Monday, October 31, 2016

Happy Halloween!

Greetings, fellow Dot Calm Readers, Freedom Fighters, and Truth Crusaders!

Happy Halloween...BOO!

All the way at the bottom of todaze post is Seth Andrews's Ghost Stories 2016. Not a bad thing to have playing in the background when the trick-or-treaters come...but also be sure to listen to them yourself in a dark quiet room with no distractions.  They're creepy as hell! (Update: the ghost stories weren't as spooky as I wanted, so I played spooky sounds on my smart phone, which I set by the front door, while I awaited trick-or-treaters. Very creepy! Bwah-hahahaha!)

Other than that, todaze post contains a fresh batch of political n00z you can use--especially to cast an informed vote. The top stories are really in the Daily Kos headlines and in the m00bies today, but be sure to read the discussion under todaze top headline, which features The Telegraph's investigation into corruption in a pro-Trump super-PAC--the Secular Talk video the discussion mentions is in the m00bies, so if you prefer a quick video fix to a long read, just read the blurb and head on down to todaze vids.

Don't forget to read Dot Calm's shadow's favorite independent sources of news and information:

Daily Kos
AlterNet

Peas, friends. Take care of yourselves for me. Trust me--you're worth it! Oh, and have some stinkin' chocolate today, willya? It is Halloween, after all!
  
- Dot Calm's shadow

Consider the preemptive Blogger phuqued-up phormatting disclaimer to be in effect. Grrr.
-- Dot Calm's shadow

********************************************
Here's a SCARY Halloween story for you: 
I was listening to Seth Andrews's
Ghost Stories 2016
and I thought,
"NOTHING could be scarier
than a Donald Trump presidency!"
BOO!
******************************************** 
    
Headlines

The Telegraph: Pro-Trump super PAC reported to elections watchdog after Telegraph investigation
...An investigative reporter for The Telegraph posed as a representative of a Chinese donor wanting to give Donald Trump $2 million so he could bend his ear, and the super-PAC gladly agreed to accept the money. Not only are such foreign donations illegal, but Donald Trump has been all over Hillary's ass for using the Clinton Foundation for pay-for-play when he's demonstrably doing the exact same thing using his super-PAC. As Secular Talk's Kyle Kulinski discusses in his video on this article, he is convinced that Hillary and the Clinton Foundation are corrupt and engage in pay-for-play. I've been digging, but I haven't seen evidence of that--I've seen the appearance of conflicts of interest without evidence of actual conflicts of interest. But Kyle puts his finger on a huge point--it's time to start rooting out all the corruption in this country. Too many times, those with money and power bend and break the law with impunity. Hell, just being white can get you off the hook--just ask the brokeback snack-attack bois of Yokel Haram. It's like I said last time--on a bad day, white collar crime may get you two years in the clink, but being a poor Black and getting caught with one dose of drugs (that may have been planted by police itching to pick you up for something, anything) can get you 25 years--even if you're nonviolent.
     
A word from FiveThirtyEight
   
How Much Do 'October Surprises' Move The Polls?
...And the answer is: not much!
    
Election Update: Comey Or Not, Trump Continues To Narrow Gap With Clinton
...In other words, just as expected as Republicans come home to roost and undecideds decide; Clinton is not actually losing support.
    
Clinton's Coalition: Hispanic Support Appears To Be Up, Black Turnout Down
...Black primary voters gave us Hillary over Bernie, so it's time for Blacks to turn out and support Hillary unless they really want Donald Trump!
   
A word from Vox
   
An Iowa woman was arrested for voter fraud. She's a Trump supporter ...
...Well, Donald Trump wanted this election to be fraught with voter fraud, so his supporters are giving it to him by committing the very crime he's terrified them of. Dumb shits.
   
Donald Trump mistook a black supporter for a protester and called him a "thug"
...And the poor "thug" has somehow convinced himself that Donald Trump is "honest." Hunh, he really needs to read PolitiFact's file on teh Dumbald.
    
Donald Trump won't pay his pollster hundreds of thousands of dollars he reportedly owes
...Donald Trump has so far stiffed his pollster over $750,000. Must be nice to be rich so that you don't have to pay your bills. I wish I didn't have to pay my debts! He's told people and companies he owes six figure sums to that it's cheaper for them to go away than to fight him in court. Bastard.
    
Lawsuits show that Donald Trump's companies regularly delete emails and other records
...In other words, Donald Trump is no where near satisfying the standard he insists on holding Hillary Clinton to. And if you want to know what he's guilty of, just look at what he accuses others of doing.
   
Why Comey should not have sent the Clinton letter — but probably felt he had to
...Comey's really dug himself into a nasty hole. The Friday letter wouldn't have been necessary if he hadn't gone public with his conclusions in July. It's his own damn fault if he doesn't lurve the situation he's gotten himself into.
    
Two experts say Donald Trump should be investigated for criminal tax evasion
...Donald Trump is guilty of actual crimes. Hillary is only guilty in the court of public opinion because of all the partisan and media attacks over the past thirty years.
    
Clinton's critics know she's guilty, they're just trying to decide what she's guilty of
...They keep trying to dig up shit but keep coming up empty.
    
The Clinton team found the star of the most famous political ad in history to pound Trump
...The year was 1964. The ad was about the looming specter of nuclear war. Now, in 2016, Donald Trump is the one we must fear ever getting near the nuclear codes. He has no idea what he's doing, so he's more likely than not to launch a nuclear attack on someone...anyone. 70 million people dead in the blink of an eye. Don't think it couldn't happen!
    
Trump didn't encourage voter fraud in Colorado. He "just" questioned the integrity of the election.
...Unfortunately, Donald Trump sux at nuance, and so do his ham-handed supporters.
  
