Another day another mass shooting

Making sure they come so regularly that "now" is never a good time to talk about reasonable restrictions on gun ownership.

Now becoming easier to buy a gun than to vote.

And somehow that's supposed to be healthy.

Here's some morbid "healthiness", why not just start a "fantasy mass shooting league" where you predict the time, place, and body count?  It would be just the type of fundraiser the NRA would like.

I say this as a matter of observation

It's rather bipartisan...but as a nation, if we are as great as we claim to be, is the "USA, USA, USA!" chant really the best we can do?

Saps

The Romney campaign...the group that in an uncontested convention couldn't get their candidate on stage until past 10:30 a.m. EST last night and then having months to do so wrote the blandest piece of crap of a speech...

Is saying Clint Eastwood went off script to their surprise.

So, then, who brought the chair on stage, Invisible Obama?

You have to hand it to the Republicans

That cross fertilization for Clint Eastwood and Admiral Stockdale went perfectly.

Wait a minute....what?

They really are serious about Zombie Reagan:

Despite some conflicting reports, Yahoo News has learned that a holographic projection of former President Ronald Reagan is in the works and was originally intended to debut outside the halls of the Republican National Convention this week. But its official unveiling has been put on hold until later this year or early 2013.

Peggy Noonan's getting frustrated!

Alternative programming

It looks like viewers are turning off the RNC infomercial in droves:

All told, just over 20 million people were watching last night on the Nielsen-rated networks, compared to 37 million for night two of the RNC in 2008. Night one of the 2012 RNC was roughly on par with night one of the 2008 RNC ratings-wise, making the gap all the more dramatic.

It should be noted that the comparative day in 2008 was the night Sarah Palin spoke and the nation collectively said, "What the fuck?" well not everyone. But the demographic Palin appeals to now didn't have alternative programming available in 2008 -- now that same demo can watch Hillbilly Handfishin'; Meet the Hutterites; or Honey Boo Boo.

The market has spoken -- because it cannot spell.

Of course, the Democrats ratings next week should be down too [I mean what have they got, Tom Hanks addressing a barcalounger?], sequels are never as good -- especially following a four-year series.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

The Comedy Team of Blitzer & Burnett

Oh how the two of them combined may do on Jeopardy!

In Summary:

That Paul Ryan -- He sure is pretty when he lies.

To paraphrase Yakov Smirnov

"At the Republican National Convention, Honey Boo Boo's Mother watches you"

S.S. Mittow

Among the Republicans this week there is, naturally, an elite:

Romney donors have gotten plenty of VIP treatment. Ahead of Rep. Paul Ryan's speech tonight at the RNC, donors will have the chance to mingle with former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at a private reception.

I think we may have to re-define VIP treatment when it involves having to spend time with Pawlenty. But it gets better, and a little more reflective of what the Romney Campaign is all about:

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s campaign on Wednesday partied with wealthy donors on a 150-foot yacht that flies the flag of the Cayman Islands, according to an ABC News report. Members of the Romney Victory Council, who have each raised more than $1 million for the candidate, mingled with Romney’s brother, Scott, and other relatives in Tampa aboard the luxury yacht “Cracker Bay.”

Cayman Islands? "Cracker Bay"? Write your own damn jokes, I cannot top reality.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

It isn't this panel, that's for sure

One development I do not like

I know this has slowly been creeping into both party conventions, but why is Mitt Romney in the hall listening to Cristie last night?

Sitting there waiting for someone to praise you is a little like the old Soviet Central Committee Meetings. Bad optics considering it is one of the GOP's most used bullshit talking points.

The big difference being the guy who is even bigger than Khrushchev hardly ever praised the guy who was filling the role of Stalin -- all while mentioning himself repeatedly -- not a very good speech, but Chris Christie 2016! -- I'm sure 2012's nominee REALLY enjoyed that -- back in the old Stalinist Soviet days that would have earned a show trial and an airbrushing.

Oh and then there's this:

“We have become paralyzed by our desire to be loved,” said Christie. “Tonight we’re gonna choose respect over love.”

(pic modified from helmsjan at flickr.com)

Demonstrably, Three Boobs

Who needs that 'Total Recall' remake? From the Great Orange Satan:

You stay KKKlassy

This actually happened:

Stock language excuse as Stock Answer

Paul Ryan is "proud of his pro-life record" -- suddenly not too proud of the English language.

Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan on Monday insisted that wording in a bill that he co-sponsored with Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO), which Democrats say would have redefined rape as “forcible rape,” was just “stock language.”

Hmmm...

The “No Taxpayer Funding For Abortion Act” redefines “real” rape as only that which is “forcible” and has been co-sponsored by 173 mostly Republican legislators and was called a “top priority” by Speaker of the House John Boehner. Likely knowing that fully criminalizing abortion is impossible, politicians are going after the funding of abortions in certain cases of rape and incest. Slipped a roofie and raped while you are unconscious? Raped while you are blackout drunk and unable to consent? Sexually assaulted by your uncle at age 19? If you are poor and need governmental funding to help terminate a pregnancy resulting from this horrific acts, there will be no help for you.

His stock language in other words, was not just filler because as he says now "rape is rape", but to make sure that women who are sexually abused while unconscious; or are 13-years old; or impregnated by a relative were not victims of a qualifying rape. So, the use of "forcible" was just a stock word. They could have just as easily called it "rape plus" or "super-rape" or "rape-classic" or "rapey-rape" or even "I've been rapin' on the railroad Hank Rearden-style" -- in fact, they probably damn near did and it would mean the same thing.

Just words, that's all rape is to Paul Ryan.

 [cross-posted at Firedoglake]

Um, good to know I guess

To quote Stephen Colbert, "FACTS HAVE A LIBERAL BIAS!"

Mitt Romney's campaign said on Tuesday that its ads attacking President Obama's waiver policy on welfare have been its most effective to date. And while the spots have been roundly criticized as lacking any factual basis, the campaign said it didn't really care. 

