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Segami
Segami's Journal
Segami's Journal
May 8, 2014
Even as a new report calls for ending a war on drugs that has produced "enormous negative outcomes and collateral damage,” Congress has rejected an amendment to a veterans' funding bill to allow VA doctors in states with medical marijuana on the books to discuss medical pot - not prescribe it or provide it but simply suggest it - to treat PTSD and other ills they got serving the country that is now denying them what "a mountain of evidence" says is the most effective treatment for them. The VA currently bans physicians from recommending legal medical marijuana to veterans, who could lose their benefits if caught using. Last week, legislators in Colorado, where pot is legal, also failed to pass a bill to add PTSD to the list of "debilitating medical conditions" that qualify for medical weed, leaving sufferers to rely on what are often dozens of prescription drugs that may or may not ease their symptoms. More by the numbers: In Congress, the relatively close 222–195 vote suggests the tide is turning; 22 Republicans voted to allow a pot recommendation, though some Democrats, including DNC chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, voted against it. Twenty-one states and D.C. have approved pot for recreational or medical use. Only ten include PTSD as a qualifying condition for treatment. And on average, a veteran commits suicide every hour. But for God's sake don't let them get high.
http://www.commondreams.org/further/2014/05/06-1
U.S. To VETS: You Can FIGHT OUR POINTLESS WARS For Us, But You CAN'T SMOKE WEED When You Come Home
Even as a new report calls for ending a war on drugs that has produced "enormous negative outcomes and collateral damage,” Congress has rejected an amendment to a veterans' funding bill to allow VA doctors in states with medical marijuana on the books to discuss medical pot - not prescribe it or provide it but simply suggest it - to treat PTSD and other ills they got serving the country that is now denying them what "a mountain of evidence" says is the most effective treatment for them. The VA currently bans physicians from recommending legal medical marijuana to veterans, who could lose their benefits if caught using. Last week, legislators in Colorado, where pot is legal, also failed to pass a bill to add PTSD to the list of "debilitating medical conditions" that qualify for medical weed, leaving sufferers to rely on what are often dozens of prescription drugs that may or may not ease their symptoms. More by the numbers: In Congress, the relatively close 222–195 vote suggests the tide is turning; 22 Republicans voted to allow a pot recommendation, though some Democrats, including DNC chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, voted against it. Twenty-one states and D.C. have approved pot for recreational or medical use. Only ten include PTSD as a qualifying condition for treatment. And on average, a veteran commits suicide every hour. But for God's sake don't let them get high.
http://www.commondreams.org/further/2014/05/06-1
May 7, 2014
When is a Democrat a Republican? First clue is when you keep Republicans in charge of a legislative chamber. Despite a heavy Republican gerrymander, aided, abetted and literally signed by supposed Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York voters elected a Democratic majority in 2012. However, a group of right-wing Democrats (aided and abetted by Cuomo, again) split off from the Democratic caucus and kept Republicans in the majority. Among those turncoat Democrats was Jeff Klein.
In reality, Klein's Senate has stymied meaningful campaign reform, a state DREAM Act, a moratorium on fracking, the Women's Equality Act and paid family leave. He's like a Bond Villain. On the other hand, he has gone to the mat to fight for cigarette wholesalers, payday lenders, and efforts to gut the state's health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. Bond villain, Republican, same thing. But there's another way a Democrat is just like a Republican, and that's when he literally runs as a Republican. Here is the relevant part of the ballot Bronx voters got in 2012:
You can see the full ballot here:
http://www.vote.nyc.ny.us/pdf/sample_ballots/G/BX/2012G2V1_Style_118.pdf
Kim Jong-un would be impressed. And how many real Democrats would want their name associated with the Republican Party in any way, including a ballot line? Luckily, we are engaged in the race on behalf of Oliver Koppell. Over 1,300 of us have already raised $21,000 for Koppell. We need more people to join us in getting rid of this cancer inside our party. What are you waiting for?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/07/1297350/-When-is-a-Democrat-a-Republican-NY-Turncoat-Jeff-Klein-demonstrates
.
WHEN Is A Democrat a Republican? New York TURNCOAT Jeff Klein Demonstrates
When is a Democrat a Republican? First clue is when you keep Republicans in charge of a legislative chamber. Despite a heavy Republican gerrymander, aided, abetted and literally signed by supposed Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York voters elected a Democratic majority in 2012. However, a group of right-wing Democrats (aided and abetted by Cuomo, again) split off from the Democratic caucus and kept Republicans in the majority. Among those turncoat Democrats was Jeff Klein.
"..Stunningly, Klein claimed that he was "not empowering a Republican majority," even though he'd done exactly that. He further insisted that his buddies in the GOP were "committed to seeing major pieces of progressive legislation pass the Senate.."