The FBI finally has a warrant to read those new emails and see if they're Clinton-related after all
...So far, the biggest story to come out of this story is that FBI Director James Comey is getting blasted by both Republicans and Democrats. I'm not surprised that Dems are pissed, but Republicans? Hum, will wonders never cease?
    
Former Justice Department prosecutor: James Comey's October surprise is "indefensible"
...Justice Department officials apparently counseled Comey against going public Friday. Interesting! From what I've been reading, Washington insiders are concerned about the precedent Comey set with his remarks in July--i.e., there are reasons that the FBI doesn't make further comments once they've decided not to recommend prosecution. Comey was in a difficult if not impossible position, but he's made a humongous mess for himself and the agency out of it--and he may well have opened something of a Pandora's box with his precedent. I realize that Comey was trying to stay non-partisan, but Donald Trump's and other Republicans' campaigns clearly benefited from both of his public releases.
  
The debate over FBI director James Comey's new Clinton email letter, explained
...Good discussion of the concerns around how Comey has handled this investigation and publishing the results. By releasing his remarks in July, Comey set himself up to be dragged in front of Congress for hearings, since they were lusting for red meat. That set him up to promise to inform them should he receive further information. And that set him up for his cryptic Friday letter--which he sent despite being advised otherwise by Justice Department officials. Got it?
   
In private, Donald Trump admits "if we don't" win, "that's okay, too"
...He hasta save his unattractive orange face somehow.
   
The latest Trump tape accidentally explains rape culture in less than 3 minutes
...Good short read: are women truly full persons with full rights to their own bodies, or must part or all of each woman always be available for some man's pleasure? American women have internalized society's messages that sexual assault is their own fault and that they are responsible for their attackers' behavior. No wonder so many women brush off the lesser offenses of being grabbed or kissed without consent.
   
When did 2016 become all about men?
...The story of the first female major party presidential candidate is almost dwarfed by stories from Bill Cosby to Bill Clinton to Donald Trump. Let's not forget Brock Turner and Judge Persky.

The history of Satanic Panic in the US — and why it's not over yet
...The Satanic Panic is nothing more than a modern-day Salem witch hunt. It's an excuse for Christian fundamentalists to persecute "the other." Back in the 80s, it was a backlash against day-care, which allowed women to work outside the home. But none of the allegations were ever substantiated, and dozens of people were sent to prison for crimes that not only did they not commit but that cannot be committed. What do we expect from a society that values superstition over science and religion over reality?
   
******************************************** 
Now this will really scare you:
Donald Trump doesn't want to be president...
he wants to be dictator!
Why do you think he surrounds himself
with only yes men?
BOO!
******************************************** 

Mailbag

Wow, great news--Daily Kos reports that Patrick Murphy is TIED with Marco Rubio! I just chipped in $5 to help push Patrick Murphy toward victory!

It's tied in Florida.

A new poll out yesterday shows Democrat Patrick Murphy tied 46-46 with Marco Rubio in the Florida Senate race.

Murphy has been closing the gap with Rubio for weeks, and now he's all caught up. The election is just 10 days out and we have all the momentum—now Murphy just needs the resources to win.

Democratic groups pulled out of Florida earlier in the year when Rubio looked unbeatable. Those moves helped Democratic candidates in other states, but it's left Murphy cash-strapped just as pulls have tightened.

Winning in Florida could tip the Senate majority to Democrats and end the career of one of the GOP's biggest rising stars at the same time.

Can you chip in $5 to Democrat Patrick Murphy to win back the Senate and end Marco Rubio's presidential hopes forever?

Keep fighting,
Michael Langenmayr, Daily Kos
     
------------------------------------------------
     

 
        
Billionaire Diane Hendricks wants to make sure that Clean Money champion Russ Feingold can’t take away her right to buy and sell elected officials, so she just dumped $5 million into his Senate race against him. Sen. Feingold needs 100,000 of us to contribute $50 each, to help him fight back >>

 
Senator Russ Feingold, he of “McCain-Feingold Act” fame, has been the leading Democratic champion of campaign finance reform in the U.S. Senate. As in, billionaires and big corporations shouldn’t be able to dictate the outcome of our elections.

So it shouldn’t be surprising that one of those billionaires wants to end Feingold’s political career, and she is willing to put up big bucks to do it.

Diane Hendricks owns a roofing supply company worth around $4 billion. She is a devotee of trickle-down economics. You know that tune. Here is something that she wrote for a national newspaper:

“Taxing job creators is a sure way to stop the engine of economic growth. We need to get out of the way of the small business owner — and big business owners — and allow them to do what government can only dream of doing: creating jobs and thereby creating wealth. We must lower the corporate tax rate, simplify the entire tax code, reduce the regulatory burden and resolve the uncertainty that surrounds recently passed and pending legislation.”

Yes, she’s a billionaire who wants to cut taxes on herself. Duh.

Like the Koch Brothers, Hendricks is willing to put her money where her mouth is. She was the largest donor to GOP Gov. Scott Walker’s effort to fend off a recall vote. She gave $5 million to a Koch Brothers Super PAC. She gave $5 million to Scott Walker’s Super PAC when he ran for President. And now she is giving $5 million to try to take down the Senator committed to ending crazy games like that, and giving our elections back to We, the People.


Let’s talk poker. You know what would be really nice? If every time a billionaire spent a million dollars trying to buy an election, he knew that small donors like you would band together and say, “I’ll see that million, and I’ll raise you a million.” And then watch that billionaire fold.