"We're not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact-checkers"

He cannot even buy affection

Taggert (as in Blazing Saddles) Romney -- who has been made into a multimillionaire thanks to his father's foreign schemes investments -- cannot even make a statement about his dad that doesn't make the latter look like a gigantic tool:

CHRIS WALLACE: So, Tagg, what are family meals like?

TAGG ROMNEY: A little bit of craziness. Dad always goes in line first because he doesn't want to wait for all the grand children because it takes forever. Parents are cutting their meat and he's usually finished by the time the rest of us sit down.

So...

Which part of the Republican National Convention that you will not watch under any circumstances will you pretend that you actually did watch for the point of making fun of it do you most look forward to?


(Hopefully it isn't convoluted sentence structures)

Well here's a surprise

Or not.

The Oakland bishop picked by Pope Benedict XVI to lead the Roman Catholic archdiocese of San Francisco was arrested over the weekend and booked into jail in San Diego on suspicion of drunken driving.

Naturally, he is a behind the times troll who has devoted his life to being against gay rights or for that matter, any other matter beyond the 15th century.

"Don't look at me, I'm just here to lower my taxes"

In his latest thumb-less effort at slight-of-hand, Mitt Romney explains to you that President's do not do much other than cut rich people's taxes, screw the poor, and bomb Iran:

"Recognize this [abortion rights] is the decision that will be made by the Supreme Court," he said. "The Democrats try and make this a political issue every four years, but this is a matter in the courts. It's been settled for some time in the courts."

I mean, just because at present there are four justices determined to eliminate Roe v. Wade and the next justice will tip the balance doesn't mean who's President has anything to do with it, it's not like the President appoints 'em, right Mitt?

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

I think it is wrong

To compare adult film actress Lisa Ann to Sarah Palin...

Sarah Palin may be a no-show at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, but, for some delegates at least, it seems her porn star double Lisa Ann is an adequate substitute.

...Lisa Ann has a demonstrable talent, which ironically merely matches Sarah Palin's metaphorical one.

Worst...story...ever

Not really much hyperbole.

Imagine You Were Raped. Got Pregnant. Then Your Rapist Sought Custody.

If modern Republicans had their way in July 1969

It would have been: "That's one small step for me and BOOM I conquered this, it is all mine, the landing on the Moon is my doing alone, suck it bitches!"

Another one that is going to leave a bit of a mark

They Emaciated It!

As Republicans assemble this week and proclaim how they alone have built things -- in a place the government built, in a convention delayed because of warnings from the government -- it is fitting that we see the fruit of all that individualism's ruggedness.

In 15 states, at least one in five Americans say they struggled to afford the food they needed at least once during the past 12 months. Nationwide, 18.2% of Americans so far in 2012 say there have been times when they could not afford the food they needed, on par with the 18.6% who had trouble affording food in 2011.

Residents of states in the Southeast and Southwest regions are the most likely in the country to struggle to afford food.

Here's the map of where people are the most deprived...see if you sense a pattern?

Look at all those dark green repositories of the limited government philosophy.

(Via the Great Orange Satan)

[Cross-posted at Firedoglake]

For those who push

The notion that "if only someone armed had been there" the next time (probably before the end of this month) some asshole goes on a spree shooting -- notice how it works in broad daylight amongst those who are actually trained in the use of weapons.

All nine people injured during a dramatic confrontation between police and a gunman outside the Empire State Building were wounded by gunfire from the two officers, police said Saturday, citing ballistics evidence.

You cannot really criticize the officers for firing, but imagine if those who are NOT actually the police would act in such a situation?

Pathetic

If CNN wants to wonder about its irrelevance, consider that it took a half-hour to get around to the fact that Neil Armstrong died after FoxNews not only had but had brought in a guy to say Armstrong had never landed on the Moon and Obama had helped stage it.

Of course MSNBC did not even interrupt their story of tattooed guys in prison.

And "murder" is just another method of euthanasia

No different than Akin. 

When asked about his opinions on the issue, Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan also chose his words poorly.

I'm very proud of my pro-life record, and I've always adopted the idea that, the position that the method of conception doesn't change the definition of life.

Mitt Romney would like to remind you

That nobody needs to see his birth certificate...and these guys are his favorite musical act.




 Oh, and it totally isn't about race.


 (BTW, the Joe Flaherty character would totally be a delegate if he existed)

"We built him"

But...of...course: 

Bain Capital was not in the business of creating jobs, or even saving companies over the long-term. Its model had a relatively low rate of success; a study by Deutche Bank found that 33 out of 68 major deals cut on Romney’s watch lost money for the firm’s investors. Its richest deals made up for the flops, however, and Bain’s partners were guaranteed hefty fees regardless of how the businesses they “restructured” ultimately performed.

Romney and his partners then exploited a loophole in the tax code that allowed them to pay just 15 percent of their growing fortunes in taxes — a rate less than what many of their companies’ employees forked over to Uncle Sam.

“By and large, [government] gets in the way of creating jobs,” Romney said during a GOP debate last year. But, as the Los Angeles Times noted, “during his business career Romney made avid use of public-private partnerships, something that many conservatives consider to be ‘corporate welfare.’”

Does he think

This will make Jenny McCarthy look him up for beads during Mardi Gras?

Is there nothing for which he is willing to demonstrate he knows nothing?

I have problems with harsh sentencing

That we have in this country.

But I have to say that 21-years for 77 murders (albeit one left somewhat open ended, so in reality he's probably never getting out so why am I posting this -- oh well too far in to stop now) seems shockingly little.

Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian far-right extremist, has been sentenced to at least 21 years in prison after a court declared he was sane throughout his murderous rampage last year that killed 77 people.

Why can't they just pick their nose like they usually do

Somebody misses William McKinley...and they are writing the GOP Platform:

The Republican Party is set to call for the creation of a commission to look at restoring a link between the U.S. dollar and gold severed 40 years ago, the Financial Times reported on its website Thursday.

*sigh*

These people still might win.

Quite a legacy

Have to say I'm surprised at the rather swift resolution of the Lance Armstrong matter after years of accusations -- when one looks at sports that just blew up and then, uh, blew themselves up over the last twenty years they do not get more spectacular than competitive cycling and doping.

