February 28, 2014

PHALLIC Wedding Cakes And GAY TYRANNY Enslaving Arizona, SHRIEKS Hysterical TEABAGGER Pundit

Judson Phillips is a fear-mongerer.

That’s the typical fear-mongering we’re getting more, and more, from the religious right. In mid-2013, 77% of Americans felt that religion was losing its influence in the U.S. The last time the number was that high was during Vietnam. And 20% of Americans are not religious at all, which is way up from 8% in 1990. It’s possible that the religious right is getting more worried that they’re losing their influence, so they’re trying to tighten down by attempting to gain more control over the government.


Of course, Judson Phillips had to be shocking, too.

According to RightWingWatch, Judson Phillips went on to utter this piece of nonsense:




Why is the first assumption he makes that same-sex couples will automatically have sexual overtones at their weddings? It seems he buys into the debunked myth that gays are far more promiscuous than straight people. Although, he could have just been making an extremely tasteless joke. Regardless, it’s not very likely that a gay couple, having a wedding with lots of people around, would want a phallic cake or have nude photos taken. If they did, they’d find a baker or a photographer who provides those services as part of their business. Something Judson Phillips just proved is that he doesn’t understand the world of difference between saying, “I don’t provide those services,” and “I don’t serve your kind,” when “your kind” is not a choice. Being gay is not a choice, any more than being black is a choice. Also, a photographer that doesn’t do nude photos won’t do them for straight couples any more than they’ll do them for gay couples. A baker that doesn’t do X-rated cakes won’t do them for anybody either, gay or straight. There’s nothing wrong with a business refusing to provide a specific service for anybody. There’s a problem when they choose not to provide a service based on something that isn’t a choice.



Is “freedom” really what’s at stake, as Judson Phillips says?

Judson Phillips also says that the issue at hand is freedom. “A free man or woman controls their labor. A slave has no control over their labor. A free man or woman decides who they will work for and under what conditions. The slave cannot.” Actually, most of us who work for others aren’t free, under that definition. We decide whom we’ll work for, if we can find someone offering a job we’d like, but we don’t decide the conditions under which we work, including our pay. Consumer choice is a myth, also. Likewise, if you’re a business owner, with a business not considered religious under the law, there are restrictions you must abide by whether you like it or not. Judson Phillips and others need to understand that freedom does not mean you get to do what you want, when you want, and how you want, regardless of who you hurt.




cont'


http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/02/28/judson-phillips-gay-wedding-cakes/

February 28, 2014

The END IS NEAR For The Extremist Wing Of The Republican Party

Hey Pat, God told us to be patient and justice will be served HOT on the hateful wicked.........





The end is near for the Christian right. No, they are not about to be beamed up into heaven , rewarded for their piousness, on a glorious ride symbolizing the rapture of the church. Instead, they are about to wither and die as a political movement in the United States, victims of their own hatred and hubris. Yes, for over three decades, theocrats rode an unholy alliance with the modern Republican Party to unprecedented heights of power. Ronald Reagan, two George Bushes, and hundreds upon hundreds of Republican Senators and Congressmen were their willing enablers. Big business Republicans, neo-conservatives, and libertarian economists alike embraced Christian fundamentalists as they exploited bigotry and fear to push free market economics and expansionist foreign policies, while giving lip service to school prayer, ending abortion, and preserving traditional marriage from the onslaught of the “homosexual agenda”. Karl Rove exploited Christian right bigotry by pushing anti-gay ballot measures in 2004 that would herd evangelical conservatives to the polls to cast their votes for George W. Bush. That was a decade ago, when the Christian right’s influence in American politics was unmistakable and their grip on the GOP iron tight.