What’s happening is very simple. Of course, some billionaire who likes to buy and sell politicians wants to keep Russ Feingold out of the Senate. And of course, we have to fight back. Help Russ Feingold to victory, and make a down payment toward true campaign finance reform >>
      
Courage,
     

Rep. Alan Grayson
     
------------------------------------------------
     
From John Podesta, Hillary for America
Donate if you can because Trump is pulling in big bux, but mostly I wanted to post this to show that Hillary's campaign is acknowledging Comey's letter. Want moar? The Daily Kos headlines below post a link to the Clinton campaign's statement in response to the Comey letter.
-- Dot Calm's shadow

Friend --

By now, you've probably heard some news about a bewildering letter sent to Congressional leaders by the Director of the FBI.

This is all a bit confusing, and much of the reporting has been misleading or downright inaccurate, so I want to take a minute to walk through this. Bear with me!

Here's the quick backstory: In July, FBI Director James Comey concluded a year-long investigation by deciding not to go forward with any case about Hillary's emails. It wasn't even a close call, he said. In his words, "no reasonable prosecutor" would have brought charges.

Yesterday, in a surprise to us all, Comey wrote a very strange letter to Congress that was long on innuendo and short on facts. He said that in a completely separate investigation, the FBI had found some emails that may or may not be related to Hillary, and indeed may or may not be significant at all.

It's since been reported that these emails may not have even been sent by or to Hillary; that they weren't withheld by Hillary or the campaign in the earlier investigation; and most or even all of them may be duplicates of emails already in the FBI's possession.

It's being reported that Comey sent this letter over the objections of Department of Justice officials who told him that it was inconsistent with longstanding policy of both Democratic and Republican administrations not to take action that might impact an election. It's an unprecedented intrusion into a close presidential election with 10 days until Election Day.

But by being vague and obfuscating, Comey opened the door to conspiracy theories, Republican attacks against Hillary, and a surge of fundraising for Trump and his team. So this bears repeating: There is no evidence of wrongdoing, no charge of wrongdoing, and no indication that any of this even involves Hillary.

Voters deserve answers.

Comey needs to come clean with the American people about what he found and answer all the questions about why he took this unprecedented step less than two weeks before the election.

Here's what this changes for you and this campaign: Absolutely nothing.

Trump has spent more than a year trying to bully his way to the presidency. He's been browbeating the FBI (indeed, many have speculated that Comey took this extraordinary action in part to reduce the pressure on his agency that Trump's campaign and his Republican Congressional allies has been building up), leading crowds in chants of "lock her up," and even saying Hillary should be in prison -- and if he won, he'd put her there.

The facts be damned -- Trump's always shown a complete disregard for the truth. In spite of there being no new information, he's already raising money off the bizarre letter (he literally sent a text message asking for money within an hour of the story breaking!) and he's more fired up than ever on the trail today.

These are the actions of a desperate man. Trump knows he can't win on his character, temperament, or his policies. He's behind, so he'll cling to whatever he can.

So, no, our strategy doesn't change. But our intensity needs to, because we can't let him get away with this.

Our organizers and volunteers on the ground are rallying behind Hillary in what will be the biggest volunteer weekend of the campaign so far. You need to get her back, too. You need to say you're not willing to let Trump bully or buy his way into the presidency, and you're not going to let anything stop us from making history.

There are ten days to go. Let's buckle down, stay focused, and win this.

You’re one of our most committed supporters. If you've saved your payment information, your donation will go through immediately:
 

Donate now: $30
Donate now: $5
Donate now: $10
Donate now: $25
Donate now: $50

Thanks,

John

John Podesta
Chair
Hillary for America 

      
------------------------------------------------
      

 
Congressman John Lewis knows that doing what’s right for our nation isn’t always easy -- that sometimes, you have to get in “necessary trouble” to achieve progress.
 
I’m proud to have partnered with Rep. Lewis during a moment of necessary trouble in the House, when we sat-in on the House floor to demand action on gun violence, and I’m so glad that he’s with me in Illinois to campaign today. 
 
In the Senate, I’ll always do what’s necessary to move our country forward and I’ll continue to fight alongside Rep. Lewis on issues like preventing gun violence, protecting voting rights and enabling working Americans to succeed. Can you contribute right now to send me there?
 

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:


Rep. Lewis and I held a Get Out the Vote Rally this morning in Chicago. Our volunteers are hard at work making sure that every Illinoisan exercises their right to vote, but they’re counting on supporters like you to give our campaign the resources they need for the final days of our campaign. 
 
Please chip in $5 before Monday’s end-of-October deadline to help our volunteers get out the vote:


  
Thank you,
 
Tammy
     
------------------------------------------------
     
From UltraViolet--LADIES Professional Golf Association needs to DUMP TRUMP!

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is holding its most prestigious tournament--the 2017 U.S. Women's Open--at Donald Trump's New Jersey golf resort.

Yep, a women's organization wants to give millions in revenue, free advertising and good branding to Donald Trump.

It's straight up offensive. And even US senators agree--on October 26, three of them wrote to the head of the US Golf Association (USGA), who is in charge of venue decisions, urging him to refuse to affiliate the tournament with a racist serial sexual predator.1

The men's PGA has already stopped doing business with Trump.2 If enough of us speak up and join the mounting pressure, the USGA + LPGA will be forced to move the tournament. Can you sign the petition?

Tell the USGA + LPGA: "Dump Trump! A sexist, serial abuser should not host the most prestigious women's golf tournament in America."
Sign the petition

Golf is a sport whose leaders especially need to be sensitive to its history of sexism, racism and treatment of those with disabilities. The LPGA is the oldest women's professional sports organization in America, but thirty years passed following women gaining the right to vote for the LPGA to form, in 1950, and stay in business. The PGA Tour banned Casey Martin, born with a leg birth defect, from using a golf cart--and he was only able to play after the Supreme Court ruled in his favor.3 Yet it affiliates with a presidential candidate who makes fun of people with disabilities.

