law in a British courtroom.


Neil Addison, a former crown prosecutor whose specializes in issues relating to religious freedom, said he was “sitting here with an open mouth. I think the British courts will recoil in horror. This is just using the law to make a show, an anti-Mormon point. And I’m frankly shocked that a magistrate has issued it.” Since 2007, the Mormon Church in England has taken in over $257 million in tithes, and the summonses request Monson come to England and prove that they were not collected on knowingly false pretenses.






cont'



http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/05/legal-experts-gobsmacked-after-british-judge-orders-mormon-leader-to-prove-faiths-origins/

February 5, 2014

Christie CHANGES His Story, AGAIN

~snip~

In an effort to discredit Wildstein, Christie's office has released a memo accusing him of everything from cheating in high school to "registering web addresses for other people's names without telling them." Wildstein is not the only former Christie aide to refuse to cooperate with investigators. Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie's former Deputy Chief of Staff, and Bill Stepien, Christie's former campaign manager, are both fighting subpoenas to submit documents to investigators while invoking their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Meanwhile, Chris Christie appears to be subtly changing his story about what he knew and when he knew it. At a news conference on December 13, 2013. Christie responded to a question from a reporter about whether he knew about the closures while they were still going on.



According to Governor Christie, "Never. No. The first I ever heard about the issue was when it was reported in the press." That would have been around October 1, 2013. However, ten days later, Christie conceded that he had read the first news of the closures in September. In a radio interview, Christie reported "Well, I first heard about the lane closure back in September, you know, from press accounts, but, you know, this has kind of been an evolving thing. There was no, like, moment where I went oh, wow, look at this." But he insisted, he "unequivocally" had no knowledge of a plan by some of his top aides to cause traffic congestion on bridge access roads.



Now however, Chris Christie seems to be changing the story again. In a studio appearance for a live call-in show he claimed, "The fact of the matter is I've been very clear about this. Before these lanes were closed, I knew nothing about them. I didn't plan it. I didn't authorize it. I didn't approve it. I knew nothing about it." The thing is, Governor Christie has not been very clear. First, he told the public he learned about the bridge fiasco when we did in the news in October. Then he conceded that he might have heard about the problems from the news while they were happening. But now his story is just that he did not "authorize" the traffic blockage.



Maybe Governor Christie should stop trying to explain what he knew and when and borrow a page from the Wildstein-Kelly-Stepien playbook and just plead the Fifth.





http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-singer/christie-changes-his-stor_b_4723178.html

February 5, 2014

Montana ‘FAMILY VALUES’ Republican Senator ARRESTED After ASSAULTING WIFE, Cops

Another 'Family Values' reTHUGLICAN homophobe tough-guy Cowboob bites the dust.......






Priest used physical force against his wife and fought with the arresting officer.

The police were called to Priest’s family home at around 8 pm, on Saturday night. The arresting officer’s complaint states that he identified himself as a police officer several times, but Priest continued to fight him. The original citation said that Priest also pushed his daughter to the floor. A Red Lodge, Montana City Attorney later asked that the reference to his daughter be struck from the complaint. Priest represents Montana’s District 9, which includes his home town of Red Lodge. He is a member of the NRA and supports the ‘pro-life’ agenda. He also claims to be a defender of ‘traditional marriage.’



This is not Priest’s first public scandal.

In 2013, Priest was called out by the public for offensive remarks which he made on another person’s Facebook page, during a debate about economics.






Priest’s reference was to John Maynard Keynes, an influential economist who countered many of the economic theories that the republican party swears by. He was forced to make a public apology for the sexually explicit, anti-gay remarks.



Priest controls a dark money group that refuses to disclose its donors.

As the founder of a 501c4 political lobbying organization known as the Montana Growth Network, Priest was deeply entrenched in a dark money scandal that involved the election of a tea party judge to the state’s Supreme Court. Priest refused to disclose the names of the contributors to Montana Growth Network, a ‘social welfare, nonprofit,’ which is not required by law to disclose the sources of funding. Not surprisingly, Priest is a former CEO. He is also currently listed as an executive officer at two separate venture capital firms. Par for the course, Priest’s definition of family values appears to include all the typical values espoused by the GOP, like violence, dishonesty, lack of integrity, greed and bigotry.



cont'



http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/02/05/montana-family-values-senator-jason-priest-arrested-assaulting-wife-cops/