Tough day for him, good thing he can take comfort in his billions

Not that I am over-optimistic, but at least there is a challenge:

Citing the phone-hacking scandal that has engulfed News Corp.-owned newspapers in Britain, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a petition to deny Fox's applications to renew licenses for three of its TV stations - WTTG-TV and WDCA-TV in Washington, D.C., and WUTB-TV in Baltimore.

"It is well-established that News Corp. has been involved in one of the biggest media scandals of all time," said CREW executive director Melanie Sloan. "Its reporters hacked voice mails and bribed public officials while top executives - including (News Corp. CEO) Rupert Murdoch - either approved the conduct or turned a blind eye."

The problem is that there is only one pertinent blind eye at issue here and it will be the one the FCC has in any serious review of the applications, they don't make those stamps of rubber for nothing. But there was another surprise in the Murdoch criticism game yesterday.

Tensions within the world's most powerful media family were dramatically laid bare on Thursday when Elisabeth Murdoch set out her own vision of media leadership, emphasising humanity over profit and criticising her father's News Corporation for operating with an absence of values.

That has to hurt a little, good thing Rupert can roll around in his money and take out his frustrations on the help.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

A ginger less intelligent than Harry

Going the other way across the Atlantic -- Josh Trevino.

TBogg does unearth a delicious nugget on how this idiot got a paying gig with The Guardian, as explained by an editor for The Guardian:

 I completely understand the strong reaction against Josh [Treviño]. Much of what he has said in the past on Twitter and elsewhere is tasteless, to say the very least. But we have taken Josh on to write about the Republican side of the US presidential campaign because he represents a strand of thinking in the GOP that is in the ascendancy. Whatever we think about it, the Republican party has taken a significant lurch to the right in recent years and we should try and understand why that is, and what’s going on there. Josh is well placed to articulate that.

In other words, "Yeah he's a fucking dumbshit -- but we have to pay him because dumbshittery is the white-ist form of white for the GOP".

Meanwhile, to my knowledge Digby, probably amongst the best progressive writers on the internet, gets no offers whatsoever.  

So?

If the Republican Convention does happen this weekend, which craven juvenile member of the GOP House is going to be caught doing the "Prince Harry"?

I guess it beats Hurricane Gopher

Sounds like Pat Robertson better get his prayin' shoes on (or perhaps just his weightlifting ones)...while as usual all he'll get is static.

Look, I'm not going to make jokes about Hurricanes, noting the irony of this threatening the GOP convention comes at the expense of things sucking for the rest of the people that live in the area.  So I won't do so.

At least publicly.

Not a bug, a feature

The placeholder on the Republican ticket merely sets the tone...and it is a deaf one, but consistent in its dishonesty:

Gov. Christie will not tout 'Jersey Comeback' at Republican National Convention

You mean the comeback that has seen your state have its highest unemployment in since disco?

Is Chris Christie also going to tout his self-restraint?

"The Aristo-Hypo-crats"

Alright, that title is a mess, but still it works for this:

The Tuesday night session at the Republican National Convention will be themed "We Built This!" in a dual effort to celebrate American entrepreneurship and attack President Obama's infamous comments to business owners.

However, the Daily Dolt reports the stadium "was financed primarily by the government. The Tampa Bay Times Forum arena, which houses the Tampa Bay Lightning, was built in 1996 as the 'Ice Palace' with 62% government funds.

"The Daily Dolt", now that's a great name for a blog, wish I would have thought of that one.

I'm too old to be terribly into popular music the last 15 years or so

But even I know, this is amongst the worst things ever.

Avril Lavigne Engaged to Nickelback's Chad Kroeger

Dear electorate...screw you

What actual plan does this guy have other than, get richer while you die for his tryin'?

Mitt Romney started to lay out his energy plan at a Tuesday event, but because there were reporters in the room, he decided against doing so. During a Houston fundraiser, Romney told a room of about 125 donors that he planned to unveil his comprehensive energy plan this week. He said his proposal will specifically relate to fossil-based fuels. But then, he said no more. "I know that we have members of the media here right now, so I’m not going to go through that in great detail," Romney said, according to a pool report from the event.

Because we the voters might find out what it is and have a chance to evaluate it -- and that just isn't done in Mitt Romney's version of democracy.

In fact, I believe the default setting, enunciated personally by Willard, is that virtually all issues are to be discussed "privately" and not allowed to be contemplated by those who may or may not vote for him.

That's healthy in any democracy that goes beyond being "self-styled" as one.

They've done it, they have finally done it

Hard work pays off:

Barack Obama has a four-point lead over Mitt Romney, but that's not nearly as dramatic as Obama's lead among African American voters — 94 percent to 0 percent.

You cannot say the GOP hasn't earned it.

Of course

How could it be otherwise?

After saying he “can’t defend” Rep. Todd Akin’s suggestion that women don’t get pregnant from rape, Mitt Romney stepped up his rebuke on Tuesday when he called on Akin to drop out of the Missouri Senate race. But archives from Romney’s previous presidential bid show that the Massachusetts Republican has historically supported the person who is the source of Akin’s theory, Dr. Jack C. Willke, the father of the antiabortion movement.

A physician and former president of the National Right to Life Committee, Willke was an “important surrogate” for Romney’s 2008 presidential bid. Willke is the oft-cited source of the theory that rape-related pregnancies are “rare.”

And...

“Dr. Willke is a leading voice within the pro-life community and will be an important surrogate for Governor Romney's pro-life and pro-family agenda,” the Romney campaign said in an October 2007 statement.

“I am proud to have the support of a man who has meant so much to the pro-life movement in our country,” Romney said in the statement.

You'd think you'd step back and admire the hard work you put in to make it that way...

Joe:

Scarborough said that he’s less interested in the question of whether or not the Republican Party should be a moderate or a conservative party, “I’m just tired of the Republican Party being the ‘Stupid Party!’” he said, “Stupid people saying stupid things and scaring off independent voters and swing voters!”

