Well, we made it to Humpday...!
Greetings, Dot Calm Readers
and fellow Truth Crusaders!
I'm back...miss me?
I'm a little blown out this week, so I plan to keep this post short.
I'd almost believe me if I didn't say that every single time, ending up with posts so huge that they alter the curvature of space-time...which I do.
Gotta love me.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
for being women?!??
Leave a trail?!??
Sad news, scary news, but he's o-o-o-o-o-o-o-kay...
Famed evolutionary biologist (a real scientist, unlike pretender Rafael Cruz, Sr.) and outspoken atheist Richard Dawkins, 74, has suffered a minor hemorrhagic stroke February 12, 2016, for which the Church of England has trolled him by offering prayers, which studies have shown DO NOT help. Talk about a gesture that is empty at best and flagrantly disrespectful at worst.
Reverend Arun Arora said of praying for Dawkins, "It is the very least I can do." No shit, Sherlock.
According to CNN, Dawkins's doctors told him he was "getting much better." Here is an excerpt from the article:
He had spent four days in hospital, but had since been discharged. He said he had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, which would affect his coordination, but not his "higher cerebral function, thank goodness."
"I gather if you've got to have a stroke, this is a pretty good one to have," he said, adding that the biggest challenge he had encountered was "buttons."
"You forget what a fantastically precise instrument the human hand is," he said.
Please support the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science, and let's all hope that Dr. Dawkins recovers quickly and fully. We need him back on the front lines against ignorance and superstition of all kinds.
Michael Moore is very ill
Moore recently released the film "Where to Invade Next," but he is apparently in poorer health than he let on to his fans. On February 17, 2016, he tweeted, "Doctors won't let me fly 2 Berlin for the European premiere of my film tomorrow night. Doing better, but still not @ 100%. Very sad not 2 go."
In 1999, Michael Moore literally saved a man's life using his television show, "The Awful Truth," as a bully pulpit. A young but ailing diabetic man needed a dual transplant--pancreas and kidney--to live, and Humana condemned the man to death by agreeing to cover only the kidney transplant. They knew that the man would die without the pancreas transplant (even a transplanted kidney wouldn't last very long without a working pancreas). They were pretending to do something while cold-bloodedly banking on the problem just going away--which it would have if Moore hadn't stepped in. Moore hounded Humana for several days, including shooting footage at Humana's offices, questioning underwriters (who received sizable bonuses for not covering expensive procedures, like transplants), and filming a mock funeral for the diabetic man on the lawn of the Humana CEO's home. After that last straw, the CEO decided that Humana would indeed cover both of the diabetic man's surgeries, saving his life. (The full story is available here on "Democracy Now!")
Let's all wish Michael Moore a speedy and full recovery. One of our favorite Flint, Michigan, residents, Moore has been a consistent champion of the average and disadvantaged American. We need him back on his feet now more than ever!
Petitions, petitions!
...PE-TI-TIONS!
Dear MoveOn member,
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away on Saturday. President Obama offered his condolences to Justice Scalia's family, ordered flags to be flown at half-mast, and pledged to do his job and nominate a new justice for consideration by the Senate.1,2
Republicans wasted no time in turning to partisan politics. Senate Leader Mitch McConnell announced that "this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President.”3 Hours later, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said that President Obama shouldn't get to appoint the next justice.4 And Senator Ted Cruz vowed to filibuster any Obama nominee.5
We can't let Republicans keep a Supreme Court seat vacant for more than a year due to purely partisan obstructionism. Let's make sure Republican senators do their job as defined in the Constitution: to advise and consent to the president's nominee.
Click here to sign this petition to the Senate: Do your constitutional duty. Pledge to give President Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court a timely vote.
Republicans may think it'll be good election year theater to refuse to consider President Obama's nominee. But the more signatures on our petition, the louder our message: It is critical to fill this vacancy—and anyone who abdicates their constitutional duty will be haunted by their choice through November and beyond.
When this rapid-response petition gains enough signatures, MoveOn will publicize it in Washington, D.C. and in the home state of any senator who is abdicating his or her responsibility by fighting for a prolonged and destructive vacancy on the court. Will you add your name and send your senators this message now?
From a woman's right to choose, to the ability of workers to organize, to how America can combat climate change, to efforts to craft a humane immigration policy, the Supreme Court is facing pressing topics that directly affect the lives of countless Americans. Leaving a seat empty would reduce the court's ability to decide these matters, create costly uncertainty, and be a direct attack on one of the three branches of American government.
Many justices have been confirmed in election years before, including as recently as in 1988, when Senator McConnell and many other Republican senators voted to confirm Justice Anthony Kennedy.6
Tell your senators and Senator McConnell: It's up to you to do your job as defined by the Constitution. As soon as President Obama announces a nominee, advise, consent, and move forward.
Thanks for all you do.
—Anna, Justin K. Ann, Stephen, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "Political leaders and candidates react to Scalia's death; Obama vows to nominate successor," Los Angeles Times, February 13, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/1383?