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/04/07/1290160/-Meet-the-biggest-douchebag-Democrat-in-New-York-and-the-fearless-progressive-who-can-unseat-him?detail=hide
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/04/07/1290160/-Meet-the-biggest-douchebag-Democrat-in-New-York-and-the-fearless-progressive-who-can-unseat-him?detail=hide
In reality, Klein's Senate has stymied meaningful campaign reform, a state DREAM Act, a moratorium on fracking, the Women's Equality Act and paid family leave. He's like a Bond Villain. On the other hand, he has gone to the mat to fight for cigarette wholesalers, payday lenders, and efforts to gut the state's health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. Bond villain, Republican, same thing. But there's another way a Democrat is just like a Republican, and that's when he literally runs as a Republican. Here is the relevant part of the ballot Bronx voters got in 2012:
You can see the full ballot here:
http://www.vote.nyc.ny.us/pdf/sample_ballots/G/BX/2012G2V1_Style_118.pdf
Kim Jong-un would be impressed. And how many real Democrats would want their name associated with the Republican Party in any way, including a ballot line? Luckily, we are engaged in the race on behalf of Oliver Koppell. Over 1,300 of us have already raised $21,000 for Koppell. We need more people to join us in getting rid of this cancer inside our party. What are you waiting for?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/07/1297350/-When-is-a-Democrat-a-Republican-NY-Turncoat-Jeff-Klein-demonstrates
.
May 5, 2014
Fantastic news! Former New York City Councilman Oliver Koppell has officially kicked off his challenge to state Sen. Jeff Klein, a turncoat Democrat who sold out his own party to give control of the New York State Senate to Republicans—even though Democrats won a majority of seats in the chamber. Klein made his power grab purely to further his personal ambitions—he's now co-majority leader, along with Republican Dean Skelos—and in doing so, he's stymied all manner of progressive priorities, like the state-level DREAM Act, a fracking moratorium and paid family leave. This is utterly unacceptable in a state as liberal as New York, and Democrats everywhere are furious with Klein. Koppell, whose progressive bona fides are unquestioned,knows exactly what time it is:
Klein's district, the 34th, is safely blue, so whoever wins the Sept. 9 Democratic primary is guaranteed victory in the general election. But it's not going to be easy. Klein is a fierce campaigner and excellent fundraiser who already has over $1.5 million stashed away for this race, and he can easily access more. So Koppell seriously needs our help, and fast. In case you had any doubt, Koppell is most certainly aware of—and appreciative of—our involvement in this race. Over 10,000 of you signed our petition to encourage him to run, and that had its intended effect. Now it's time to take our support to the next level, with dollars.
contribute:
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/dk-koppell?refcode=fpok050514
cont'
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/05/1296984/-Progressive-champion-Ollie-Koppell-launches-campaign-to-unseat-renegade-Democrat-Jeff-Klein?showAll=yes
PROGRESSIVE Champion Ollie Koppell Launches Campaign To UNSEAT RENEGADE 'DEMOCRAT' Jeff Klein
Fantastic news! Former New York City Councilman Oliver Koppell has officially kicked off his challenge to state Sen. Jeff Klein, a turncoat Democrat who sold out his own party to give control of the New York State Senate to Republicans—even though Democrats won a majority of seats in the chamber. Klein made his power grab purely to further his personal ambitions—he's now co-majority leader, along with Republican Dean Skelos—and in doing so, he's stymied all manner of progressive priorities, like the state-level DREAM Act, a fracking moratorium and paid family leave. This is utterly unacceptable in a state as liberal as New York, and Democrats everywhere are furious with Klein. Koppell, whose progressive bona fides are unquestioned,knows exactly what time it is:
"I'm running because the state senator who represents my district has betrayed the Democratic Party and foiled important objectives," Mr. Koppell said in an interview on Friday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/05/nyregion/cooperation-with-gop-puts-senator-in-a-primary.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/05/nyregion/cooperation-with-gop-puts-senator-in-a-primary.html
Klein's district, the 34th, is safely blue, so whoever wins the Sept. 9 Democratic primary is guaranteed victory in the general election. But it's not going to be easy. Klein is a fierce campaigner and excellent fundraiser who already has over $1.5 million stashed away for this race, and he can easily access more. So Koppell seriously needs our help, and fast. In case you had any doubt, Koppell is most certainly aware of—and appreciative of—our involvement in this race. Over 10,000 of you signed our petition to encourage him to run, and that had its intended effect. Now it's time to take our support to the next level, with dollars.
contribute:
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/dk-koppell?refcode=fpok050514
cont'
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/05/1296984/-Progressive-champion-Ollie-Koppell-launches-campaign-to-unseat-renegade-Democrat-Jeff-Klein?showAll=yes
May 5, 2014
David Cobb, the spokesperson for Move to Amend and previous Green Party candidate for president, came to Houston recently to barnstorm. He addressed a crowd of just over 100 people about the need to amend the Constitution to codify that money is not speech and that corporations or legal entities are not persons. The group included Democrats, Republicans, Greens, Libertarians and Socialist Democrats. Anyone who is privy to David Cobb’s barnstorms knows it can get very exciting rather quickly. He is passionate about hammering the message about corporate encroachment on every individual’s freedom overtly and covertly. Citizens United and the McCutcheon cases make the necessity for the above-mentioned constitutional amendment that more urgent. In the near term there is an even more dangerous concern. The loss of net neutrality, if not reversed, will kill our democracy. The fight to move to amend the constitution would be made that much more difficult with one more powerful organizing tool crippled.