"These guys are awesome"

Somebody is among the luckiest political candidates in history. His good fortune doesn't extend to the who might be the victims of the Republican Platform.

Republicans drafting their party's official policy platform on Tuesday ratified a call for a Constitutional ban on abortion that makes no exceptions for rape or incest. The vote to endorse the party's long-standing opposition to abortion and support for a "human life amendment" took place at a meeting of the GOP's official platform committee in Tampa, the site of next week's Republican National Convention.

And, of all times, this occurred just as Mitt Romney was deciding (coin flipping) to call for Todd Akin to step aside, leading Akin to say this:

"Why couldn't he run his race, and I'll run mine?"

And just like that Todd Akin and the GOP platform, like Paul Ryan, are things that Mitt Romney is going to have to carry to term. But does Romney mind?

HUCKABEE: Would you have supported a constitutional amendment that would have established the definition of life at conception?

ROMNEY: Absolutely.

So it really is about just how Akin said it, not what he said.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

Have you met your base?

Has Steve King ever seen his loyal constituency in Northwestern Iowa?

King: I’ve Never Heard Of Any Statutory Rape Pregnancy

Funny, similar problems evident at the GOP Platform Committee

But they're still working.

Porn group: filming to halt during syphilis probe

A platform over your grave

In addition to an abortion plank out of the 19th century (actually probably far worse) the GOP under Mitt's control has other nuggets to screw over the 99 percent:

Republican platform drafters refused to put their party on record for preserving the mortgage- interest deduction, giving Mitt Romney more flexibility to promote his plan to lower tax rates paid by corporations and the wealthiest Americans without increasing the federal debt.

Anybody in this area been out there?

The frustrations of being land-locked -- oh how I'd love to see a Blue Whale.

Tourists from around the world have been flocking to Monterey Bay to catch a glimpse of the massive marine mammals, including impressive numbers of blue whales, the largest animals on earth.

Longtime observers say they've seen a sharp increase in endangered blue and humpback whales feeding near California shores, where they spend the spring and summer before heading to their winter breeding grounds off Mexico and Central America.

It's a tough economy

But not for our nation's "legitimate" serious people. Niall Ferguson

So contrary to what Ferguson leads readers to believe, the CBO report does not state that the reduction is "unclear." What is "unclear" is whether the reduction will come through greater efficiencies in healthcare delivery or reduced access to care. So, one more time: The Oxford-trained, Harvard-employed, Newsweek contributor Niall Ferguson just edited the CBO report to change its meaning.

Mr. Ferguson, still employed by Harvard and Newsweek. Dave Cantanese, the Politico employee who covers Todd Akin, tweeted this:

Not too busy to tweet excuses for his buddy, too busy to google. Still Employed!! Todd Akin and Paul Ryan.

Akin: I was talking about forcible rape. I used the wrong word... Paul Ryan also co-sponsored HR 3, the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion" bill in which Republicans tried to redefine rape so that it only applied to "forcible" rape

Again with trying to redefine and parse rape into a "forcible" kind and apparently the totally mutually consent kind of rape, which is still bad, because that is apparently unmarried sex -- and that's both today's "shamed" person de jour and the Ayn Rand fetishist.

Not only still employed, but seeking a promotion.But why should they stand out -- in comparison to an entire Party?

Draft language for the 2012 Republican Party platform includes support for a constitutional ban on abortion without specifying exclusions in the cases of rape or incest, according to CNN.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

And in tweets that actually involved more than Mark Halperin's feelings

Ah yes, blogging via someone else's tweets, clearly the blogger's best friend if he or she wants to not actually blog anything involving actual, you know, blogging.

Hey a worthwhile nugget

From one of the not-Sullys at Sully's place.

"I hope you don’t have friends who recommend Ayn Rand to you. The fiction of Ayn Rand is as low as you can get re fiction. I hope you picked it up off the floor of the subway and threw it in the nearest garbage pail. She makes Mickey Spillane look like Dostoevsky," - Flannery O'Connor, in a letter to Maryat Lee, May 1960.

And other than noting you are a jejune little asshole, your point is?

Behold what passes for "serious" punditry.

Have fun with this one boys

The Romney-Ryan campaign said they disagreed with Todd Akin (saying this shit in public, keep it private or on C-Span people), buuuuuutttttttt:

Last year, Akin joined with GOP vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) as two of the original co-sponsors of the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” a bill which, among other things, introduced the country to the bizarre term “forcible rape.”

And here's a picture just to emphasize it for no particular reason other than it looks like Akin is back there inhaling the byproduct of Ryan's lunchtime beef-a-roni.

Diplomacy

Whoopee!

The FBI probed a late-night swim in the Sea of Galilee that involved drinking, numerous GOP freshmen lawmakers, top leadership staff – and one nude member of Congress, according to more than a dozen sources, including eyewitnesses.

During a fact-finding congressional trip to the Holy Land last summer, Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) took off his clothes and jumped into the sea, joining a number of members, their families and GOP staff during a night out in Israel, the sources told POLITICO. Other participants, including the daughter of another congressman, swam fully clothed while some lawmakers partially disrobed. More than 20 people took part in the late-night dip in the sea, according to sources who were participants in the trip.

He just wanted to show off his circumcision.

In spite of his single-handedly keeping the Dunkin Donuts booming

Chris Christie's policies are sinking New Jersey.

New Jersey’s unemployment rate jumped to a 35-year high of 9.8 percent in July, the state Labor Department said.

Your fierce advocate of not giving a damn

Oh dear, Todd Akin, this year's Christine O'Donnell, who was 2010's Sarah Palin, who was 2008's -- well we could keep doing this back to Theodore Bilbo and beyond -- where was I? Oh yes, Todd Akin made the mistake of saying what he actually believes.

Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) told a local television station on Sunday that “legitimate rape” rarely produces pregnancy because “the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

He believes it because he's dumb and horrible -- just like his old buddy, Paul Ryan. Of course, once you say something patently stupid and offensive, the thing to do is to say you didn't mean it -- even though you totally believe it.