2. "The Latest: Scalia's Body Taken to Texas Funeral Home," ABC News, February 14, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/1402?
3. "Mitch McConnell Voted To Confirm A Supreme Court Justice In Reagan's Final Year," The Huffington Post, February 13, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/1385?
4. "The GOP's bitter South Carolina brawl," CNN, February 14, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/1386?
5. "Ted Cruz Plans to Filibuster Any Supreme Court Nominee Made by President Obama," ABC News, February 14, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/1387?
6. "Mitch McConnell Voted To Confirm A Supreme Court Justice In Reagan's Final Year," The Huffington Post, February 13, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/1385?
President Obama said he will naturally carry out his constitutional responsibility to name a Supreme Court replacement in due time.
The president has said he will carry out his responsibility under the Constitution to fill the opening at the Supreme Court. The Senate needs to do its job, too.
Click here to sign the petition: Tell the Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty and work with President Obama to fill the vacancy at the Supreme Court without delay.
Thanks,
Kurt Walters
Campaign Director
The following sponsored email was sent to you by AlterNet on behalf of CREDO Action:
President Obama's Supreme Court nominee must get an up-or-down vote
The petition to Senate Republican leadership reads:
"Your partisan threats to block President Obama from replacing Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia would be an unprecedented and unconstitutional act of sabotage to our judicial system. It is your duty to hold fair hearings and an up-or-down vote on President Obama's nominee."
Within hours of news breaking that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia had died, Senate Republicans were already promising to block confirmation of his replacement until the next president takes office.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued an official statement declaring, "this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President."1 Sen. Charles Grassley, chair of the Judiciary Committee, agreed that a "new president" should "select the next Supreme Court justice."2 Presidential candidates Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio both made statements suggesting that "the next president" should name Scalia's replacement.3
President Obama has almost a year left in office. As president -- twice elected by the American people -- he has the constitutional power under Article II to nominate a new Supreme Court justice with the advice and consent of the Senate. It is unprecedented that senators from the opposing party would preemptively challenge that power and promise to undermine it.
In the last year of President Ronald Reagan's second term, the Democratic-controlled Senate -- including current Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell -- unanimously confirmed Justice Anthony Kennedy with a 97-0 vote.4 In the last year of President Obama's term, partisan obstruction from Senate Republicans will be an anti-democratic power grab that would violate their duty to the nation. We have to show that the political cost of obstruction will be too high.
Tell Senate Republican leadership: You must hold fair hearings and a timely up or down vote for President Obama's nominee for Justice Scalia's replacement on the Supreme Court. Click here to sign the petition.
If there's no replacement for Justice Scalia until the inauguration of the next president, the highest court in the land is effectively hindered for two terms. In the likely event of a 4-4 tie, the lower court's decision is upheld but is not considered binding precedent.5 That means that countless important cases -- and lives -- will remain in limbo if Senate Republicans succeed in their attempt to undermine the Constitution.
Here are just some of the issues before the Court this term:
- Whether President Obama has the authority to provide a path to legal status and work permits for people who entered the United States as children, and for the undocumented parents of U.S. citizens.6
- Whether President Obama's attempts to curb carbon emissions violate the Clean Air Act.7
- Whether states can pass legislation under the guise of "protecting women's health" that actually takes away women's access to abortion.8
- Whether institutions have the right to use religion as an excuse to deny women birth-control as mandated in the Affordable Care Act.9
- A case that could decide the future of public sector unions.10
The next Supreme Court justice may also have the opportunity to overturn the disastrous Citizens United decision, which poses an existential threat to our democracy.
Senate Republicans are already making it clear that they are willing to subvert the Constitution in order to have a chance to appoint a justice who opposes women's health care, sides with corporations over workers, will allow big money to continue to hijack our elections, and more. We can't wait while Republicans try to spin a false narrative that their malfeasance is in defense of the will of voters. We need to put as much pressure as possible on Senate leadership now and force them to back down.
Tell Senate Republican leadership: You must hold fair hearings and a timely up or down vote for President Obama's nominee for Justice Scalia's replacement on the Supreme Court. Click here to sign the petition.
We don't yet know who President Obama intends to nominate. At CREDO, we will be pushing for the president to pick a strong progressive who will take seriously the Court's responsibility to the American people. But right now, the immediate need is to draw attention to Republicans' radical refusal to act at all, in direct contradiction of our Constitution.
Tell Senate Republican leadership: You must hold fair hearings and a timely up or down vote for President Obama's nominee for Justice Scalia's replacement on the Supreme Court. Click the link below to sign the petition:
http://act.alternet.org/go/
Thank you for speaking out.
Heidi Hess, Senior Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets
- Harper Niedgig, "McConnell: Don't replace Scalia until after election," The Hill, February 13, 2016.