And up through 1961, men of color were banned from participating in the PGA Tour. That decision was reversed because advocates like us took action--California's Attorney General forced the PGA Championship to be moved out of Los Angeles and threatened to ban further events in the state unless golf was open to all.4 It is through this lens that the USGA + LPGA needs to reconsider the decision to hold the U.S. Women's Open at Trump National. Building on golf's legacy of discrimination by affiliating with a racist, sexist businessman sends the wrong message to both young, aspiring golfers and to survivors of abuse.

But golf officials have stood up for women before--and we can pressure them to do it again now. Two years ago, the President of the PGA of America was immediately fired after attempting to belittle a male golfer as "a little girl." The organization issued an apology and decried "insensitive gender-based statements."5 Well, nothing could be more insensitive than forcing survivors of abuse to play on a course owned by an abuser. If we speak out together, we can send a better message and help golf continue to be more inclusive and welcoming to all.

Sign the petition to the USGA + LPGA: Dump Trump NOW.

Thanks for taking action.

--Nita, Shaunna, Kat, Karin, Adam, Holly, Kathy, Onyi, Susan, Anathea, Audine, Shannon, Megan, Libby, Emma, PaKou, and Pilar, the UltraViolet Action team



Sources:

1. Senators call for the LPGA to move women’s major away from Trump course, ThinkProgress, October 26, 2016
2. The Companies That Have Dumped Donald Trump, ABC News, July 4, 2015
3. This time around, few would deny Casey Martin a ride at the Open, Golf Magazine, June 12, 2012
4. PGA Group Abolishes 'Caucasian', Sarasota Herald-Tribune, November 10, 1961
5. Ian Poulter tweet leads to exit of American PGA president, BBC, October 25, 2014

     
------------------------------------------------
     
CREDO action
Hold Sen. Jeff Sessions accountable for sanctioning sexual assault
The petition to Senate Republican leaders reads:
"Hold Sen. Jeff Sessions publicly and visibly accountable for sanctioning Donald Trump’s comments about serial sexual assault. Strip Sessions of all of his committee responsibilities and assignments.”
Add your name:
Sign the petition ►
     
------------------------------------------------
     
From Daily Kos--Can you drive a fellow voter to the polls? Or do you need a ride to the polls?

This is the first presidential election since the Supreme Court gutted important provisions in the Voting Rights Act.

Voters -- particularly people of color, people with disabilities, young people, elderly people, and women -- face new barriers to casting their vote. Some of the obstacles include
  • Polling stations face closure in lower-income communities of color.
  • Would-be voters have to travel out of town to get a photo ID to register.
  • The periods available to register and vote become shorter.
  • Requesting an absentee ballot or voting by mail can be difficult in many states.
Want to help ensure your neighbors are able to cast their ballot? Click here to volunteer to drive voters to the polls.

Can't drive but still want to help? Click here to chip in $3 to the Daily Kos Get Out The Vote Fund.


New voting rules in swing states could sway 84 Electoral College votes, determining the presidency and the Supreme Court. With everything from civil rights to environmental protection on the line, we can't afford to allow any voice to go unheard.

Our friends at People Demanding Action and Carpool Vote are helping reduce obstacles to voting by connecting volunteer drivers with anybody who needs a ride to the polls.

It's simple: Once a volunteer fills in the form, they are redirected to a website where they let Carpool Vote know when and where they'll be driving, and Carpool Vote does their best to match them with a rider!

Do you have a spare seat to help get somebody to the polls or voter I.D. office? Click here to sign up!

Can't drive but still want to help? Click here to chip in $3 to the Daily Kos Get Out The Vote Fund.


Keep fighting,
Monique Teal, Daily Kos

P.S. Do you or anyone you know need a ride to the polls or voter I.D. office? Click here to fill in the form for riders and Carpool Vote will do their best to match you with a driver!
     
------------------------------------------------
     
From SumOfUs--Stop the Bayer-Monsanto merger from hell

In just a few weeks Bayer and Monsanto are getting ready to file their merger with antitrust authorities in Europe and the U.S.. If they succeed, we are facing a nightmare scenario: more bee-killing neonics in our fields, more toxic glyphosate on our plates, and more corporate control over our food supply. 

Regulators can still stop this merger, but they’re already getting hammered by corporate lobbyists pressuring them to back off.

That's why we need to move fast -- antitrust regulators have a limited amount of time to take action, and the clock is already ticking.

Call on EU and US regulators to block the merger between Bayer and Monsanto and stop further concentration in the agrichemical sector.
     
------------------------------------------------
     
CREDO action
Tell AARP: Stop the right-wing scare tactics about Social Security
The petition to AARP reads:
"Social Security is the most effective anti-poverty program in our nation’s history, with tens of millions of seniors relying on it. Stop using right wing fearmongering about Social Security’s future that could lead to damaging cuts to the program."
Add your name:
Sign the petition ►
     
------------------------------------------------
     
Update from Public Citizen


He got paid extra and we subsidized it.

After one of the biggest banking scandals in recent history, Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf took home $155 million in “performance” bonuses — costing taxpayers $54 million because the CEO “bonus loophole” makes large corporate bonuses like Stumpf’s fully tax-deductible.

Email your members of Congress and tell them to close the CEO bonus loophole before any more taxpayer money is wasted making the richest Americans even richer.

It doesn’t stop at Wells Fargo.

Since 2012, the 20 largest banks have paid out more than $2 billion in “performance” bonuses to their already overpaid CEOs.