In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it's clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year. Those who perpetrate these crimes are the lowest of the low in our society and their victims will have no stronger advocate in the Senate to help ensure they have the justice they deserve.

Unless, of course, those women who are raped would choose to exercise their right not to have their rapist child, then we all know who Todd Akin will fiercely advocate for -- not them.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

Well, there are still four and a half months left

But I think we've found this year's dumbest politician...no small feat.

Missouri GOP Rep. Todd Akin: ‘Female Body Has Ways to Shut Down’ Pregnancy in Case of ‘Legitimate Rape’

So many logical and malevolent fallacies in one sentence. "Legitimate" rape? Women are magical beings that can expel the product of rape -- yet do not have the magical power to prevent rape -- including whatever the fuck "legitimate" ones mean.

Women do have one legitimate and non-magical power though (provided the are not poor or lack ID in some places), they can vote against giant (and ironic) douchebags.

What the Great Orange Satan

Says:

Romney won the Republican primaries by vastly outspending his opponents, and going overwhelmingly negative against them, which is what one does when one can't go overwhelmingly positive about oneself, because oneself is a petty, boorish ass. But Mitt isn't used to anyone being able to fight back. He isn't used to having to abide by accepted standards of behavior. This is all so painful and ugly. You people should just hand Mitt the keys to the White House. Since Versailles isn't available.

It's one thing to be stupid

It's another thing to be stupid at the exact same place the guy you say this about...

"We've got a Muslim president who hates farming, hates the military, hates the U.S. and we hate him!"

Had just had those traditional Islamic foods --- a beer and a pork chop. Hank Williams, Jr. yet another Republican who accomplished something because of his famous (and far far more talented) daddy.

Reaching out for the Kids

Hard to believe they couldn't just keep having Pat Boone cover Little Richard songs, that seems more Mitt's style.

...the GOP has lined up two (crappy) acts for its convention: the always annoying Kid Rock and the over-the-hill Lynyrd Skynrd.

via Digby

My face has run out of palms in which to rest

But...OF COURSE!

Larry Bailey — the former Navy SEAL who founded Special Operations Speaks (SOS), the PAC critical of the president’s treatment of the military... The interview noted that Bailey “says he has no problem admitting that he is against Obama’s politics, personality, and believes that America’s current president is lying about his origins.” On top of questioning the president’s birthplace, Bailey doesn’t believe the president is the son of Barack Obama, Sr., ascribing instead to the conspiracy theory that he is the love child of Ann Dunham and writer Frank Marshall Davis.

How does this guy not have a regular segment on Hannity

In other awesome "Russian" news

It's a banner day for non-Democracy in Russia...just like old times, and older times.

Moscow's top court has upheld a ban on gay pride marches in the Russian capital for the next 100 years.

Bingo!

Well then, I expect Tony Perkins to march on in the the police today

And plead guilty to being an accessory to murder for dozens of acts of violence, including murder, of gays, lesbians and abortion providers by the standards he is setting.

The Council's president, Tony Perkins, said the shooting was made possible by the SPLC's criticism of the FRC.

"Corkins was given a license to shoot an unarmed man by organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center that have been reckless in labeling organization hate groups because they disagree with them on public policy," Perkins said.

So remember boys and girls, hating on people is okay -- criticizing haters is terrible.

"I was telling the truth metaphorically!"

Nice try Ayn Ryan:

“I’m not one [of those] people who votes for something then writes to the government to ask them to send us money. I did not request any stimulus money,” the congressman answered.

Really?

Unleash the Kraken!
 

After repeated denials, Paul Ryan has admitted he requested stimulus cash even after sharply criticizing the program.

Ryan had denied doing so as recently as Wednesday, when he spoke to ABC’s Cincinnati affiliate, WCPO, in Ohio.

The internet can be awesome

Behold the tumbler for Mitt Romney's white-board.

Let the music play

Many of you have followed the story of the Russian trio "Pussy Riot" who earlier this year staged a protest concert in a Moscow cathedral when Putin decided he'd return to formal power, rather than just run things behind the scenes.

Now the women of "Pussy Riot" stand trial before a Russian tribunal trying to tie a protest against Putin by folding it into an argument about the sanctity of religion.

Prosecutors have asked the judge to jail the women for three years, arguing that they should be isolated from society after performing an anti-Putin punk prayer in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow in February. They are accused of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.

Yeah, the charge is a real "through the looking glass" re-branding of Stalinism. A movement has been created in Russia behind them, and their plight has obtained broad support across the world. And to their credit, they are not backing down:

"I hold no spite," Nadezhda Tolokonnikova wrote in a letter to supporters (in Russian) passed to one of her lawyers. "I have no private spite. But I have political spite.

"Our being in jail is a clear and distinct sign that freedom is being taken away from the whole country," she wrote. "And this threat of destruction of the liberating, emancipatory forces of Russia is what makes me angry."

Within a few hours the women will learn their fate. The whole world is watching.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

Touché

It's okay if you're "us"

This is the sort of bullshit we decried Iran for in 1979 and feared the Soviets would do for years? So it's okay if Great Britain threatens to do so?

Britain on Wednesday warned Ecuador that it could raid its London embassy if Quito does not hand over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been taking refuge at the mission since mid-June.

These threats have not worked and this morning Assange was granted asylum this morning, but that hasn't stopped the Cameron government from threatening to go full Revolutionary Guard:

Britain will carry out its "binding obligation" to extradite Assange to Sweden in spite of Ecuador's decision, a spokesperson for the FCO has said.

IOKIYAR

Especially if you call yourself non-partisan. But who is really surprised at this?

Thus several former U.S. intelligence and special operations personnel who have accused President Obama of leaking and “politicizing” national security information have themselves talked publicly about sensitive security matters.

Because who has a better track record of picking

Running mates than this guy?

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said today it would be "wise" for President Obama to take Vice President Joe Biden off the Democratic presidential ticket and replace him with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton .

"I think it might be wise to do that but it's not going to happen obviously, for a whole variety of reasons," McCain said in an interview this afternoon on Fox News, stopping just short of Sarah Palin's call last night for an all-out replacement of Biden on the ticket.