However, in the last ten years the Christian right’s power has been steadily eroding. Oblivious to their waning influence, conservative Christian groups have soldiered on without any apparent awareness of their impending demise. Perhaps they still do, but yesterday was a watershed moment. The Christian right tried to flex its muscle in Arizona by passing a bill that would codify into law the right for Christian-owned businesses to exercise their “religious liberty” to discriminate against gays and lesbians. Many other red states introduced similar measures, though Arizona’s was the first to pass such a bill through both chambers of the legislature. The Christian right miscalculated badly and failed to anticipate the backlash that would follow. Chamber of Commerce chapters and major corporations based in Arizona balked at the measure, citing the potential for lost tourism revenue and lawsuits. GOP politicians piled on. Arizona Senators Jeff Flake and John McCain joined the opposition. Florida Governor Rick Scott and 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney also rose in opposition. Politicians who had long embraced Christian right extremism for politically expedient reasons more than on principal, were now turning on the fundamentalists at the eleventh hour.




Then on Thursday, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, who like most GOP politicians had long courted Christian extremists, sealed their fate with her veto pen. In that moment, the lipstick wore off the Judas kiss that the Republican Party leadership made with Christian extremists years ago. The Christian right long wielded disproportionate influence in the halls of Congress, with the likes of Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and James Dobson seducing GOP politicians with promises of fealty and winning them over to socially reactionary policies. Ronald Reagan enthusiastically brought the “moral majority” into his winning coalition, and since 1980 GOP politicians have relied upon evangelical right-wingers to help propel them to victory. Though they were never a true majority, the bible thumpers on the right were able to bully timid Republican politicians to press their agenda in exchange for contributions and votes. However, now that bigotry is no longer a recipe for electoral success, the toxic embrace between pro-business Republicans and moralizing troglodytes has been pulled apart. As a political force, the Christian right is unraveling at warp speed. Even the Bible Belt is unbuckling at a rate that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. Sure Mike Huckabee and Rush Limbaugh still pollute America’s political discourse with their jeremiads against unseemly gays and promiscuous single women, but their taunts fall mostly on deaf ears outside the shrinking realm of “true believers” who nourish their hateful minds with unhealthy doses of talk radio and FOX News.




- The battle will continue, maybe for years, maybe even decades. However, America has already rendered its judgement. Same sex marriages are now legal in 17 states and on the verge of becoming legal in several more. Millennial voters overwhelmingly support marriage equality. The Christian right can do nothing more but dig their heels in and fight a lost cause. No doubt with self-righteous fervor they will continue to fight to the bitter end, enduring one humiliating defeat after another in the years ahead, as America moves further and further away from the Christian right’s outdated prejudices. There will be no sound of trumpets to announce the end of days for the Christian right as a viable political movement, but the end is coming. In fact, it may already be here.





cont'


http://www.politicususa.com/2014/02/27/extremist-wing-republican-party.html

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February 28, 2014

FBI ARRESTS Six King City COPS For Running Vehicle SCAM, Robbing Local Latinos

Unbelievable!!....targeting low-income citizens......Now we know what your disgusting mug looks like.....




On February 26th, 2014, six police officers from King City California were arrested. The arrest followed a six month long investigation, involving the police chief, former police chief, and a handful of others. The officers are accused of targeting low income Hispanic residents, illegally seizing and impounding vehicles. The vehicles were then taken to a tow yard, owned by the brother of the city’s chief of police, where they were either sold or given away.



One officer got a free car for every 10 to 15 cars he impounded.

Residents of the city say that police were always looking for a reason to pull someone over. Officers impounded cars belonging to low income members of the Hispanic community. Once a vehicle was ordered to be impounded, the towing company assessed excessive fees on the vehicle’s owner. The scheme targeted low income citizens, who were unable to afford the necessary fees to retrieve the vehicles from impound. Investigators told KSBW News that hundreds of vehicles were seized from King City’s low income residents and sold through Miller’s Towing. Monterey County District Attorney, Dean Flippo, said that Police Sargent Carrillo is thought to be one of the ‘ring leaders,’ in the scam. “For every 10-15 vehicles impounded by Sgt. Carrillo, he would receive a free vehicle for himself, or whatever he wanted to do with it,” Fippo told KSBW.



The officers are charged with a number of crimes.

According to the Associated Press (AP), the officers involved in the scheme are scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, March 3. They are facing a number of charges, including embezzlement, conspiracy to commit a crime, making criminal threats and bribery. One officer is charged with possession of an illegal assault weapon and illegal storage of a firearm. A seventh person who was arrested, tow shop owner Brian Miller, is the brother of King City police chief Bruce Miller. Brian Miller is also charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and bribing an executive officer.




cont'


http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/02/27/fbi-arrests-king-city-police/

February 27, 2014

Wendy Davis OBLITERATES Ted Nugent and Greg Abbott With BLISTERING NEW AD

BAM!!.........