The total cost to taxpayers? A stunning $725 million.

Take action now to help close the outrageous CEO bonus loophole, which is ripping off hardworking Americans like you and me.

Thanks for all you do,

Bret Thompson
Public Citizen’s Online Action Team
      

------------------------------------------------
     

Tell the Justice Department: Criminally investigate senior executives at Wells Fargo – and aggressively prosecute all illegal behavior you find.
Wells Fargo must think it can escape real accountability.
They just launched an expensive nationwide TV ad campaign this week and replaced their CEO…
But Elizabeth Warren is already ringing the alarm bell about the new CEO Tim Sloan – an executive who’s been at Wells Fargo for 29 years and who defended Wells Fargo pressure-cooker sales culture just 4 months ago!1
And the senior executives who ran this scam still haven’t seen serious consequences.
We need to show Wells Fargo we won’t be distracted by their PR campaign – and demand real accountability for the illegal behavior at the root of the Wells Fargo scandal.
The consequences Wells Fargo has faced so far are quite frankly a drop in the bucket for executives at the top.
The bank settled with watchdog agencies in Washington for $190 million, but that fine is less than 1% of its annual revenue.2
And after their CEO John Stump and retail banking head Carrie Tolstedt “retired,” they walked off with tens of millions of dollars – and not a day of jail time for this massive fraud.
That’s why Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and 12 other senators asked Attorney General Loretta Lynch to lead the Justice Department to criminally investigate senior executives at Wells Fargo.3
Their letter has it right: “Every time the Department of Justice settles a case of corporate fraud without holding individuals accountable, it reinforces the notion that the wealthy and powerful have purchased a higher class of justice for themselves.”
Wells Fargo is a textbook case of fraud. The New Republic says, “If the SEC and the Justice Department don’t get involved here, they might as well not even exist.”4

  • First, securities fraud: Elizabeth Warren laid out 12 times that Wells Fargo’s CEO praised his company’s aggressive (and fraudulent) cross-selling – never revealing that Wells Fargo was under federal scrutiny. That’s a straightforward case of securities fraud.5
  • Second, there’s the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a post-Enron reform: Under that law, Wells Fargo’s CEO had to personally certify he had adequate “internal control” at the company. Either he lied on that certification, or he knew about the fraud from the beginning.6

There are plenty of other laws that may have been broken, but it’s critical that the government goes after the executives at the top.
After never aggressively going after the senior bankers who melted down the economy in 2008, the Justice Department promised to improve and insist on individual accountability in the “Yates memo” it released last year.
We have to hold Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s feet to the fire to follow through. She heads the Justice Department, and ultimately it’s her call whether they will aggressively pursue the senior executives behind the Wells Fargo scandal.
Thank you,
Kurt Walters
Campaign Director
P.S., after you sign, be sure to share the petition with your friends to maximize your impact. Click here to sign then share the petition.

       
------------------------------------------------
     
CREDO action
Congress must investigate sexual assault allegations against Clarence Thomas
Tell Republican leaders in the House:
“Immediately launch a thorough, transparent investigation and hold emergency Congressional hearings about the allegations of sexual assault by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.”
Add your name:
Sign the petition ► 
     

------------------------------------------------
     
Daily Kos's GOTV effort is working! Be a part of it NOW!

I just received a report from our friends at MoveOn detailing the work Daily Kos volunteers have to put in so far. The numbers are astounding!

In just a little under a month, 1,143 members of the Daily Kos community have
  • Completed 2,829 call shifts!
  • Had 4,868 conversations with voters—almost 25% of all the conversations!
  • Averaged a connection rate of 18 percent—much higher than expected!
The Daily Kos community has become a driving force in crucial swing states—without even leaving the comfort of home! More volunteer shifts are available, Monday - Friday: 5 p.m. ET - 11 p.m. ET and Saturday and Sunday: 12 p.m. ET - 9 p.m. ET. Training and support are provided.

Members of the Daily Kos community are making a huge impact in states that will decide the presidency, the Supreme Court, the Senate and fingers crossed, the House. Can you help keep up the momentum through the last 11 days?

Will you join the Daily Kos readers making calls to voters in critical swing states like Ohio and Nevada? Click here to sign up for a shift.

Can't make calls but still want to help? Click here to chip in $3 to the Daily Kos Get Out The Vote Fund.


Keep fighting,
Monique Teal, Daily Kos
     
******************************************** 
Oh no they DIN'T
and WHITE Trump supporter
******************************************** 

Democracy Now!

Stories


On Friday, Amnesty International dispatched human rights observers to North Dakota to monitor the ongoing repression of the thousands of Native Americans ... Read More →

A federal jury in Oregon on Thursday acquitted antigovernment militia leaders Ammon and Ryan Bundy, and five of their followers, of conspiracy and weapons ... Read More →

Overnight on Saturday in North Dakota, Native Americans resisting the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline reported a brush fire near their main resistance ... Read More →

The race for the White House was jolted on Friday when FBI Director James Comey notified congressional leaders that the agency had discovered more emails as ... Read More →

Headlines →

     
******************************************** 
Really wanna be scared?
Just remember how Donald Trump
treated his nephew's sick baby
and how he treats disabled people,
like the journalist and the child at his rally
BOO!
******************************************** 

Daily Kos

Oh snap, Batman--Harry Reid nuked James Comey with surgical brilliance and precision...and I can't say Comey didn't have it coming. There is the clear appearance of favoritism toward Trump here. Give 'em hell, Harry--please and thank you!!!
-- Dot Calm's shadow