It's funny how the GOP continues to master the art of being in high dudgeon over whatever faux outrage they decide to have, but their snit fits become ever less potent.

All that and universal health care too

And also rare instances of spree killing:  

Only two per cent of Canadians who responded to a new opinion poll believe climate change is not occurring...

The findings are in a survey conducted by Insightrix Research, Inc. for IPAC-CO2 Research Inc., a Regina-based centre that studies carbon capture and storage.

The online poll of 1,550 people was done between May 29 and June 11. The results were to be released on Wednesday.

"Our survey indicates that Canadians from coast to coast overwhelmingly believe climate change is real and is occurring, at least in part due to human activity," said centre CEO Carmen Dybwad.

Granted the words "on-line poll" cause concern, but in comparison:

37% of Democrats believe global warming is the result primarily of human action, while only 14% of Republicans believe this. Conversely, 43% of Republicans believe global warming is the result of natural causes, up from 35% in 2010. Self-identified Tea Party members display still more certainty (49%) that global warming is caused by natural events.

I wonder what evidence those resisting this belief are relying upon? [cross-posted at Firedoglake]

The Twilight Zone for real

Naturally:

As a rising star in Hungary's far-right Jobbik Party, Csanad Szegedi was notorious for his incendiary comments on Jews: He accused them of "buying up" the country, railed about the "Jewishness" of the political elite and claimed Jews were desecrating national symbols. Then came a revelation that knocked him off his perch as ultra-nationalist standard-bearer: Szegedi himself is a Jew.

But like all cults, the intrusion of reality is less important than the underlying unsupported by facts or logic belief:

Since then, the 30-year-old has become a pariah in Jobbik and his political career is on the brink of collapse. He declined to be interviewed for this story.

In regard to these assholes and their anti-semitism all you have to know is this:

...from an original population of 861,000 people considered Jewish inside the borders of 1941–44, about 255,000 survived.

Nearly three-quarters of Hungary's Jews were murdered, the nation went from more than five percent Jewish in 1941 to 0.49% today -- Jobbik's only apparently regret is it was not 100% and 0%. Assholes is too gentle a word.

More evidence of being "secret Muslim"

In addition to eating pork and drinking beer, more evidence of President Obama's secret Muslimity being so well-disguised that even he is unaware of it:

Today comes word that our homebrewer-in-chief, the POTUS, stocks his campaign bus with bottles of the White House's DIY ale. See, he's not an out-of-touch crony capitalist! He's just like us! What does that tell us about the president's reelection effort? Probably not much, except maybe this: he's gotten cozy in the White House. Who knows, he may even have a man cave.

You know who doesn't drink beer?* Mitt Romney.  


*not that there's anything wrong with not drinking or Islam, but stupid theories deserve broadsides.

Hark,

I detect an idiot.

I am boggled!

We have officially lost our innocence:

One of America's top young Scrabble players has been caught cheating at the country's national championship and kicked out of the tournament. The player was spotted concealing blank tiles from a previous game and attempting to use them in the next round, according to organisers at the event in Florida. The player was confronted by game officials - and admitted he had cheated.

Give it a medal

Humpback whale shows that one German diver how to do a flop into the water.

Hmmm, seems to be a continuing theme

While the polls have demonstrated that America is just not taken with Romney's choice of a youngish gentleman with both Reagan and Rand fetish, that doesn't mean it is worthless. For one thing, it will make the coffers fill up again from a cadre of deep-pocketed yet shallow donors.

As of Tuesday morning, reporters would not be permitted to cover Ryan's fundraiser with billionaire mega-donor Sheldon Adelson at The Venetian in Las Vegas tonight. The campaign's agreement with the press is that events not at private residences are to be open to reporters.

Sounds familiar, because it is:

Some of Romney’s Jewish donors are flying here from the United States to attend the Jerusalem fundraiser on Monday morning, including Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, who has pledged to personally give tens of millions of dollars to a pro-Romney super PAC...

But Romney’s campaign announced Saturday that it would block the news media from covering the event, which will be held at the King David Hotel. The campaign’s decision to close the fundraiser to the press violates the ground rules it negotiated with news organizations in April

That Sheldon Adelson must be as shy, because breaking his word is so rare for Mitt Romney -- because here is Mitt's explanation for this latest ban of the media.

A Romney aide told reporters that the event in Las Vegas is not a fundraiser but a "finance event," and therefore closed to reporters. The aide would not say what the distinction is between the two, declining to say whether the campaign is collecting checks at the event.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

The Plagiarism thing

I pretty much agree with Atrios on this re: Zakarias.

The thing is, on this blog for eight years (EIGHT FUCKING YEARS, OY!) I make a lot of snide little asides and plays on words.   It is a style, but it is a style that I'm convinced at least several million people share -- probably far far more.  It isn't a great and unique gift, being moderately witty, so I imagine dozens of people say similar things on their twitter account, blog, facebook etc.

It doesn't mean we copied someone else, it just means someone else thought the same thing you did at the same time, because it was a rather obvious thing to type. 

Now, when it starts to get more elaborate and complicated is when it becomes a bit more dubious.  Lots of people may think the same things you do, but do they write the same paragraphs that you do?

Confirming once again

He must be a Muslim! He had a beer and a pork chop.

...oh wait.

Obama wrapped up his state fair visit with a swing by the Bud Tent, where a large crowd chanted, "Four more years." He told them with a smile, "Everyone who's over 21, you gotta buy a beer," prompting someone in the crowd to yell, "Is it on you?" The president looked into his wallet as some people in the crowd started chanting, "Four more beers!" Obama told them, "I'll tell you what, except for the Romney sign, I'll buy beers for ten people."

He walked over to the crowd, but it wasn't clear whether he bought the beers or not, any transaction occurring out of the sight of reporters. But it was clear that Obama ended up with a plate with two pork chops, handed to him by Greg Lear, the president-elect of the Iowa Pork Producers. Taking a beer in a plastic cup, the president thanked the bartender and ate a quick dinner with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the state's former governor. "It's going to go well with my pork chop," Obama said.