Cobb made many Democrats in the Houston audience somewhat uncomfortable after singling out actions taken by the Democratic Party that would seem anathema to its core constituency. Yet he once worked for Jesse Jackson. He was once a party loyalist. As a card-carrying, sustaining member and unabashed Democrat, I knew exactly where he was coming from. Move to Amend is a nonpartisan organization. Cobb coming down as hard as he did on Democrats seemed unfair to many in the room. But that discomfort is important and healthy, as I'll explain below the fold. Both Cobb and I serve on the Move to Amend leadership team. He ribs the Democrats on the team all of the time about their loyalty to the Democratic Party. That ribbing is a good thing—it doesn't shake one from being a Democrat. It does something much more important: It makes you re-evaluate why you became a Democrat in the first place. When you question your party affiliation, there are several results. It first forces you to check if the basic tenets of the party have changed. Secondly, it makes you examine whether the party is living up to its ideals.
The reality is the Democratic Party is orders of magnitude better for the middle class than the Republican Party, if only for its simple belief that collectively, we can make a difference. Government can be good. Government can work. Government can provide that safety net that mitigates the intrinsic inhumanity of capitalism. The Democratic Party’s codification of tolerance and implicit diversity within its platform makes it the place for everyone. However, rather than singing all the praises, every Democrat should be frank and acknowledge where the party has failed. The grassroots must push the party to live up to its ideals. Many corporatist Democrats, while still Democrats, have acted like corporatists first. Wealth extraction has not been limited by party. Support for policies that hurt the middle class has not been limited by party. Glass Steagall and NAFTA occurred under Bill Clinton, a Democrat. The push to fast track the Trans Pacific Partnership is occurring under President Barack Obama’s administration, a Democrat.
No one is looking for absolute purity in a party’s doctrine. That said, one must guard against a slow drift that in real time seem marginal. In the aggregate, the sum total of marginal changes is rather profound. That is how we got President Clinton making the profound statement (see video) that "the era of big government is over," as if big government was America’s existential problem. That is how we got President Obama supporting chain CPI instead of increasing the Social Security cap. That is how we got a stimulus bill heavy on cuts even though it is fact that spending is more stimulative than tax cuts.
cont'
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/04/1296364/-It-is-time-to-embrace-criticisms-of-the-Democratic-Party-to-ensure-it-lives-up-to-its-tenets?showAll=yes
It Is TIME TO EMBRACE Criticisms Of The Democratic Party To ENSURE It LIVES UP To Its Tenets
"....Many corporatist Democrats, while still Democrats, have acted like corporatists first. Wealth extraction has not been limited by party. Support for policies that hurt the middle class has not been limited by party. Glass Steagall and NAFTA occurred under Bill Clinton, a Democrat. The push to fast track the Trans Pacific Partnership is occurring under President Barack Obama’s administration, a Democrat..."
David Cobb, the spokesperson for Move to Amend and previous Green Party candidate for president, came to Houston recently to barnstorm. He addressed a crowd of just over 100 people about the need to amend the Constitution to codify that money is not speech and that corporations or legal entities are not persons. The group included Democrats, Republicans, Greens, Libertarians and Socialist Democrats. Anyone who is privy to David Cobb’s barnstorms knows it can get very exciting rather quickly. He is passionate about hammering the message about corporate encroachment on every individual’s freedom overtly and covertly. Citizens United and the McCutcheon cases make the necessity for the above-mentioned constitutional amendment that more urgent. In the near term there is an even more dangerous concern. The loss of net neutrality, if not reversed, will kill our democracy. The fight to move to amend the constitution would be made that much more difficult with one more powerful organizing tool crippled.
Cobb made many Democrats in the Houston audience somewhat uncomfortable after singling out actions taken by the Democratic Party that would seem anathema to its core constituency. Yet he once worked for Jesse Jackson. He was once a party loyalist. As a card-carrying, sustaining member and unabashed Democrat, I knew exactly where he was coming from. Move to Amend is a nonpartisan organization. Cobb coming down as hard as he did on Democrats seemed unfair to many in the room. But that discomfort is important and healthy, as I'll explain below the fold. Both Cobb and I serve on the Move to Amend leadership team. He ribs the Democrats on the team all of the time about their loyalty to the Democratic Party. That ribbing is a good thing—it doesn't shake one from being a Democrat. It does something much more important: It makes you re-evaluate why you became a Democrat in the first place. When you question your party affiliation, there are several results. It first forces you to check if the basic tenets of the party have changed. Secondly, it makes you examine whether the party is living up to its ideals.