February 4, 2014

Enabling Christie: How FoxNews, Joe Scarborough & Faux-Centrist Pundits LIE, DENY & SHADE THE TRUTH

The day Chris Christie’s Bridgegate scandal broke, with the release of damning emails and text messages, the immediate response of Fox News was flat-out denial. For six long hours, the network simply said nothing about the scandal, according to Media Matters. In total, Fox devoted less than 15 minutes to the scandal all day, compared to more than two hours by MSNBC and CNN. It was striking, but not surprising. Chris Christie was the Republicans’ great white hope, the one candidate capable of possibly winning the White House in 2016, and this scandal posed an immediate and obvious threat to that prospect. Since Fox had famously clung to denial as Romney lost the 2012 election, it was not really surprising to see them revert to denial once again. Ten days later, Fox did it again, when Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer went public with her charge that Christie withheld tens of millions of dollars in requested aid because she wouldn’t OK a real estate deal he wanted. That day, again according to Media Matters, Fox mentioned Christie just three times, compared to 44 on MSNBC, and 38 on CNN.



Thanks to Oprah, denial is one of the best-known of the so-called ego defense mechanisms, mechanisms individuals subconsciously use to deal with anxiety, fear, even primordial terror. Although best known and understood in individual terms, the phenomena of group denial is common enough as well — just ask any Cubs fan, for example, as he waits for next year. Or consider another example from Fox: its decade-plus promotion of global warming denialism. Given that, it’s not surprising that Fox responded to Christie’s crisis with denial, or that other defense mechanisms also showed up as the scandal unfolded. What’s interesting, though, is how they showed in two distinct, yet overlapping ways: Conservatives were far from being alone. On the one hand, Christie’s conservative supporters quickly shifted gears to a second line of defense: contrasting Christie’s supposedly heroic owning up in his marathon press conference with Obama’s alleged dissembling over a variety of pet peeve pseudo-scandals beloved on the right — Benghazi, the IRS, etc. On the other hand, Christie’s broader support in the bipartisan punditocracy resisted reality, too, but in ways that more subtly reflected the defense of a different, though somewhat overlapping group identity. Still, the punditocracy’s rah-rah picture of Christie was so immune to reality that uber-pundit Mark Halperin immediately praised Christie’s press conference performance, and several days later (Jan. 12), he even tweeted:





Indeed, even after Christie’s poll numbers first collapsed, there were still defenders questioning who else could win. But now that reality has finally sunk in, with successive new (and resurfacing) waves of scandal allegations, every Christie response yielding more questions than answers, and the man himself drawing open public ridicule, it’s a perfect time to examine the role that defense mechanisms have played in helping Christie survive politically for as long he has. The initial conservative-linked mechanisms are easier to isolate and identify, but the centrist-supporting ones may ultimately be even more fruitful sources of new insight into how politics works — or doesn’t — these days. I’m hardly alone in my awareness of defense mechanisms’ role in politics. When a bully snivels that others are unfairly beating up on him, that’s an example of another well-known defense mechanism, what psychologists refer to as “projection” — and ordinary folks refer to as “the pot calling the kettle black.” Led by a few pioneers like David Neiwert, of Orcinus, the Bush-era blogosphere gained a keen appreciation of the role projection plays in conservative politics. In his 2003 Koufax Award-winning series, “Rush, Newspeak and Facism,” Neiwert wrote:





In August 2012, I wrote a sort of pre-GOP convention field guide for Al Jazeera English, “How the Republican brain plays defence.” In it, I wrote, “While no one has a monopoly on ego defence mechanisms, the post-Bush Republican Party has an awful lot more to be defensive about.” In addition to denial and projection, some examples I cited included:






cont'


http://www.salon.com/2014/02/04/enabling_chris_christie_how_fox_news_joe_scarborough_and_faux_centrist_pundits_lie_deny_and_shade_the_truth/

February 4, 2014

Green Groups THREATEN ELECTION PAYBACK Over Keystone Fight

Leading environmentalists are threatening mass voter retribution if President Barack Obama decides to go forward with the construction of the northern leg of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.


Days following the release of the State Department’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), The Hill reports Tuesday that, based on conversations with leading campaigners, approval of the project will likely “sow liberal discontent” among a new, mobilized force of environmentalists with serious consequences for Democratic lawmakers in the 2014 midterm elections. “It is very likely that there will be negative consequences for Democrats if Keystone were approved,” said Kate Colarulli, associate director for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Oil campaign, told The Hill. “This is a tremendous opportunity to protect the climate and build the Democratic base if Obama rejects Keystone XL,” Colarulli added.