  • The real bombshell in Harry Reid's letter
  • The brutal genius of Harry Reid's letter
  • Comey did exactly the wrong thing; meet the GOP's Trumpkins
  • So many important House & Senate races in the country. PCCC and Daily Kos make it easy for you to Get Out The Vote. Click here to volunteer.
  • Can't help get out the vote today? Chip in $3 to the Daily Kos Get Out The Vote Fund instead, and us help get Democrats to the polls.
  • Are the knives out for Comey at the DOJ?
  • Reid goes nuclear: Reframes election as fight against criminally partisan FBI
  • Former IRS chief counsel attorney says IRS should open criminal investigation of Trump Foundation
  • Eric Holder on Comey in Washington Post: 'He has committed a serious error'
  • Massachusetts cop's wife vandalizes home, blames it on Black Lives Matter
  • Notes from a Michigan canvasser
  • Stop Trump? Support Hillary? Pledge your vote and recruit friends on Brigade, the social network for voters! sponsored
  • Standing Rock Update: Arson fire started near Oceti Sakowin Camp last night
  • House 'Freedom Caucus' fight with Paul Ryan over Trump reveals group's real priorities
  • A Trump presidency would wreck the world's economy. Just ask investors
  •       
    Holy shit!! Lookit the first headline in this set of DKos headlines!!!
    -- Dot Calm's shadow

  • Former Bush ethics head files complaint against Comey, alleging potential violations of Hatch Act
  • FBI to review 650,000 emails on Weiner laptop
  • I probably just blew up my Facebook account
  • Hillary Clinton needs Democratic majorities in Congress to get things done. Join the PCCC and Daily Kos to call voters in targeted states from the comfort of your home.
  • Don’t want to talk to voters? Chip in $3 to the Daily Kos Get Out The Vote Fund to help us sign up more volunteers to get Democrats to the polls.
  • Florida homeowner lynches black dummies next to Trump sign
  • Trump on his Twitter insults: 'It's OK, most of them deserved it'
  • David Plouffe has a message for Democrats: 'Clinton path to 300+ rock solid,' structure unchanged
  • Washington Post's account of Trump's 'charity' efforts reveals him to be worse than you ever thought
  • What's behind the healthcare rate hikes and 7 other things Donald won't tell you about the ACA
  • The Koch brothers mournfully scale back operations; now they'll only spend $750 million this season
  • Donald Trump is tanking the Republican Party so hard that both experts agree the House could be in the play. Chip in $1 to Democrats running in must-win districts to take back the House.
  • Canvassing in North Carolina: My experience
  • Four score and seven years ago, Republican economic policies triggered the Great Depression
  • How to encourage idealists (and others) to vote for Hillary Clinton
  •      
    The first three headlines in this set shake the trust I have in FBI Director James Comey. I wonder what Randi Rhodes, who also views him as a man of integrity, must be thinking right now.
    -- Dot Calm's shadow
          
  • Comey's own troops up in arms over Hillary letter
  • Resignation is too good for James Comey
  • New York Times: The FBI knew a month ago that the laptop they seized could have relevant emails
  • Stop arguing about the presidential election on Facebook and do something that makes a difference. Sign up with MoveOn to call swing state voters from home.
  • Can't make calls? Chip in $3 to the Daily Kos Get Out The Vote Fund to help get Democrats to the polls.
  • Cartoon: 400 pound hacker
  • Iowa Republican Trump voter arrested for voter fraud
  • Cartoon: Donald Trump's Rigged World
  • During Florida rally, Hillary bats away Comey and Trump like the flies that they are
  • 'May not even be significant' becomes an excuse to report irresponsibly
  • FBI hasn't seen the emails or got a warrant yet—Comey is guessing about their contents
  • Want to reach millennial voters in swing states to win this election? Volunteer with NextGen Climate Change to make phone calls, texts and other ways to help out.
  • Seriously? Newt Gingrich says that 2020 could produce a Clinton-Trump rematch
  • A stunning must-read: 'The last thing my mother did before she died was vote for Hillary Clinton'
  • Other media follow New Yorker to report Comey defied DOJ officials by going public with e-mail find
  •     
  • Why FBI Director James Comey did the wrong thing ... again
  • Statement from Clinton campaign in response to FBI letter
  • A black Trump supporter was thrown out of NC rally while Donald called him a 'thug' from the stage
  • This is not a drill: Donald Trump will become President-elect in just a few days unless we stop him. Please, no matter where you live, sign up with MoveOn to call swing state votes from home.
  • Can't make calls? Help Daily Kos Get Out The Vote by chipping in $3 today.
  • No re-opened email investigation, the emails looked at aren't even from Hillary's personal server
  • Despite the horrendous reporting, the FBI is NOT reopening the Clinton email investigation
  • FBI sources tell WSJ that emails may be from an account that has already been investigated
  • The Baldwin brothers have been having a lot of fun at Trump-supporting brother Stephen's expense
  • Judge sends jury home before closing arguments in George Washington Bridge case
  • Star of 'Shark Tank' says Donald Trump made shockingly inappropriate comments about her breasts
  • Stop Trump? Support Hillary? Pledge your vote and recruit friends on Brigade, the social network for voters! sponsored
  • Former spokesman for the DOJ slams James Comey's 'inappropriate abuse of power'
  • Trump contributes $0 to campaign, cheats own supporters
  • Republican states still flouting judges' orders
  • 'Patriotic' Trumpster leaves abhorrent note on woman's windshield
  • Melania Trump says if she becomes First Lady, she'll teach kids the right way to use social media
  • Early data calls into question the 'hidden Trump voter'
  •      
    ******************************************** 
    Donald Trump's shady business dealings
    ...so scary!
    BOO!
    ******************************************** 