The reality is the Democratic Party is orders of magnitude better for the middle class than the Republican Party, if only for its simple belief that collectively, we can make a difference. Government can be good. Government can work. Government can provide that safety net that mitigates the intrinsic inhumanity of capitalism. The Democratic Party’s codification of tolerance and implicit diversity within its platform makes it the place for everyone. However, rather than singing all the praises, every Democrat should be frank and acknowledge where the party has failed. The grassroots must push the party to live up to its ideals. Many corporatist Democrats, while still Democrats, have acted like corporatists first. Wealth extraction has not been limited by party. Support for policies that hurt the middle class has not been limited by party. Glass Steagall and NAFTA occurred under Bill Clinton, a Democrat. The push to fast track the Trans Pacific Partnership is occurring under President Barack Obama’s administration, a Democrat.
No one is looking for absolute purity in a party’s doctrine. That said, one must guard against a slow drift that in real time seem marginal. In the aggregate, the sum total of marginal changes is rather profound. That is how we got President Clinton making the profound statement (see video) that "the era of big government is over," as if big government was America’s existential problem. That is how we got President Obama supporting chain CPI instead of increasing the Social Security cap. That is how we got a stimulus bill heavy on cuts even though it is fact that spending is more stimulative than tax cuts.
cont'
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/04/1296364/-It-is-time-to-embrace-criticisms-of-the-Democratic-Party-to-ensure-it-lives-up-to-its-tenets?showAll=yes
May 2, 2014
GRAHAM IS A F*CKEN NUTBAG WEASEL!!..................
By: Jason Easley
On The Mike Gallagher Show, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) had this to say about Obama and the White House when it comes to Benghazi, “Our Democratic friends, for the most part, have been in the tank over Benghazi. They think it’s to get me reelected. Some guy said this about me yesterday on the left: The only reason I cared about this was because I have six tea party opponents. Well, if that’s true, I’m the biggest scumbag in America. I don’t think that’s true; I know it’s not true. It would be almost impossible for Lindsey Graham — given who I am and what I’ve been doing for the last 20 years — not to care about those in harm’s way, who get killed, and not go on to hold the administration accountable that lied about it…The scumbags are the people in the White House who lied about this.”
Graham laughed while he called President Obama and the White House scumbags. Let’s be clear about this Graham was definitely calling the President Of The United States a liar and a scumbag. This is part of the low that a much maligned senator as Lindsey Graham has to sink to in order to hold on to his seat in red state South Carolina. Republicans have been claiming for nearly two years that the president and his White House are lying about Benghazi. Republicans have never offered a shred of evidence that anyone associated with the White House is lying. In March, the Pentagon revealed that the now more than 50 congressional hearings, briefings and interviews have cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Republicans have spent millions of dollars investigating Benghazi, and they have turned up nothing. Yet, Lindsey Graham is sure that the White House is full of scumbags who are lying about Benghazi.
THE LIAR HERE IS SEN. GRAHAM. In a 1998, Roll Call article, Graham was busted for claiming that he served overseas during the Gulf War:
Lindsey Graham will lie about anything in order to keep his seat. He lied about his military service, just like he is lying about Benghazi.
cont'
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/05/02/sen-lindsey-graham-disrespects-president-obama-calling-scumbag.html
Lindsey Graham Calls White House Officials "SCUMBAGS"
"..Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) committed the ultimate act of disrespect to President Obama and the presidency itself when he called White House officials scumbags who are lying about Benghazi..."
GRAHAM IS A F*CKEN NUTBAG WEASEL!!..................
By: Jason Easley
On The Mike Gallagher Show, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) had this to say about Obama and the White House when it comes to Benghazi, “Our Democratic friends, for the most part, have been in the tank over Benghazi. They think it’s to get me reelected. Some guy said this about me yesterday on the left: The only reason I cared about this was because I have six tea party opponents. Well, if that’s true, I’m the biggest scumbag in America. I don’t think that’s true; I know it’s not true. It would be almost impossible for Lindsey Graham — given who I am and what I’ve been doing for the last 20 years — not to care about those in harm’s way, who get killed, and not go on to hold the administration accountable that lied about it…The scumbags are the people in the White House who lied about this.”
Graham laughed while he called President Obama and the White House scumbags. Let’s be clear about this Graham was definitely calling the President Of The United States a liar and a scumbag. This is part of the low that a much maligned senator as Lindsey Graham has to sink to in order to hold on to his seat in red state South Carolina. Republicans have been claiming for nearly two years that the president and his White House are lying about Benghazi. Republicans have never offered a shred of evidence that anyone associated with the White House is lying. In March, the Pentagon revealed that the now more than 50 congressional hearings, briefings and interviews have cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Republicans have spent millions of dollars investigating Benghazi, and they have turned up nothing. Yet, Lindsey Graham is sure that the White House is full of scumbags who are lying about Benghazi.
THE LIAR HERE IS SEN. GRAHAM. In a 1998, Roll Call article, Graham was busted for claiming that he served overseas during the Gulf War:
Despite repeated statements that he served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Rep. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was actually living out of harm’s way at home in South Carolina, where he was processing wills and other paperwork for the Air Force during the entire course of the conflict.
On his official web site, Graham describes himself as “an Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran.” Other biographies he has written read similarly. According to numerous military experts The Hill contacted, Graham has no legitimate claim to being called a veteran of the conflict.