The ad features rape survivor Nicole Anderson speaking out, “I am speaking out because it really bothered me for Greg Abbott to partner with Ted Nugent knowing his history of being a predator. I was at home. I heard about it on the news. It made me feel like the it minimized the fact that Ted Nugent is a predator. I think that it sends the wrong message that he partnered up with this man that is very vocal about liking underage girls. There’s something wrong with that. It’s not okay.”




This ad is important on a couple of different levels. First, it is telling the truth about Ted Nugent. These types of ads should make Republican candidates think twice before they decide to cozy up to, and appear with, a self admitted sexual predator. Secondly, the use of Nugent as a campaign booster by Abbott is an escalation of the Republican war on women, and the men who support the rights of all women. Abbott’s embrace of Nugent is sending the message to all voters that if Greg Abbott is elected governor, open season will continue on the rights of women.




It is good to see Ted Nugent getting called out for what he really is, but it also highlights the crucial issue in this election. Do the women and men of Texas think it is representative of their values to have the Republican candidate for governor getting cozy with a sexual predator? If Greg Abbott has no qualms about buddying up with Ted Nugent, he’ll also won’t hesitate to accelerate the extremist anti-women agenda in the state of Texas.





cont'

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/02/27/wendy-davis-obliterates-ted-nugent-greg-abbott-blistering-ad.html

February 27, 2014

RUSSIAN WARSHIP Quietly Docks In Cuba.

Havana (AFP) - A Russian warship was docked in Havana Wednesday, without explanation from Communist Cuba or its state media. The Viktor Leonov CCB-175 boat, measuring 91.5 meters (300 feet) long and 14.5 meters wide, was docked at the port of Havana's cruise ship area, near the Russian Orthodox Cathedral.



The Vishnya, or Meridian-class intelligence ship, which has a crew of around 200, went into service in the Black Sea in 1988 before it was transferred seven years later to the northern fleet, Russian media sources said. Neither Cuban authorities nor state media have mentioned the ship's visit, unlike on previous tours by Russian warships.



The former Soviet Union was Cuba's sponsor state through three decades of Cold War. After a period of some distancing under former Russian president Boris Yeltsin, the countries renewed their political, economic and military cooperation. The ship is reportedly armed with 30mm guns and anti-aircraft missiles.



Its visit comes as isolated Havana's current economic and political patron, Venezuela, is facing unprecedented violent protests against President Nicolas Maduro's government. Cuban President Raul Castro's Communist government is the Americas' only one-party regime.




http://news.yahoo.com/russian-spy-ship-docked-havana-224015753.html;_ylt=AwrBJR5Abg5TY3cAUS_QtDMD

February 27, 2014

NC Republican Senate Candidate Is GETTING HAMMERED Over Obamacare

Democrats seem to finally understand this concept. So, here’s an interesting and predictable turn of events regarding the popular narrative that Obamacare is poison to Democrats (we’ve been telling you since this meme started that it would fail once Obamacare kicked in): “Democrats have to run against Obamacare! They’re going to get slaughtered in 2014! ” And yet, in North Carolina, where Democratic Senator Kay Hagan has taken an $8 million Koch Brothers funded beating over her vote for Obamacare, her leading Republican opponent, State House Speaker Thom Tillis, is getting hammered for his position as well from “both sides” of the aisle, according to John Frank and Jim Morrill writing for the Charlotte Observer.


Yes, it turns out that the people are not being led to the Koch Brothers slaughter so easily. They want to know what Republicans would do to replace Obamacare. And Republicans have no plan. First, Tillis “was criticized in a TV ad earlier this month for wanting to repeal the federal health care law’s more popular items, such as provisions that prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage for preexisting conditions and charging for mammograms.”