The Hill continues:





Echoing that threat, Jane Kleeb, founder of the Keystone XL protest group Bold Nebraska, tweeted:




The uproar over the pending approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline has catalyzed the environmental movement like no other current issue. Monday evening an estimated 8,000 people participated in over 275 protest vigils across the country. Photos from a number of the actions can be seen here. Further, over 75,000 people have signed the Credo Mobile Pledge of Resistance promising to participate in acts of peaceful civil disobedience in protest of the pipeline. On the local level, farmers and ranchers in Nebraska who oppose the pipeline are planning to run for seats on a state board that regulates power stations that are needed along the project route, AP reports.





cont'


http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/02/04-1

February 4, 2014

Sarah Jessica Parker On Christie: 'The Fish STINKS From The Head Down'

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker has some strong feelings about New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ®. Parker, a Democratic donor, brought up the bridge scandal plaguing Christie's administration at the end of an interview Tuesday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." She said his marathon press conference in January, in which he denied knowledge of the lane closures on the George Washington Bridge, didn't do enough to address the issue.



"When he kept talking about the betrayal he felt, and what I kept waiting for him to say, which I think would have done enormous goodwill for him at that moment, was 'I regret that I ever set a tone in my office that it made it seem to anybody who was working with me, subordinate or not, that any of this kind of behavior was acceptable," she said. "And he never really said that."



"He could've gone bigger with that," co-host Mika Brzezinski, a friend of the governor who has defended his handling of the bridge scandal, said. "He did say I've got to do a lot of soul-searching." But soul-searching didn't go far enough, Parker said. "What you have to say is the fish stinks from the head down," she said. "'I am a leader and I set a tone in an office that made this somehow seem acceptable, amusing …'"



Brzezinski didn't disagree. Parker also asked her, given her "sentimental feelings" toward the governor, what she believed was missing from that marathon press conference. " There were a couple of things missing," Brzezinski said. "I think, how it all -- I know what was missing. When he said that Bridget Kelly was fired that he fired her on the spot --" "He never had a conversation with her?" Parker suggested. "Yeah, what? That's not the guy I know," Brzezinski said.








http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/sarah_jessica_parker_chris_christie

February 4, 2014

Hypocrites and Liars: DEA Chief Claims Marijuana Legalization Is “Reckless and Irresponsible”

Notwithstanding the last three presidents of the United States admitting to smoking pot, and the last one, Pres. Obama, recently admitting that pot was on par with alcohol and cigarettes (despite fact that booze and cigs kill 10’s of thousands of people annually…and pot doesn’t), hired liars, like DEA official James L Capra, believe that legalized pot will create a nation of zombies, causing more societal chaos across this stressed-out, pill popping, booze swigging nation. This laughable assertion – that marijuana legalization is dangerous – came hot on the heels of court documents that were recently released, revealing the DEA to be smuggling billions in drugs with Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa cartel – “reckless and irresponsible” indeed.



In this Live Leak, YouTube video, the DEA’s Chief of Operations, Mr. James L Capra is quick to call the idea of marijuana legalization in the US “reckless and irresponsible,” Capra continued his diatribe of misinformation during a recent Senate hearing, claiming “it scares us.” By “Us” I can only assume he means the DEA, because poll after poll shows Americans embracing the idea of marijuana legalization. Ready to welcome it with open arms.



Cognizant of the fact that, if marijuana were to be legalized, a good number of his DEA’s thugs would be pounding pavement – out of work – looking for a new gig – thanks to marijuana prosecutions across this country accounting for a large portion of the DEA’s funding. Capra has an obvious vested interest in continuing his ‘Reefer Madness’ rant.



Pausing only long enough to emphasize that marijuana legalization is “a bad experiment… a bad, bad experiment,” the DEA chief stated…“every part of the world where this is been tried, it has failed time and time again.” Which, as we all know is complete and utter bullshit…and am quite sure the politicians and police of Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Cambodia, North Korea and now Uruguay would all disagree.





But let’s hear the propaganda straight from the Chief fear mongers mouth.








http://www.marijuana.com/news/2014/01/hypocrites-and-liars-dea-chief-claims-marijuana-legalization-is-reckless-and-irresponsible/

February 4, 2014

GOP Group Operating Websites That SUCKER Democrats Into DONATING MONEY

A Florida man complained about being targeted for Republican fundraising emails after mistakenly donating money against a Democratic congressional candidate thanks to a website he says is misleading.