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2010/05/19/instantly-disqualifying-unless-youre-a-republic/164977
On his official web site, Graham describes himself as “an Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran.” Other biographies he has written read similarly. According to numerous military experts The Hill contacted, Graham has no legitimate claim to being called a veteran of the conflict.
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2010/05/19/instantly-disqualifying-unless-youre-a-republic/164977
Lindsey Graham will lie about anything in order to keep his seat. He lied about his military service, just like he is lying about Benghazi.
cont'
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/05/02/sen-lindsey-graham-disrespects-president-obama-calling-scumbag.html
May 2, 2014
BENGHAZI!....BEEEENGHAZI!.....BEEEEEEENGHAZI!.....B E E E E E E N G H A Z I ! !......
House Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) issued a subpoena Friday for Secretary of State John Kerry to testify before his panel on May 21 over Benghazi. The GOP oversight chief and his committee announced the move on Twitter.
Issa made no suggestion that Kerry -- who was a senator during the 2012 attack on the American consulate in Benghazi -- was guilty of wrongdoing."State Dept's response to congressional investigation of #Benghazi has shown a disturbing disregard for its legal obligations to Congress," the GOP chairman wrote on Twitter.
He continued, deploying the hashtag #Benghazi in a series of follow-up tweets: "Compliance with a subpoena for documents is not a game. The State Dept has failed to meet its legal obligations. ... Secretary Kerry must answer questions about the State Dept's response to the congressional investigation. Yesterday, BGen Lovell testified that the State Dept never asked military forces to go save Americans in #Benghazi during the attack."
On Thursday, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA) said there was "no evidence" for the claim by Brig. Gen. Robert Lovell that then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ordered the Defense Department to stand down rather than help the Americans in response to the Benghazi attacks. Issa has made the same accusation about Clinton, earlier in February and again Friday. It appears to be the basis for his latest investigation.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/darrell-issa-john-kerry-benghazi
.
Darrell Issa SUBPOENAS John Kerry Because #BENGHAZI
BENGHAZI!....BEEEENGHAZI!.....BEEEEEEENGHAZI!.....B E E E E E E N G H A Z I ! !......
House Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) issued a subpoena Friday for Secretary of State John Kerry to testify before his panel on May 21 over Benghazi. The GOP oversight chief and his committee announced the move on Twitter.
Today I announced a subpoena requiring Secretary Kerry to testify at a public
@GOPoversight hearing on May 21. #Benghazi
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) May 2, 2014
https://twitter.com/GOPoversight/status/462238957615726592
@GOPoversight hearing on May 21. #Benghazi
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) May 2, 2014
https://twitter.com/GOPoversight/status/462238957615726592
Issa made no suggestion that Kerry -- who was a senator during the 2012 attack on the American consulate in Benghazi -- was guilty of wrongdoing."State Dept's response to congressional investigation of #Benghazi has shown a disturbing disregard for its legal obligations to Congress," the GOP chairman wrote on Twitter.
He continued, deploying the hashtag #Benghazi in a series of follow-up tweets: "Compliance with a subpoena for documents is not a game. The State Dept has failed to meet its legal obligations. ... Secretary Kerry must answer questions about the State Dept's response to the congressional investigation. Yesterday, BGen Lovell testified that the State Dept never asked military forces to go save Americans in #Benghazi during the attack."
On Thursday, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA) said there was "no evidence" for the claim by Brig. Gen. Robert Lovell that then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ordered the Defense Department to stand down rather than help the Americans in response to the Benghazi attacks. Issa has made the same accusation about Clinton, earlier in February and again Friday. It appears to be the basis for his latest investigation.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/darrell-issa-john-kerry-benghazi
.
May 1, 2014
Sen. Elizabeth Warren joins the growing number of Democratic lawmakers who want to save the internet. In this Facebook post she homes in on the key point—the proposed rule the Federal Communications Commission will consider in two weeks is a big giveaway to corporate interests.
The proposal put forward by Chairman Tom Wheeler essentially gives up on the idea of making internet providers treat everybody alike in their access to internet users. Content providers—like Netflix—would have to pay extra to the big internet service providers like Verizon in order to make sure they get on the fast lanes of the internet, and their customers get the experience they're paying for. This is the route that Chairman Wheeler decided upon after a court struck down the previous rule the FCC was using to enforce net neutrality. But, as Warren argues, just giving in and letting the big guys have the internet isn't the only option the FCC has—and in fact, the court decision that led to this proposed rule gave the FCC a much stronger option. The court made clear that the FCC absolutely has the legal authority to regulate broadband, and it can do it by reclassifying broadband providers into the kind of telecommunications companies they actually are like. That would mean the FCC could regulate them just like wireless operators and phone companies. And enforce net neutrality.
Which is the last thing that the broadband providers want. They've got the ear of Wheeler and inordinate sway with the FCC. The playing field, as Warren would say, is definitely tilted in their favor. The only way to combat that is by the rest of us making a hell of a lot of noise.
MAKE NOISE!... 