Profiles in not Courage

Romney giving more evidence he's a bit of a wimp and afraid to do even mildly tough things (as he's never had to) unless it is to him an abstraction (like mass layoffs of people he'll never have to meet).

Unlike in 2008, Pawlenty did not get a pre-announcement call directly from the presidential candidate. Instead, he was in contact with Romney’s oldest son, Tagg.

He couldn't even call those he wouldn't name his running mate. If you are afraid of hurting T-Paw's feelings, well good luck with Pooty-Poot.

Shrewed judge of character, of course

I was skimming through Vanity Fair and saw they had a "Where are they now?" section on former Olympic icons.

The one on Nadia Comăneci was particularly interesting, she of the first "Perfect 10" had this in her bio:

in 2008, Comăneci appeared alongside Stephen Baldwin and Joey Fatone on Celebrity Apprentice, only to have Donald Trump fire her because he claimed that the nine-time Olympic medalist lacked competitive spirit.

Trump may be an even bigger moron than I thought, and I've thought him a "Perfect 10" on the moron scale.

Maybe somebody should do something?

But we all know the story now don't we?

A Facebook page belonging to Caffall features several photos of assault rifles, including a Czech-made version of the AK-47. On the page, Caffall identified himself as divorced, with “Christian” religious beliefs. He lists a series of snipers, including Carlos Hathcock and Vasily Zaytsev, as "inspirational people." “I am pulling a cross between Forrest Gump and Jack Kerouac (without the drugs),” Caffall wrote on the site. “I'm on the road, permanently.” Caffall commented on Facebook about several recent gun purchases, including a vintage Russian rifle. “I just got a new toy,” he wrote in May 2011. “I’ll be at the gun range as much as I can.” ... In an interview with KPRC, a local television station, Caffall’s stepfather, Richard Weaver, said Caffall was a “ticking time bomb” who quit his job nine months ago and vowed never to work again. "He was crazy as hell," Weaver said. "At one point, we were afraid that he was going to come up here and do something to his mother and me."

Well thank goodness a ticking time bomb who LOVED snipers was able to get an AK-47. Thanks insane and highly dubious interpretation of the Second Amendment. Again, maybe somebody should do something? ...NAAAH!

Aiyeee!

In addition to his other, uh, non-positives we are now receiving information on how foreign policy novice, Paul Ryan, is having his empty Eddie Munsteresque-vessel filled.

Because nothing succeeds like perpetually proclaiming success. Next up, Ryan gets his military training by watching Stars Earn Stripes.*  



*(Surely the winner of the Emmy for Most Offensive Program, sorry Honey Boo Boo)


[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

Well, that's a new one

I don't recall this "excuse" ever being used before -- because it is a really really really bad one:

Presumptive Republican Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney will be touring the state of Florida today, but he is no longer visiting Orlando, his campaign announced late Sunday night. 

Romney is said to be exhausted after 48 hours of promoting his new vice presidential pick, Paul Ryan, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

"Exhausted"? Let's just assume the real reason is what they say it is, saying you are "exhausted" as a Presidential Candidate is the kind of admission that sort of gets you disqualified from being president.

 ...I'm sorry about the imminent threat of nuclear war, but I really need to catch some sleep...is NOT a great scenario to ponder.

Let's assume it is a lie and they don't want to campaign too much in Florida because of the Ryan nomination and the widespread and accurate presumption he would like to sink social security and medicare, Romney couldn't come up with a better lie than "I'm exhausted"?

But saying "I'm tired" does give me a reason to put this up:

Mitt's kind of guy

No wonder he's embraced him AND his budget plan:

Ryan’s budget would almost zero our Mitt Romney’s tax liability. “Don’t believe it? Romney himself said so, just a few months ago. The Ryan plan..’promotes saving by eliminating taxes on interest, capital gains, and dividends; also eliminates the death tax.’ Mitt Romney’s income — more than $20 million each of the past two years — comes almost entirely from capital gains on his investments, or from ‘carried interest…if the capital gains was eliminated altogether? Well, let’s let Romney explain the result in his own words, as he did at an NBC primary debate in January…’Under that plan, I’d have paid no taxes in the last two years,’ Romney said, alluding to the fact that all his income is from investments.” Alec MacGillis in The New Republic.

Paul Ryan in a nutshell

As the video says...

In one incident, a gentleman in his seventies stood to confront Ryan about his stance on "entitlements" and was grabbed by police. He was then wrestled to the ground while Ryan joked, "Hope he took his blood-pressure medication."

Truly, the PERFECT symbiotic complement to Mitt Romney.

Touche

By AzureGhost but found at BooMan:

These guys have no effing clue

How this looks, it is really pathetic, laughable really:

Ryan told 60 Minutes Sunday that he gave Romney’s campaign “several” years of tax returns during the vetting process, but promised only to release two publicly, in keeping with the number Romney has promised to release...

Stay tuned

In a bid to do what a civilian government SHOULD do, the elected President of Egypt is trying to get control of the military:

President Mohamed Morsi of Egypt forced the retirement on Sunday of his powerful defense minister, the army chief of staff and several senior generals, in a stunning purge that seemed for the moment to reclaim for civilian leaders much of the political power the Egyptian military had seized since the fall of Hosni Mubarak last year. 

Mr. Morsi also nullified a constitutional declaration, issued by the military before he was elected, that eviscerated the powers of the presidency and arrogated to the military the right to enact laws. It was not immediately clear whether he had the constitutional authority to cancel that decree.

We'll see how this works out.

The Metaphor is a "Floater"

Having obtained several years of tax returns for each prospective running mate -- while not allowing Americans to inspect his own, Mitt Romney set the scenefor his announcement.

“I selected this man to be running mate because I want to change Washington,” Romney said. “I don’t want to be like Europe; I want to be like America.”

Said the man who left America to get to France so as to avoid going to Vietnam on an American battleship as he chose another man who not only did not serve in the military  (which also went to Europe instead of Vietnam) but who also wants America to go the full-austerity route of Europe.