So Tillis floundered about trying to find a position, and landed smack in the middle of a tea-jihad against “nationalized” healthcare, after he embraced another Republican’s plan which retains some provisions of the federal health care law. “But that stance drew scorn from his Republican primary rivals, forcing the House speaker to walk a narrow political line. Greg Brannon, who is courting tea party loyalists, has said the Burr plan is ‘national health care.’” Brannon, like most Tea Partiers, clearly has no clue what Obamacare actually is, for he criticized it for not being exactly what it is — a market based solution. So I’m sure you’re dying to know how Tillis is going to play this thing. How about wishy-washy nothing for the Big Win?






Karl Rove and Roger Ailes are no doubt ready to pull their hair out after this bit of spinelessness, but what’s a Republican do to? Greg Sargent pointed out that if you’re explaining, you’re losing (and h/t to Mr. Sargent for the link):







cont'

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/02/27/nc-republican-senate-candidate-hammered-obamacare-stance-2.html

February 27, 2014

Bridge Scandal: Newly UNCENSORED TEXTS Show Wildstein, Kelly MOCKED Rabbi

TRENTON — Newly uncensored records released today by the legislative panel investigating the George Washington Bridge lane closings show David Wildstein and Bridget Anne Kelly, two people at the center of the scandal, joked about causing traffic problems for a prominent New Jersey rabbi. On Aug. 19, six days after Kelly e-mailed Wildstein stating, "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," the pair exchanged texts about causing transit delays for Orthodox Rabbi Mendy Carlebach of the Chabad of North & South Brunswick, a chaplain for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department and a close Christie ally. Wildstein, a top official at the Port Authority, sent Kelly, a deputy chief of staff in Christie's office, a photo of Carlebach with Republican U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, to which she replied, "I think this qualifies as stalking."


"You are too much," she said.

"He is Jewish Cid Wilson," Wildstein wrote, referring to a leader in the state's Afro-Latino community and a Democrat who twice considered running for the state Assembly.

"You are really so funny," Kelly replied. "He is. No doubt."

"And he has officially pissed me off," Wildstein said.

"Clearly," Kelly wrote. "We cannot cause traffic problems in front of his house, can we?"

Wildstein replied, "Flights to Tel Aviv all mysteriously delayed."

"Perfect," Kelly wrote.



Carlebach traveled with Christie to Israel in 2012 and later served as chaplain at the Republican National Convention, where the governor gave the keynote address. Carlebach also attended a menorah lighting with Christie at Drumthwacket that year. Last year, the governor nominated him to the New Jersey-Israel Commission. Carlebach could not immediately be reached for comment on the text exchange.



Wilson said he was "shocked, appalled and dismayed" to be mentioned by Wildstein because "I don't know him, I didn't think he even paid attention to me." He said he thought Wildstein referenced him because of his connections to top Democratic politicians, similar to Carlebach's connections to top Republicans. "The guy is clearly troubled, and I think he's a psychopath," Wilson said, calling the joke between Wildstein and Kelly, "very strange, very deranged."



PARTIALLY UNREDACTED SUBMISSION

http://www.njlegislature.org/ATRTranscripts/exhibit_h.pdf






cont'

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/02/bridge_scandal_david_wildstein_uncensored_documents.html

February 27, 2014

MARIJUANA BILL CLEARS GEORGIA COMMITTEE

Contact your Georgia State Rep and tell them to PASS this Bill.............




Without opposition, a Georgia House committee Wednesday supported a bill to legalize medical marijuana in the state. That vote by the House Health Committee on House Bill 885 came around 6:45 p.m. State Representative Allen Peake says he expected his bill would be sent to the House Rules Committee and then hit the House floor Monday morning.



Anxious parents sighed in relief as medical marijuana inches closer to becoming legal in Georgia. After nearly two hours of debate, the Georgia House's Health and Human Services committee unanimously voted to pass House Bill 885. That will allow doctors to prescribe a medical cannabis to treat children like Haleigh Cox, a four year old from Forsyth who suffers from seizures. We first brought you her story two months ago, which ignited a movement to legalize medical marijuana. It's a cause mother, Janea Cox, has pushed for in the capitol. Wednesday night, that movement saw a win.