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/01/1296213/-Elizabeth-Warren-joins-call-to-save-the-nbsp-internet
Elizabeth Warren JOINS Call To SAVE THE INTERNET
Sen. Elizabeth Warren joins the growing number of Democratic lawmakers who want to save the internet. In this Facebook post she homes in on the key point—the proposed rule the Federal Communications Commission will consider in two weeks is a big giveaway to corporate interests.
We don’t know who is going to have the next big idea in this country, but we’re pretty sure they’re going to need to get online to do it. Reports that the FCC may gut net neutrality are disturbing, and would be just one more way the playing field is tilted for the rich and powerful who have already made it. Our regulators already have all the tools they need to protect a free and open Internet—where a handful of companies cannot block or filter or charge access fees for what we do online. They should stand up and use them.
https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethWarren/posts/10152168656593687?stream_ref=10
https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethWarren/posts/10152168656593687?stream_ref=10
The proposal put forward by Chairman Tom Wheeler essentially gives up on the idea of making internet providers treat everybody alike in their access to internet users. Content providers—like Netflix—would have to pay extra to the big internet service providers like Verizon in order to make sure they get on the fast lanes of the internet, and their customers get the experience they're paying for. This is the route that Chairman Wheeler decided upon after a court struck down the previous rule the FCC was using to enforce net neutrality. But, as Warren argues, just giving in and letting the big guys have the internet isn't the only option the FCC has—and in fact, the court decision that led to this proposed rule gave the FCC a much stronger option. The court made clear that the FCC absolutely has the legal authority to regulate broadband, and it can do it by reclassifying broadband providers into the kind of telecommunications companies they actually are like. That would mean the FCC could regulate them just like wireless operators and phone companies. And enforce net neutrality.
Which is the last thing that the broadband providers want. They've got the ear of Wheeler and inordinate sway with the FCC. The playing field, as Warren would say, is definitely tilted in their favor. The only way to combat that is by the rest of us making a hell of a lot of noise.
MAKE NOISE!...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/01/1296213/-Elizabeth-Warren-joins-call-to-save-the-nbsp-internet
May 1, 2014
~snip~
The Republicans’ worst Obamacare nightmare is coming true. No, not the ones they have been telling the public they have been having. Their worst nightmare is that Obamacare is going to work, and that people will actually like it. Even worse than that, some Republican voters are starting to like it. One of those voters is Dean Angstadt. Angstadt is a 57 year old logger who lives in the Philadelphia suburbs. Philly.com, the online version of the Philadelphia Inquirer, told his story on April 28. Angstadt had gone without medical insurance since 2009. A staunch Republican conservative, he wanted nothing to do with the Affordable Care Act. When his friend Bob Leinhauser suggested that he sign up, Angstadt reportedly told him:
Heart problems forced Angstadt to make what was for him a distasteful choice early this year. He could sign up for health coverage through Obamacare, or he could die. He chose to sign up for a health plan, and now he’s glad he did. Philly.com tells the story of how Leinhauser, a 55 year old retired firefighter, tried to persuade Angstadt to sign up for health coverage. Each time Leinhauser brought up the subject, Angstadt refused to listen. He says:
As Angstadt’s health continued to decline his doctor insisted that he had to have surgery to replace one of his heart valves. Finally he relented, and Leinhauser helped him go online to fill out the application for insurance. He purchased a “silver” plan through Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield that costs him $26.11 a month. Angstadt tells Philly.com:
Angstadt says that Fox News turned him against Obamacare. Chris Hayes highlighted Angstadt’s story on his MSNBC show, All In. According to Washington Post blogger Erik Wemple, Angstadt watched the segment online. He tells Wemple:
Now, Angstadt is trying to convince others to take a look at the ACA. He tells Philly.com:
cont'
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/04/30/conservative-fox-news-viewer-admits-obamacare-saved-his-life/
.
CONSERVATIVE Fox News Viewer ADMITS Obamacare SAVED HIS LIFE
Angstadt tells Wemple that Fox News influenced his thinking about Obamacare. He says:- Yeah, yeah — they get people fired up. You know what, I really do have a different outlook on it. It’s really wrong that people are making it into a political thing. To me, it is a life-and-death thing. I didn’t care for Obama. I can’t say nothing bad about him now because it was his plan that probably saved my life.
~snip~
The Republicans’ worst Obamacare nightmare is coming true. No, not the ones they have been telling the public they have been having. Their worst nightmare is that Obamacare is going to work, and that people will actually like it. Even worse than that, some Republican voters are starting to like it. One of those voters is Dean Angstadt. Angstadt is a 57 year old logger who lives in the Philadelphia suburbs. Philly.com, the online version of the Philadelphia Inquirer, told his story on April 28. Angstadt had gone without medical insurance since 2009. A staunch Republican conservative, he wanted nothing to do with the Affordable Care Act. When his friend Bob Leinhauser suggested that he sign up, Angstadt reportedly told him:
"..I don’t read what the Democrats have to say about it because I think they’re full of it..."
http://articles.philly.com/2014-04-28/news/49440051_1_health-plan-obamacare-life-saving-surgery
http://articles.philly.com/2014-04-28/news/49440051_1_health-plan-obamacare-life-saving-surgery
Heart problems forced Angstadt to make what was for him a distasteful choice early this year. He could sign up for health coverage through Obamacare, or he could die. He chose to sign up for a health plan, and now he’s glad he did. Philly.com tells the story of how Leinhauser, a 55 year old retired firefighter, tried to persuade Angstadt to sign up for health coverage. Each time Leinhauser brought up the subject, Angstadt refused to listen. He says:
"...We argued about it for months. I didn’t trust this Obamacare. One of the big reasons is it sounded too good to be true..."