Or to put it another way, a man who proudly proclaims the government doesn't help build anything appointed a guy who is an adherent to Ayn Rand on a gigantic symbol of things only a government can get built.

Somehow they could not have picked a more fitting representation of all that Mitt Romney is as a person and candidate.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]

But of course...

How could it be any other way?

Mitt Romney's presidential campaign requested "several" years of tax returns from potential vice presidential picks, senior adviser Beth Myers, who ran the search, told reporters Saturday.

Myers said vetting documents were stored in safes in a secure room at campaign headquarters for review by attorneys. 

Asked what was inside the safes, Myers replied "tax documents, everything we used.”
And how many years? "Several" she said, declining to provide a more specific number.

Good point

Over at the Great Orange Satan, minion Wheever, undoubtedly typing in the tangerine-colored unitard that Kos issues his minions in orders from his island lair makes a fine and pithy point.

Not only did non-veteran Mitt Romney announce his running mate as non-veteran Paul Ryan from the retired battleship USS Wisconsin, "Mr. I BUILT THAT" announced his Randian running mate from a capital ship that could only have been built via the funding of the FEDERAL government.

Of course they are not necessary...that is why they are necessary

As any rational person could have anticipated:

A new nationwide analysis of 2,068 alleged election-fraud cases since 2000 shows that while fraud has occurred, the rate is infinitesimal, and in-person voter impersonation on Election Day, which prompted 37 state legislatures to enact or consider tough voter ID laws, is virtually non-existent.

But it will make it that much more difficult for "the poors"; "the blacks"; "the hispanics" and the other traditionally Democratic voters to vote -- so for Republicans, the no longer Party of Lincoln, they are necessary.

It is so very very much in the tradition of "freedom" and "democracy".

I think the "brilliant" plan

Is to convince Sean Hannity and Glen Beck that Ryan doesn't just look like Ronald Reagan at a knock-off drag-show, but actually IS Ronald Reagan.

And if they can convince Peggy Noonan of this, no stair railing in New York is safe from the Noonan groin.

"This ticket is unbalanced!"

Needs more "white guy!"

Reports: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP running mate

Romney admits he's a robot

Today's latest Romney excuse for not releasing his tax returns:

When pressed on why he’s not releasing more tax returns in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Mitt Romney justified it by saying: “I’m not a business.”

But Romney believes "Corporations are people".

Therefore we can logically deduce.

People = Corporation

Corporation Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney  People

So soon?

Well the Summer games are coming to an end. Soon I will again forget it is "badminton" not "badmitton"; that there is a "team handball"; and cheering on those from the "Independent Olympic Athletes".

Well still four months and three weeks left

But I believe our parent of the year has a strong contender:

The 11-year-old daughter of a Georgetown, Delaware pediatrician accused him this week of using a form of torture similar to waterboarding in order to punish her on at least four separate occasions over the course of two years.

Maybe he'll hire Sean Hannity as his expert witness?

Biblical

You stay classy thumpers:

Police in Grand Rapids, Michigan say that there was nothing they could do after Bible-preaching protesters threatened to rape and murder pro-LGBT activists at a "Gay Day" event over the weekend.

Thanks Title IX

For years conservatives have been bemoaning that classic "liberal" piece of legislation intruding on their lives, Title IX, as a soul-sucking piece of legislation that harms American sporting culture and society.

Sports columnist Furman Bisher of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution expressed much of the conventional wisdom of the sports page when he wrote, “What are we after, a race of Amazons? Do you want a companion or a broad that chews tobacco? What do you want for the darling daughter, a boudoir or a locker room full of cussing and bruises? A mother for your grandchildren or a hysterectomy?”

That was stupid then, but stupid always sells for a while. Forty years on, the evidence is in and as always -- "thank goodness we passed this blessed piece of socialism", it's golden.

As of this moment the United States has won 39 gold medals -- and women account for 25 of them. From shooter Kim Rhode to tracks Allyson Felix to soccer's Alex Morgan; from gymnast Gabby Douglas to water polo player Maggie Stevens America's women are dominating -- thank goodness the men get to count dolphin hybrid Michael Phelps.

Particularly noteworthy is the dominance of women's team sports, sports that gained ground especially because of Title IX. The Women's basketball team, unlike the "dream team" of NBA stars has not lost an Olympic games in forever; the Women's soccer team has played in the gold-medal game every time it has been played and won the last 3 gold medals; the women's water polo team won it's first gold after being silver medalists the last two Olympics. [cross-posted at Firedoglake]

How very Mormonesque

It's only fitting -- in so many modern Republican ways:

Rafalca, the Olympic horse co-owned by Ann Romney, will compete for one or two more years before possibly becoming a broodmare, according to rider Jan Ebeling. "Since she's very sound, we're going to probably see her for another year or two and there are some thoughts about breeding her. I think she'd make a very good broodmare," he said. –New York Times

Sounds creepily like dinner-table chat at the Palins.

Good job

The 21st Century "New Coke" (or maybe lesser Romanovs works better?) continues to work it's magic.

In a move that many called too little — and way too late — the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Susan G. Komen for the Cure refused to step down Wednesday but announced she would leave her post as chief executive to focus on fundraising and that the president of the organization will resign, the New York Times reported...

Participation in the 5K runs and walks that account for most of the charity's fundraising have since declined by as much as 30 percent, according to a report by the Associated Press published in Thursday's Chicago Tribune.

Good luck with that

The advice of political strategist to Mitt Romney in regard to picking a GOP keynote speaker...

Pick someone who will make not "out charisma" you.

Wow, that's gonna be tough.

I thought it would just be Chris Christie ordering delivery by ordering via reading the menu of the local Asian-fusion restaurant "Mo' Pho". That should kill 20 minutes, then talking about how much he loves steamed dumplings should kill another 10.

But he'd still out-charisma Willard.

Naturally

Mitt Romney started up Bain Capital by using Latin American death squad leaders as his seed money.

I tell ya' this guy has actually engaged in most of the paranoid delusions the right-wing nutters accuse Obama of.  Where's his birth certificate?