Antenori Claims the Left Loves to Tear Families Apart
March 30, 2012
By Michael Bryan Frank with someone whom he thinks wants to destroy his marriage I am deeply disappointed in Frank Antenori. Frank tends to get carried away by his own rhetoric. That's usually fine, if not exactly useful. Every politician loves the sound of his or her own voice. But what Frank said at the … Read more
Jesse Kelly Brings His Weird Act to Hannity
March 30, 2012
By Michael Bryan
Not content to embarrass himself on local television and debates, Jesse Kelly took his wooden-headed act national on Hannity's show on Fox "News" to discuss the Trayvon Martin slaying.
Really? Is Jesse the guy you want to talk to about gun violence and vigilantism? OK…
The subject of discussion is a lone incident of a flash mob at a Walgreens in Florida "protesting" the slaying. It has conservatives across America seeing flashbacks of the Watts riot. Conservative media is abuzz with condemnation of this misguided idiocy. The alacrity with which conservatives are trying to use this single incident to change the subject is amusing and sad.
Given a chance to open his yap on the flap, Jesse let this emerge:
"I think it's 100% the fault of Barack Obama and the other politicians in Washington.."
So, I guess now every stupid thing done in America is Obama's fault. Good to know.
Hannity interjects:
"Why do you think Barack Obama is at fault? Because of his comment?"
(referring to Obama's dead-obvious and innocuous comments that every parent should understand why the killing must be investigated, and that if he had a son, he would look like Trayvon, presumably)
Jesse blathers on:
"Because he's willing to stick his nose in anything right now to get the American people's minds off the fact that's there's really 14% unemployment, and gas at 4 dollars a gallon when we have more oil than Saudi Arabia in this country. He will literally try anything to get the American people to stop thinking about that, and I can't wait until we a President who actually loves this country in November!"
Really, Jesse? That's the best you have? President Obama doesn't love America? What a shining example of Congressional-level comment on the state of the nation and the tragic slaying of an innocent young black man.
You are a hateful windbag without ideas or character, Sir.
The panelists were surprised at Jesse's weird and sudden pivot into substance-free campaign rhetoric, but were clearly pleased that such an effective talking point 'bot was running for elective office.
But since we are on the subject of a President who actually loves America, let's explore that a bit. Presumably, Jesse is talking about the presumptive GOP nominee to take on Obama: Mitt Romney. How much does Mitt love America? Enough to outsource his fellow American's jobs to make his fortune. Enough to pay less than 15% taxes on his immense wealth. Enough to oppose reforming Wall Street excesses which brought our economy to this pass in the first place. This country is dying of Romney's GOPish kind of love: the love of a vampire for the blood of his victims.
Now, the psuedo-fact that America has more oil than Saudi Arabia has become standard stump line for Jesse. It's a claim that has no basis in reality: it even has it's own Snopes page, but it has become a standard talking point for a lot of GOPers. Maybe because 88% of oil company political donations are flowing to Republicans this cycle? Should be interesting to see who is paying for Jesse's reality-challenged bullshit come FEC report time.
Seems Jesse is trotting out a new talking point: the real unemployment rate is 14%. Well, it all depends on how you calculate it, of course. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported rate in February is 8.3%. But if you add in all the folks who stopped looking it's over 10%. And if you add those who are 'underemployed' – doing part-time, free-lance, and under-skilled work – then you can beef that number up to 14% or 15%. Starting to look a lot more politically useful, now, isn't it? But why stop there? Why not calculate it in whatever batshit manner Jeromi Corsi, the genius behind Sheriff Joe's 'cold case' investigation of the President's birth certificate, does and come up with something really eye-popping like 22.5%?
Hannity goes on to deplore the rush to judgement on the matter.
Jesse, displaying a truly professional-level of lack of self-awareness, comes back with:
"That's the problem. No one knows the facts yet [maybe because the only witness other than the gunman is dead, Jesse…], and to have everybody grandstanding on it, everybody making a statement on it, trying, as I said, to capitalize on a horrible tragedy like this is more than just gross: it's sad, really."
I couldn't agree with you more, Jesse. It's just gross and sad.