"This just means a lot. We feel like we've gotten through so much just through this committee and it just gives us all this extra push of hope that all of our families are looking for right now," said a crying Janea. But the journey to passage, even in committee, was not easy. State representative, Allen Peake, who drafted the bill, made the case to conduct clinical research trials in academic settings. That will allow a non-FDA approved cannabis to be grown domestically. The problem is that federal law prohibits that from happening. Peake says 20 other states cultivate and provide it for patients. He reasons Georgia can do the same and says it's the best option for the state.



That's not the only hurdle. Chairman Sharon Cooper pushed for an FDA-approved form of cannabis. But the process can take up to 10 years, and as some advocates of the bill mentioned, these children don't have time. Peake questions the committee, 'Why wait for the process when there is a cannabis oil proven to work in Colorado?" Despite the critics, there was overwhelmingly positive response to the bill. Representatives responded by a unanimous vote to pass HB 885.



But that bill will stay on the shelf unless it passes the House by crossover day, next Monday.





http://www.13wmaz.com/story/news/politics/2014/02/26/medical-marijuana-bill-hearing/5836727/

February 26, 2014

WANTED: Professionals Willing To Speak About CLIMATE CHANGE To Local Groups

If you are a professional or graduate student with a strong background in climate science, the world needs you to reach out to local audiences at schools, retirement homes, the Chamber of Commerce, etc., and share your expertise.



A new initiative by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and the United Nations Foundation called climatevoices.org is launching a Science Speakers Network this spring, with the goal of bringing scientists and their local communities together for real dialogue on climate science that speaks to citizens’ current and future well-being and responsibility as members of a community and democracy. Materials for context-setting presentations will be offered as will coaching regarding how to begin conversations about climate change with fellow citizens.



If you are interested in volunteering for this network, please go to climatevoices.org and create a profile. Profiles will “go public” when the full web site is launched in April. Once you create a profile, you will be kept up to date on Climate Voices progress including construction of the full web site, availability of presentation materials, webinar coaching, and plans for project launch.



For any questions, please contact: Cindy Schmidt (UCAR), cschmidt@ucar.edu. I have my own set of slides I use for such talks that anyone is welcome to borrow from, available at http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/2013/climatetalk.ppt.




http://crooksandliars.com/2014/02/wanted-professionals-willing-speak-about

February 26, 2014

Republican Louie Gohmert Rallies Blacks: You Won Your Freedom So YOU CAN DISCRIMINATE AGAINST GAYS

Remember, its a REPUBLICAN openly issuing these statements........

Where is the 'WHACK-A-MOLE' when you need one?.......





Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) on Wednesday told African-Americans that they had fought in the Civil Rights Movement for the right to support an Arizona bill that would protect businesses which discriminate against LGBT people on the basis of “religious freedom.” In a radio interview, the Texas Republican asserted to conservative host Janet Mefferd that President Barack Obama would have never been elected president in 2008 if he had said “marriage was between two men and two women.” Gohmert explained that Arizona’s SB 1062 was necessary because the current mindset was, “if you’re not willing to embrace the liberal beliefs that we have then your religious beliefs are not protected.”



He added that the First Amendment had avoided establishing a religion, but “some are establishing the religion of secularism. And everybody else’s religion has basically just got to go to blazes.” Mefferd argued that many liberals had been wrong to draw comparisons between the Civil Rights Movement and the fight for LGBT equality. “So many black pastors have stood up and said this is not analogous,” she remarked. “The Civil Rights Movement was a totally different ball of wax than what we’re seeing right now.”



“Some of them are very shocked, they participated in the Civil Rights Movement,” Gohmert agreed. “And then to turn around and have gay rights folks saying, now, ‘You can’t practice your religious beliefs.’” “Wait a minute, wait a minute, we stood up for you and your beliefs and now you’re saying we can’t stand up for our beliefs because they conflict with you?” he added. “This is not what freedom is about. I’m supposed to be able to have freedom to worship as I believe and actually follow the teachings in the Bible if those are my beliefs.” “It’s incredible that we have gotten as far away as we have from nature’s god or nature, whichever you want to proclaim.”





http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/26/louie-gohmert-rallies-blacks-you-won-your-freedom-so-you-can-discriminate-against-gays/