- Lydia Wheeler, "Judiciary chair: 'Standard practice' to not confirm SCOTUS nominee in election year," The Hill, February 13, 2016.
- David Jackson, "Cruz, Rubio: Next president should name Scalia replacement," USA Today, February 13, 2016.
- Jennifer Bendery, "Mitch McConnell Voted To Confirm A Supreme Court Justice In Reagan's Final Year," HuffingtonPost.com, February 13, 2016.
- Libby Nelson, "Antonin Scalia's death could lead to more 4-4 ties. Here's what happens if it does." Vox.com, February 13, 2016.
- Adam Liptak and Michael Shear, "Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Obama Immigration Actions," New York Times, January 19, 2016.
- Adam Liptak and Coral Davenport, "Supreme Court Deals Blow to Obama's Efforts to Regulate Coal Emissions," New York Times, February 9, 2016.
- Emma Green and Matt Ford, "A New Supreme Court Challenge: The Erosion of Abortion Access in Texas," The Atlantic, November 13, 2015.
- Richard Wolf, "Supreme Court agrees to rule on birth control insurance mandate," USA Today, November 6, 2015.
- Adam Liptak, "Supreme Court Seems Poised to Deal Unions a Major Setback," New York Times, January 11, 2016.
The FCC must stand up for Net Neutrality | |
Sign the petition to the Federal Communications Commission:
“Some of the same companies that fought to kill Net Neutrality are now creating schemes to undermine it. Stand up for real Net Neutrality by immediately putting a stop to zero-rating.”
Add your name:
|
Those women know what's right for Scalia
better than he did.
Daily Kos
The American people DID have a voice
in who should replace Antonin Scalia.
They elected President Obama TWICE--
with a far wider margin
AlterNet
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By Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!
A huge crisis is on the docket. READ MORE»
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By Leslie Salzillo, Daily Kos
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Campaign launches to remind the public that the bindi isn't purely a fashion statement. READ MORE»
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The Humane Society of the United States
The AKC has aligned itself with cruel puppy mills. READ MORE»
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By David Edwards, Raw Story
The latest in the assault on women's rights. READ MORE»
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Alexandra Rosenmann, AlterNet
Voter IDs, like Oscar nominations, are just something white people are more likely to have.
READ MORE»
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Sarah Lazare, AlterNet
With frat's racism exposed, students call on administrators to confront a pattern of anti-Palestinian attacks. READ MORE»
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AlterNet
"If divided government persists, it’s really hard to see how we avoid growing chaos." READ MORE»
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Conservative politicians love government handouts - for themselves. READ MORE»
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AlterNet
They are ruthless. READ MORE»
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This week in Israeli racism was hard to top. READ MORE»
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Here I go proselytizing against televangelists again...
Funny commentary and clips of Christian televangelists and faith healers:
Corrupt televangelists and preachers...
Paula White
Joyce Meyers
Remember her? It wasn't an antique toilet but a commode--a vanity table--she paid $20,000.00 for, not $30,000.00 as I posted earlier. If, as wordoffakes says, you can feed a village for a month on $1200, then Joyce has omitted to feed that same village for nearly a year and a half just by buying that one antique...and she owns several comparably priced, equally useless objets d'art...not to mention her $49,000.00 conference table...not to mention the multi-million-dollar compound that she and her family live in rent-free, tax-free, and maintenance-free. How many villages could that money feed for how many years? What the hell is that conference table made of, anyway--pew-ranium 236 explosive space modulators? (Seriously, though, it is probably some kind of fancy exotic zebra wood from Africa. I guess nice cherry wood just isn't good enough for Queen Joyce.) Christians just luuuuurve helping poor kids in Africa by sending them Bibles, but what about feeding and educating disadvantaged kids right here at home in the good ol' U. S. of A.? Oh, no--they're undeserving poor...a completely different species from the deserving rich. And then, the money keeps rolling in from the books and videos, which my Tea Party friend laps up by the pound. If nothing else, these prosperity preachers show that nothing succeeds like excess.
wordoffakes reminds us why these fat-cats preaching the prosperity gospel aren't behaving biblically. Remember how simply Jesus is said to have lived and how many things he is said to have borrowed during his lifetime and ministry? How many times does the Bible tell us not to love money and hoard possessions? "But they deserve all that money," they have my Tea Party Christian friend brainwashed to whine. So poor kids deserve not to eat, have health care, go to decent schools?
Sux...wordoffakes promised a fourth video in the series, showing what could be done with Joyce Meyers's millions. Can you imagine how many needy people around the world would benefit from what these greedy hypocrites spend on their mansions and upkeep alone? Damn, son, I'd love to see that video, but I can't find it at the moment. I'll post it if/when I do.
OK, now I'm pissed off. I need a laugh. Time to tune in to Darkmatter2525!
...hee hee! Was that as good for you as it was for me?
Seriously, though--did you realize that the Holy Bible is this effed up?!?? No wonder they don't read the whole thing to the kiddies at Sunday School!