Epic ALEC Stooge Fail
February 1, 2012
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by David Safier Every teacher has stories of students handing in too-good-to-be-true research papers where, in the midst of brainless copying, they neglected to take out phrases like "(See page 473)." It looks like Florida Rep. Rachel Burgin was one of those students. Burgin, who the Daily Kos post describes as "a 29 year old … Read more
A view of the MAS controversy from across the pond
February 1, 2012
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by David Safier There's a wonderful column by Gary Younge in the UK Guardian about the MAS controversy. It's worth reading the whole thing, but I'm going to jump around the column as I include a few excerpts in this post. First, the head/subhead: Whitewashing Black History MonthArizona's suppression of Mexican American studies fits a … Read more
‘Mittens’ Romney: ‘I’m not concerned about the very poor’
February 1, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
"Mr .006 percent," vulture capitalist Willard "Mittens" Romney, told CNN today that "I'm not concerned about the very poor." Well, no shit, Sherlock. I doubt you even know a poor person "in the real streets of America." Mitt Romney: 'I'm Not Concerned About The Very Poor':
Gov. Mitt Romney said on Wednesday that he's "not concerned about the very poor," citing the social safety net in place for that segment of the populace and adding that he's focused on the middle class.
"I'm in this race because I care about Americans. I'm not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I'll fix it," the Republican front-runner said Wednesday on CNN, following his victory in the Florida primary. "I'm not concerned about the very rich, they're doing just fine. I'm concerned about the very heart of the America, the 90 percent, 95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling."
Let's unpack this out-of-touch statement. The social safety net is being shredded by state governments run by Tea-Publicans who see the social safety net, as "Mittens" himself calls it, "an entitlement society."
Medicaid, for example faces cuts as states attempt to balance budgets at a time when more people are using the program. GOP lawmakers have also eyed cuts in food stamps as food prices rise, even though more Americans are using the the program as a consequence of the economic recession.
Romney's policies call for cutting federal spending and reconfiguring the social safety net. He calls for an immediate five-percent cut to non-discretionary spending, which would hit the safety net hard. He proposes turning Medicaid into a block grant program and undertaking a "fundamental restructuring of government programs and services." He also calls for capping spending at 20 percent of GDP — a significant cut — and adds that he "will pursue further cuts" as spending comes "under control."
"Mittens" Romney has endorsed Rep. Paul Ryan's "Roadmap to America's Ruin" GOP budget plan that would end Medicare as we know it and turn it into a voucher system that will leave seniors vulnerable to rising medical costs. Romney Plan Endorses Radical Ryan Budget | The Nation.
Newt Gingrich’s ‘People’s Campaign’ – the coming ‘GOPocalypse’
February 1, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Let's be honest. Disgraced former House Speaker and preeminent housing historian Newt Gingrich is a megalomaniac. Newt frames every issue in apocalyptic terms: this is the end of civilization as we know it unless we follow him, the great thinker of big ideas.
Newt is an historian only because it allows him to cast himself among the pantheon of great historical figures. Newt sounds like the ominous voice-over trailer to every action movie ever made: "Only one man can save the world…" Newt. That is seriously delusional.
Newt Gingrich lost badly in the GOP primary in Florida on Tuesday night. But you would never know it from his speech to supporters last night. There was no gracious concession to the winner, Willard "Mittens" Romney. Oh no, not after "Mr. .006 percent" used his substantial financial advantage to savage Newt Gingrich in a blizzard of negative advertisements, using "the politics of personal destruction" that Newt Gingrich himself perfected at GOPAC.
Newt Gingrich used his speech last night to declare "uncivil" war against Mittens. As the ominous voice-over trailer to the action movie always intones, "This time it's personal."
Democrat wins special election for Congress in Oregon CD 1
February 1, 2012
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: You might not have heard that a Democrat won a special election for Congress last night with the media villagers falling all over themselves to talk about the GOP primary in Florida. Suzanne Bonamici continued the Democratic Party's nearly four-decade-long hold on the seat covering the northwestern corner of the state, replacing David Wu … Read more
Praise for the new federal school lunch rules
February 1, 2012
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by David Safier Mark Bittman is the main food guy at the NY Times. He's for sensible good eating. He has a blog post today saying, while the new school lunch rules aren't ideal, they're an important step toward offering students better nutrition. Here are a few key statements. Thirty-two million kids — 10 percent … Read more
Worst. Republican. Bills. Ever.
February 1, 2012
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by David Safier No, I wasn't in a coma during the 2011 state legislative session. I remember the unbelievable onslaught of pro-rich, anti-poor, anti-brown, anti-women, anti-school bills proposed during that session. And even with that fresh in my memory, I have to say about this session: Worst. Republican. Bills. Ever.
Mr. Smith opposed to breathing while brown
February 1, 2012
Posted by AzblueMeanie:
Anti-abortion jihadist Sen. Steve Smith (R-Maricopa) is also an anti-immigrant extremist who wants to fill the shoes of disgraced recalled Sen. Russell Pearce. Smith is bringing back anti-immigrant measures that the business community helped to kill in the last legislature. Will the business community step up again?
The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports Two anti-illegal immigration measures are back:
Sen. Steve Smith (R-Maricopa) is proposing laws that would require school districts to count the number of students who are in the country illegally and to require hospitals to report patients who cannot prove their lawful status.
The two bills were defeated last year, when the Senate also balked at legislation that supporters hoped would get the U.S. Supreme Court to ultimately discontinue the granting of automatic U.S. citizenship to children of illegal immigrants.
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One of the two measures that Smith submitted Monday, SB1444, would require the Department of Education to collect data from school districts on the population of students who cannot prove citizenship or lawful residence in the U.S.
The legislation also requires the education department to submit a report to the governor and lawmakers about the information it has collected.
Under the bill, the report must include research into on those students’ “adverse impact,” as well as an estimate of the cost of educating them.