    AlterNet
    By Ilana Novick, AlterNet
    A new Newsweek report chronicles a long history of sketchy behavior.  READ MORE»


    By Adele M. Stan, AlterNet
    Senate minority leader Harry Reid accuses FBI director James Comey of playing favorites. READ MORE»


    By Alexandra Rosenmann, AlterNet
    "The election [is] hanging in the balance all because Anthony Weiner allegedly sexted with a 15-year-old girl." READ MORE»


    By Janet Allon, AlterNet
    Bullying the refs has become a wildly popular thing to do by the right wing. READ MORE»


    By Robert Reich, RobertReich.org
    Future historians looking back on the tumult of this vile election might see the start of another era of fundamental reform. READ MORE»


    By Paul Alexander, Salon
    Musk is the CEO of three companies—Tesla, SpaceX and SolarCity—all of which would fail without government money. READ MORE»


    By Ilana Novick, AlterNet
    An ACLU FOIA request reveals hours of aerial footage. The FBI says it's "consensual." READ MORE»


    By David Edwards, Raw Story
    Seriously, what is wrong with people? READ MORE»


    By Alexandra Rosenmann, AlterNet
    Jeanine Pirro: Comey violates "the most fundamental rules of fairness and impartiality.” READ MORE»


    By Keith Knight, AlterNet
    Joyously DIY, politically subversive, and unapologetically black. READ MORE»


    By Brian Kahn, Climate Central
    A protected Antarctic marine reserve twice the size of Texas is a massive win for wildlife, climate and the environment. READ MORE»
        
    By Don Hazen, Kali Holloway, AlterNet
    Has such aberrant behavior ever so dominated a presidential campaign before? READ MORE»


    By Adele M. Stan, AlterNet
    As Clinton tries to up turnout, Trump tries hand at high-tech suppression—and no one really knows who will actually turn up at the polls. READ MORE»


    By Paul Rosenberg, Salon
    Trump's campaign marks the collision of two campaigns against the democratic state — from tycoons and thugs. READ MORE»


    By David Morris, AlterNet
    State governments lead the charge for a progressive future on big pharma, criminal justice, and much more. READ MORE»


    By April M. Short, AlterNet
    Modern witch Sarah Durham Wilson on why women are “coming out of the broom closet” en masse. READ MORE»


    By NORML, NORML
    Public support for marijuana law reform is at an all time high, but some governors need to catch up.  READ MORE»


    By Mairead Maguire, IraqTribunal.org
    The invasion was carried out on the basis of a lie. READ MORE»


    By Sarah Lazare, AlterNet
    New Oxfam report finds expansion of extractive industries is tied to rise of killings in Latin America. READ MORE»


    By Reynard Loki, AlterNet
    Coal may be on its way out, but the industry continues to poison America’s waterways. READ MORE»


    By Mark Potok, Southern Poverty Law Center
    15 Islamophobes to watch out for.  READ MORE»


    By Tali Sharot, The Conversation
    You can never tell just one.  READ MORE»


    By Belén Fernández, FAIR
    Don't be fooled: there's no such thing as a safe war. READ MORE»


    By Adam Eichen, BillMoyers.com
    To ensure fair elections, must pass public financing of congressional elections and reduce lobbyist influence. READ MORE»


    By David Ferguson, Raw Story
    Trump’s inability to discipline himself as a candidate has ultimately been his undoing. READ MORE»
        
    By Janet Allon, AlterNet
    Newt Gingrich and Betsey McCaughey are badly in need of a seminar on undrestanding sexual assault. READ MORE»


    By Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet
    The nation's top law enforcement officer puts himself above the law.  READ MORE»


    By Bill Scheft, Salon
    Banished to the Malignant Narcissist wing of a local psych center, a never-defeated Trump plans his next moves. READ MORE»


    By Nomi Prins, TomDispatch
    The high probability of a Clinton win means the establishment remains intact. READ MORE»


    By Cherian George, The Conversation
    Untruths doled out in hate campaigns find ready buyers even in a free marketplace of ideas. READ MORE»


    By Lorraine Chow, AlterNet
    You’d have to use your beloved cotton tote at least 327 times for it to be more carbon-friendly than plastic. READ MORE»


    By Linn Washington Jr., This Can't Be Happening
    Decriminalization has been a resounding success in Philadelphia. READ MORE»


    By Alexandra Rosenmann, AlterNet
    "Why are we failing to organize these people?" READ MORE»


    By Alina Petre, MS, RD, Authority Nutrition
    For vegans who want to stay healthy, consuming a nutrient-rich diet with whole and fortified foods is important. READ MORE»


    By Jim Crogan, Capital and Main
    No on 61 contributions account for more than 88 percent of all money received by both sides. READ MORE»


    By Carrie Weisman, AlterNet
    "The written word provides more room and flexibility for personal fantasy." READ MORE»


    By Tom Boggioni, Raw Story
    Jesse Gonzales called the incident a “slap in the face”‘ for himself and other veterans. READ MORE»
          
    By Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet
    There's no comparing Clinton's email carelessness to a lifetime of lawlessness.  READ MORE»


    By Martha Rosenberg, AlterNet
    With big pharma, first they promote it, then they discover the risks. READ MORE»


    By Brendan Gauthier, Salon
    Trump's children aren't donating to dad, who's not donating to the RNC — or his campaign! READ MORE»


    By Jodie Evans, AlterNet
    People’s Tribunal to expose the lies and human toll of the ongoing invasion. READ MORE»


    By Neal Gabler, BillMoyers.com
    Clinton's popularity didn't start to plummet until the press focus turned to her emails. . READ MORE»


    By Carrie Weisman, AlterNet
    For some, voting for Trump is a bigger turn-off than most other dealbreakers out there. READ MORE»