As Angstadt’s health continued to decline his doctor insisted that he had to have surgery to replace one of his heart valves. Finally he relented, and Leinhauser helped him go online to fill out the application for insurance. He purchased a “silver” plan through Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield that costs him $26.11 a month. Angstadt tells Philly.com:
"..All of a sudden, I’m getting notification from Highmark, and I got my card, and it was actually all legitimate. I could have done backflips if I was in better shape..."
Angstadt says that Fox News turned him against Obamacare. Chris Hayes highlighted Angstadt’s story on his MSNBC show, All In. According to Washington Post blogger Erik Wemple, Angstadt watched the segment online. He tells Wemple:
"..You wouldn’t have caught me dead watching MSNBC. That’s probably the longest I’d ever sat and watched MSNBC in my life..."
Now, Angstadt is trying to convince others to take a look at the ACA. He tells Philly.com:
"..For me, this isn’t about politics. I’m trying to help other people who are like me, stubborn and bullheaded, who refused to even look. From my own experience, the ACA is everything it’s supposed to be, and in fact, better than it’s made out to be..."
cont'
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/04/30/conservative-fox-news-viewer-admits-obamacare-saved-his-life/
.
May 1, 2014
BENGHAZI!..BENGHAZI!..BENGHAZI!..BENGHAZI!....BENNNNNNNNNNNGHAZI!.........
Fireworks begin around 4:46
During Thursday’s broadcast of Morning Joe, host Joe Scarborough lashed out at a guest and caused one of the more shameful and embarrassing moments to be seen on cable news, and that is saying a lot. The panel was discussing recent emails that were released by the White House, which the right has pointed to as a smoking gun when it comes to Benghazi. For Republicans that have been trying to make this supposed scandal stick, one particular email apparently shows complete and total proof that the White House tried to cover-up the truth about Benghazi. Of course, the email in question is actually one that discusses the administration’s overall foreign policy as it relates to the Middle East and was not a directive to get then-UN Ambassador Susan Rice to mislead the public on the truth about Benghazi, but that hasn’t stopped the media from running with it lately.
Anyway, Scarborough took charge during the discussion and was in full outrage form. After playing a clip of ABC’s Jonathan Karl peppering White House Press Secretary Jay Carney with questions on Wednesday about the email and how it proves that the White House was trying to cover-up what happened in Benghazi for political reasons. Scarborough then went into full-on crazy wingnut mode, claiming that the White House is using ‘doublespeak’ when saying that this email wasn’t about Benghazi as much as it was about the discussion of foreign policy at the time.
Frothing at the mouth, Scarborough then threw it to guest Donny Deutsch, who tried to talk about how this email will likely be ‘fool’s gold’ for the Republicans, especially if they try to run on it all the way through 2016. Well, that didn’t sit well with Scarborough, as you can see in the video.
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/05/01/joe-scarborough-loses-mind-air-bullies-guest-benghazi.html
Joe Scarborough LOSES HIS MIND On Air And BULLIES Guest Over Benghazi
BENGHAZI!..BENGHAZI!..BENGHAZI!..BENGHAZI!....BENNNNNNNNNNNGHAZI!.........
Fireworks begin around 4:46
During Thursday’s broadcast of Morning Joe, host Joe Scarborough lashed out at a guest and caused one of the more shameful and embarrassing moments to be seen on cable news, and that is saying a lot. The panel was discussing recent emails that were released by the White House, which the right has pointed to as a smoking gun when it comes to Benghazi. For Republicans that have been trying to make this supposed scandal stick, one particular email apparently shows complete and total proof that the White House tried to cover-up the truth about Benghazi. Of course, the email in question is actually one that discusses the administration’s overall foreign policy as it relates to the Middle East and was not a directive to get then-UN Ambassador Susan Rice to mislead the public on the truth about Benghazi, but that hasn’t stopped the media from running with it lately.
Anyway, Scarborough took charge during the discussion and was in full outrage form. After playing a clip of ABC’s Jonathan Karl peppering White House Press Secretary Jay Carney with questions on Wednesday about the email and how it proves that the White House was trying to cover-up what happened in Benghazi for political reasons. Scarborough then went into full-on crazy wingnut mode, claiming that the White House is using ‘doublespeak’ when saying that this email wasn’t about Benghazi as much as it was about the discussion of foreign policy at the time.