See the stunning video of Jesse capitalizing and grandstanding on the Trayvon Martin slaying after the flip…
Wisconsin Update: Total Recall
March 30, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin got a double dose of bad news on Friday.
First, A federal judge in Wisconsin today struck down part of the state's union-stripping bill. Federal court strikes down parts of Act 10 (pdf of the ruling).
The plaintiff unions challenged three specific provisions of Act 10:
– Restricting the subject of "general employee" unions' collective bargaining to base wages only, and prohibiting fair-share agreements by which nonunion members pay the unions for the benefits won through the unions' efforts.
– Requiring annual re-certification of general employee unions by an absolute majority of all employees in the bargaining unit.
– Prohibiting the automatic deduction of dues and fair-share payments from payroll checks of general employees.
The unions argued all three provisions violated the equal protection clause, and that the ban on automatic dues deduction hampered the workers First Amendment rights.
But Conley found the unions failed to show that the first restriction on broader collective bargaining in place for public safety employees bears no rational relationship to the government's interest in avoiding strikes by those workers.
The fact that those same employees' unions supported Gov. Scott Walker may make the rules look like political favoritism, but Conley said even if it is, it's not enough to make the court use a stricter standard of review.
However, Conley found that the two other changes – annual recertification and a ban on automatic dues deduction – violated the First Amendment rights of the affected workers.
"The court would be remiss not to at least note the likely burden the annual recertification process imposes on the members' speech and association rights," he wrote.
The state's justification for allowing greater bargaining by public safety workers – avoidance of strikes – does not stand up as a rational basis for requiring other public worker unions to annually recertify by absolute majority, and denying them automatic dues deductions, the court said.
Automatic dues deductions for general employee unions should start again at the end of May – barring appeals or higher court rulings that would block or postpone Conley's order.
The court's order came just hours after state election officials ordered a recall election for Walker. That recall effort was sparked by the governor's bill on collective bargaining.
12th Annual Roosevelt-Kennedy Fundraising Dinner
March 30, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Coconino County Democratic Party fundraising event: Roosevelt-Kennedy Fundraising Dinner 12th Annual Roosevelt Kennedy Dinner Radisson Woodlands Hotel Flagstaff1175 W. Route 66 Saturday, April 14, 2011Cash bar at 5:30 pm, Dinner at 7:00 pm Cost: $85.00 per person in advance* Ordinary Table of 8 $680 $1000 for a VIP table of 8** … Read more
Rosemont Copper sued again
March 30, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Save the Scenic Santa Ritas filed a complaint Thursday alleging that the project’s developer has violated state law requiring disclosure of a past bankruptcy involving top officers. Rosemont accused of hiding bankruptcy link from state:
Save the Scenic Santa Ritas accused Rosemont Copper of illegally failing to disclose that a current and former director – Richard Warke and Donald Clark, respectively – were officers of a company that was involved in a high-profile Canadian bankruptcy in 1995.
The group complained to the Arizona Corporation Commission that Rosemont Copper is engaged in a “pattern of deception” dating back seven years.
“If Rosemont Copper is hiding a corporate bankruptcy from regulators and the public, what else are they hiding?” Vince Rabago, an attorney representing the group, said at a news conference Thursday.
Reminder: Democratic Presidential Caucuses This Saturday
March 30, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Lots of stuff going on this weekend, but if you are a registered Democrat, it is time for the Presidential Caucuses. Announcements from the Arizona Democratic Party: Arizona Democratic Presidential Caucuses This Saturday PHOENIX, AZ–This upcoming Saturday, March 31, Democrats from across Arizona will be coming together for the 2012 Arizona Democratic … Read more
Sen. Paula Aboud withdraws from CD 2 congressional race
March 30, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Sen Paula Aboud (D-LD 28) posted on her Facebook page this morning that she is withdrawing from the CD 2 congressional race and is supporting Ron Barber for the CD 2 congressional seat: Today, I am announcing that I am stepping out of the Congressional District 2 race and extending my support … Read more
A response to Justice Antonin Scalia
March 30, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: During oral argument of the Affordable Care Act, Justice Antonin Scalia posed this question to the Solicitor General of the United States: You really want us to go through these 2,700 pages? (gallery laughter) And do you really expect the court to do that? Or do you expect us to — to give … Read more