    By Tiffany Finck-Haynes, AlterNet
    Most big grocery chains are still sourcing food grown with pollinator-killing chemicals.  READ MORE»


    By Robert Parry, Consortium News
    The harsh truth is that pursuit of power often trumps the principle of an informed electorate choosing the nation’s leaders, but that truth simply cannot be recognized. READ MORE»


    By Alexandra Rosenmann, AlterNet
    Oh, how the tables have turned. READ MORE»


    By Gaius Publius, Down With Tyranny!
    The patent describe a billboard that has sensors including cameras, microphones and even retina scanners built in or positioned nearby. READ MORE»


    By Travis Gettys, Raw Story
    Everything on there is satirical. It’s all funny — well, it’s supposed to be.” READ MORE»


    By Meteor Blades, DailyKos
    Standing Rock is only the tip of the iceberg a new story from In These Times shows.  READ MORE»


    By Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!
    Telecommunications giant AT&T has agreed to purchase Time Warner for $85 billion.  READ MORE»
         
    ******************************************** 
    Not scared enough yet?
    Donald Trump's mental instability
    will REALLY scare you!
    BOO!
    ******************************************** 

    Movies!

    First the serious stuff...

    Just one ICYMI today, and it's Randi Rhodes's "Emails in Anthony Weiner Inquiry Rattle Hillary Clinton's Campaign"

    TYT's "Donald Trump: The Joke That Should Have Never Been Funny To Begin With." Friends, this is an important video.

    Keith Olbermann on Donald Trump's obsession with dictators

    TYT's "Bernie Plans To Fight Against Hillary's Corporatist Cabinet Picks"--Cenk loves this, and so do I! Vote for Hillary, and vote blue all the way down so we can make this happen!

    Secular Talk's "Republicans Might Permanently Block Democratic Supreme Court Picks"--we MUST create a Democratic majority in the House and Senate so that Hillary has a fighting chance at implementing the party platform and so that BERNIE can push OUR agenda with Hillary.

    Here's TYT's take

    TYT's "Republicans Vow Endless Gridlock Throughout Hillary Term"--the Republicans are literally dismantling our democracy. They have proven themselves unabashed anarchists incapable of governing. Their propaganda over the past 30 years has given us a presidential candidate who refuses to accept the outcome of the election unless he wins. Because of their unwillingness to accept the will of the people, we have elected officials who refuse to do their damn job and govern. Vote them out November 8, friends, and vote blue all the way down!

    TYT's "An Unbelievable Story Of What Donald Trump Did When John Travolta's Son Died"--just when you think Donald Trump has finished shocking you...this. Bigly gross.

    As mentioned and linked above, Secular Talk's "WATCH: Corruption At Trump Super PAC Exposed"--like I said, Donald Trump's super-Pac has clearly broken the law; I haven't seen evidence that Hillary really engaged in pay-for-play (although she and Obama allowed appearances of conflicts of interest); but there's a shit-ton of corruption in America that needs to go. Friends, we need to start holding people accountable--especially the rich and powerful. Yes, we are going to get either T-Rump or Clinton in the White House; yes, I think Hillary would be a better president than O'Bama, who's done yeoman's work in the Oval Office; yes, I think 100% of Republicans are corrupt and 80% of Democrats are corrupt; and yes--if we don't put Hillary in and give her Democratic majorities in the House and Senate to work with, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren will be hard pressed to implement OUR agenda. This is just the reality of it, folks. These are our choices. I hope we make the right ones come November 8.

    MSNBC on problematic RNC-Trump poll minority vote suppressors/intimidators "observers"


    Breaking News's "Six People Corroborate Story of Trump Accuser." Melania Trump might have seemed more credible if she hadn't already lied about Big Important Things, like graduating from college, being and working here completely legally....

    This MSNBC piece expands on the interview with Natasha Stoynoff's professor and is also worth watching

    Secular Talk's "Female Trump Fan: 'I Don't Believe There Should Be A Woman President'"--ma'am, you're, um, not helping...!

    TYT on Y'all Qaeda being cleared of all federal conspiracy charges. Srsly, I wonder what kool-aid they slipped the jurors. They dismissed the only one who wasn't willing to acquit. To me, this is a total miscarriage of justice.

    Breaking News's "Newspaper speaks out on threats after Clinton endorsement"--friends, this is an important piece. Welcome to Donald Trump's America, where his supporters commit voter fraud and hang Blacks in effigy in their front yards.

    Yet another TYT segment on LOSER Donald Trump: "Trump Is MASSIVE Libel Lawsuits Loser"--it's all about bullying and intimidation, folks.

    John Oliver's take on opioids

    Breaking News's "Trump: Women in the military is bedlam"--both Trump and Pence disapprove of women being in our military. What do you think?

    And now for some yuks...

    Secular Talk's "Michele Bachmann: The Way Hillary Dresses Proves She's A Marxist"

    Seth Meyers on Trump and the GOP crack-up: again, great news coverage with a bracing spritz of funneh

    'Til next time, check out these great channels:
    ...or, if you just want something mindless and fun, try Tested
      
    ********************************************
    But wait, there's moar!

    I thought this was appropriate for today:
    DarkMatter2525's
    Don't Expect A Terrible Hereafter

    Seth Andrews's Ghost Stories for 2016.
     I'm tellin' ya--these are effin' creepy!
    Don't listen to them...alone!
    BOO!
    ...If you value your safety,
    do NOT step outside dressed as a clown
    this Halloween.

     Need to lighten the mood after that?
    Let Derren Brown show you
    how to create a coincidence

    NASA engineers carve pumpkins

    Me if Trump wins