The Tampa Bay Times reported on Monday that Ray Bellamy intended to contribute to former state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink’s campaign online. Instead, he went to “sinkforcongress2014,” part of a group of Republican-controlled websites designed to resemble pages boosting Democratic candidates.



“After sending what I thought was a contribution of 250 dollars to Sink, I get a page clearly thanking me for attempting to defeat Democrats, [President Barack] Obama, and [House Minority Leader Nancy] Pelosi,” Bellamy told the Times, adding that the page contained a picture of Rep. Greg Walden (R-OH), who leads the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), leading him to call the NRCC and ask for his money back. “The receptionist Kate, who would not give her last name, and would not transfer me to the Finance Dept., said the NRCC let credit card companies handle such requests,” Bellamy was quoted as saying. “She would not refund my money. My credit card company is mailing me papers to register a complaint or challenge the charge.”



NBC News reported that Bellamy was later given a refund. NRCC spokesperson Andrea Bozek told NBC that her organization would also offer refunds to any donor who feels they were misled. At the same time, however, she rejected the idea that their websites — which feature candidates in several other states besides Florida — were meant to trick anyone. “Democrats are clearly pitching stories on these effective websites because they are worried about voters learning the truth about their candidates’ disastrous records,” Bozek was quoted as saying. “Anyone who reads the website understand these are negative attacks. Also as required our disclaimer is at the bottom.”






cont'


http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/03/gop-group-operating-websites-that-sucker-democrats-into-donating-money/

February 4, 2014

Oregon Governor Signals SUPPORT For LEGAL MARIJUANA

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber told newspaper editors last week that the Beaver State needs to get ready for legal weed. "I hear the drumbeats from Washington and Colorado," Kitzhaber said, The Oregonian reported. "I want to make sure we have a thoughtful regulatory system. The legislature would be the right place to craft that." A recent poll showed 57 percent of the state's likely 2014 voters support recreational marijuana legalization. Oregon has already decriminalized cannabis and legalized it for medical use.



After a poorly coordinated and widely criticized marijuana legalization effort that failed in 2012, marijuana legalization advocates are now approaching the issue from two sides, both with a ballot initiative and through lobbying state lawmakers for legislative action. "A majority of Americans support ending marijuana prohibition, and that surely includes a majority of Oregonians," said Mason Tvert, communications director for Marijuana Policy Project, to The Huffington Post. "Voters will surely welcome a well-written law that effectively regulates and taxes marijuana similarly to alcohol."



Voters in Colorado and Washington approved recreational marijuana legalization measures back in 2012 which legalized the possession, use and sale of marijuana to adults 21 and older. The Department of Justice let both states to proceed with the groundbreaking new laws last year, allowing a legal, taxed and regulated marijuana marketplace to take shape. On New Year's Day, the historic first legal recreational marijuana dispensaries opened in Colorado to long lines and tremendous revenue, generating more than $5 million in the first week alone. Washington's pot shops are expected to open later in the year.



cont'



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/03/oregon-marijuana_n_4718354.html?ref=topbar

February 3, 2014

HALEY BARBOUR Should Be BANNED From Defending Gov. Chris Christie On TV News

.....Conflict of Interest?.......




These are stories that didn't garner national attention before the Bridgegate scandal, but it should now, especially since Haley Barbour is making the TV rounds defending Chris Christie at every turn.. The incestuous relationship between lobbyists and politicians was on full display when Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour secured a lucrative post-Sandy waste removal contract for Ashbritt, the company he lobbies for -- while simultaneously being a major backer, defender and TV apologist for Gov. Chris Christie. There were many questions surrounding the piggyback contract for AshBritt at the time. Just a few little problems, like AshBritt charging much more money than local contractors, and so on. Barbour immediately came out and defended Christie's hiring his firm.





You may have forgotten, but Haley Barbour was a very powerful man in the GOP and he took Christie under his wing in 2009.



Barbour should be disqualified from all no-bid business iN new jersey, but that never happened. After Haley tried to quell the criticisms, the Star-Ledger Editorial Board lashed out at him.






cont'


http://crooksandliars.com/2014/02/haley-barbour-should-be-banned-defending