Frothing at the mouth, Scarborough then threw it to guest Donny Deutsch, who tried to talk about how this email will likely be ‘fool’s gold’ for the Republicans, especially if they try to run on it all the way through 2016. Well, that didn’t sit well with Scarborough, as you can see in the video.
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/05/01/joe-scarborough-loses-mind-air-bullies-guest-benghazi.html
May 1, 2014
An Idaho veteran last week was told that her now-deceased wife wouldn’t be buried next to her in a veteran’s cemetery. But now a fellow veteran is offering up his spot in the Idaho Veterans Cemetery in the hopes that the couple will be able to rest beside each other for eternity. Madelynn Taylor, 74, is a retired veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving for six years just prior to the start of the Vietnam War. She also happens to be a lesbian, who was discharged when she and another servicewoman told her superiors she was gay. Taylor fell in love with Jean Mixner in 1995. They married soon thereafter, though few states recognized their union at the time. When her partner died in 2012, Taylor began planning for her own death, asking the Idaho Veterans Cemetery to reserve a spot for herself as well as the ashes of her spouse. They denied Taylor’s request.
“I’m not surprised,” Taylor told Boise’s KBOI 2News last week. “I’ve been discriminated against for 70 years, and they might as well discriminate against me in death as well as life.” The cemetery has defended their decision, as the Idaho state constitution still recognizes marriage as being between one man and one woman. But now a fellow veteran is stepping up and offering a chance for Taylor and Mixner to reside beside each other forever. U.S. Army Col. Barry Johnson (ret.) wrote in an open letter to the Idaho Statesman that he believes that Taylor had served her country and deserves the same rights as everyone else.
A 27-year veteran, Barry continued that he’s worked alongside all sexual orientations and it never truly mattered, arguing “everybody more or less knew who is who regardless, and I don’t recall anybody in the military ever saying a thing about it. Never.” Barry admit that he isn’t sure whether the offer he’s made will be recognized by the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery and Taylor hasn’t been reached for comment on Barry’s offer yet. But now there’s a chance that Taylor and Minxer can have the eternity they deserve. “Give Madelynn and Jean and others like them a break. Stop finding reasons to make life – and in this case, death – harder than it needs to be,” Barry concluded. “That’s just irritating as hell and disrespectful to boot.”
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2014/05/01/3432978/veteran-idaho-lesbian-cemetary/
VETERAN OFFERS UP HIS BURIAL SITE So That A Lesbian Couple Can Rest In Peace
An Idaho veteran last week was told that her now-deceased wife wouldn’t be buried next to her in a veteran’s cemetery. But now a fellow veteran is offering up his spot in the Idaho Veterans Cemetery in the hopes that the couple will be able to rest beside each other for eternity. Madelynn Taylor, 74, is a retired veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving for six years just prior to the start of the Vietnam War. She also happens to be a lesbian, who was discharged when she and another servicewoman told her superiors she was gay. Taylor fell in love with Jean Mixner in 1995. They married soon thereafter, though few states recognized their union at the time. When her partner died in 2012, Taylor began planning for her own death, asking the Idaho Veterans Cemetery to reserve a spot for herself as well as the ashes of her spouse. They denied Taylor’s request.
“I’m not surprised,” Taylor told Boise’s KBOI 2News last week. “I’ve been discriminated against for 70 years, and they might as well discriminate against me in death as well as life.” The cemetery has defended their decision, as the Idaho state constitution still recognizes marriage as being between one man and one woman. But now a fellow veteran is stepping up and offering a chance for Taylor and Mixner to reside beside each other forever. U.S. Army Col. Barry Johnson (ret.) wrote in an open letter to the Idaho Statesman that he believes that Taylor had served her country and deserves the same rights as everyone else.
“I’ll tell you what,” Barry wrote. “I will donate the plot I earned in the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery to you and Jean. I am happy to give my fellow veteran that small peace of mind. And I do it to honor all the great Americans I’ve served with along the way – gay, straight, whatever.”“I honestly couldn’t care less if somebody is gay, or ‘straight’ for that matter, just as I couldn’t care less about somebody’s anti-LGBT views,” Johnson wrote. “People seem to want you to be uptight one way or another about it, and I am content to simply respect somebody’s differences without a lot of fuss as long as there’s no harm done. Unfortunately, harm often is done, though, to people like Madelynn, and then I do care.”
A 27-year veteran, Barry continued that he’s worked alongside all sexual orientations and it never truly mattered, arguing “everybody more or less knew who is who regardless, and I don’t recall anybody in the military ever saying a thing about it. Never.” Barry admit that he isn’t sure whether the offer he’s made will be recognized by the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery and Taylor hasn’t been reached for comment on Barry’s offer yet. But now there’s a chance that Taylor and Minxer can have the eternity they deserve. “Give Madelynn and Jean and others like them a break. Stop finding reasons to make life – and in this case, death – harder than it needs to be,” Barry concluded. “That’s just irritating as hell and disrespectful to boot.”
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2014/05/01/3432978/veteran-idaho-lesbian-cemetary/
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