Year: 2014

Categories
Politics

Republicans Say She’s Lazy – Woman Dies Trying to Work 3 Jobs

Republicans would call Maria Fernandes lazy.

She worked three jobs at three different Dunkin Donuts in New Jersey, trying to survive and pay her $550 a month rent. According to her landlady, Maria’s rent payments were often late.

Working three jobs meant Maria was hardly ever home. She took naps in her car between shifts and at 6am on August 25th, after finishing up one of her shifts, Maria got into her car heading to her next job. She had another shift at another location and during a brief conversation with her boyfriend that morning, Maria told him she was going to pull over for a nap.

She pulled into the parking lot of a Wawa convenience store and reclined her seat. It was the last moments of her life. Maria was found dead in her car, foaming from the mouth. 

Maria’s story is detailed in a report by the New York Times, and according to the report, Maria always slept in her car with the engine running. Her biggest fear, the report says, was waking up and realizing that she had no gas left after sleeping with the engine running. So she bought a container, filled it with gas and stored it in her car.

Her boyfriend cautioned her about storing gas in her car, but waking up and realizing that she had no gas was something she had to avoid. No gas meant she couldn’t get to work and not working a shift at one of her three jobs was out if the question.

Surveillance cameras at the Wawa convenience store picked up the images of the 32-year-old woman, dressed in her Dunkin Donuts uniform and driving her 2001 Kia Sportage, pulling into the parking lot at 6:27am.

A Wawa employee, on his way to work, noticed Ms. Fernandes about an hour later. She was lying motionless in her S.U.V., which was parked behind the store, police records show. He said he thought she was sleeping and went inside.

When he finished his shift around 3:30 p.m., the Wawa employee noticed that Ms. Fernandes was still there. This time, though, she was foaming at the mouth. His manager called 911.

Emergency responders found the gas can open and overturned in the cargo hold and the S.U.V. filled with fumes, in what police said appeared to have been an accident. As commuters streamed by her counter in Newark, Ms. Fernandes was pronounced dead at 5:56 p.m. She was still in her uniform.

Maria’s story is unfortunate, but not exclusive. Republicans who are trying to end Obamacare and other social programs designed to help the poor, and those trying to fight any raise in the minimum wage, are all contributors to stories like Maria’s.

Categories
Ebola

NBC Cameraman Contracts Ebola in Liberia West Africa

An American freelance television cameraman working for NBC News in Liberia has tested positive for the Ebola virus and will be flown back to the United States for treatment, the network said on Thursday in its own online report.

The diagnosis of the freelancer, hired earlier this week to work with NBC News chief medical editor and correspondent Dr. Nancy Snyderman, is believed to mark the first time an American journalist has been diagnosed with the deadly disease since the current outbreak in West Africa.

Categories
Mike Brown Shooting Politics Voter registration

Voter Registration Soars in Ferguson MO

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

If nothing else happens from the murder of Mike Brown by police officer Darren Wilson, at least one thing’s for sure. Ferguson residents are finally realizing where their true power lies, in their vote. And their voter registration drive since the shooting is admirable.

Of the 4,839 people in St. Louis County who have registered to vote since the shooting, 3,287 are residents of Ferguson — a city with a population of 21,203, according to the last census.

The city’s population is predominantly African-American, yet most of its elected representatives and a vast majority of its police force are white.

“It’s a great move when people come out and register in mass like that,” St. Louis 3rd Ward Committeeman Anthony Bell said, according to USA Today. “They are sending a signal that we want a change. It doesn’t give justice to the Michael Brown family but it will in the future give justice to how the administration is run in a local municipality like Ferguson.”

Anthony Gray, an attorney who represents Brown’s family, said citizens of Ferguson could enact real change come the November elections.

“It could completely change the political landscape, the power structure, (and) the decision making,” he told USA Today. “The service to the African American community would almost quadruple because they would be viewed as a credible and legitimate voting block.”

Categories
Chris Matthews Ebola MSNBC Politics

Someone Should Tell Chris Matthews – “Unlikely” Does Not Mean “Impossible”

Chris Matthews is a very smart man. That said, why does he have such a hard time understanding the difference between the words “unlikely” and “impossible?”

Over the last few days I’ve watched in amazement as the host of MSNBC’s Hardball blows his lid over and over again trying to grasp the difference between the two words. And so far, no luck.

It’s about the one confirmed case if Ebola in this country. When the CDC held a news conference on Tuesday acknowledging that a man in Dallas was in isolation because he had the disease, Matthews started his show with a clip of President Obama saying it was highly “unlikely” that Ebola would come to our shores. And Matthews has been hung up on that word ever since.

His unfortunate guests have received the brunt of Matthews criticism of the President as he asked them, no demanded, that they explain why Mr. Obama used the word “unlikely” if there is a confirmed case of Ebola in Texas. And in typical Matthews fashion, his guests rarely ever get the chance to explain because Matthews keeps on talking.

“Why would he say that?” Matthews asked, evidence of confusion branded across his forehead as he impatiently listened for an answer. Then seconds later as a guest ventured to answer, Matthews will continue on his tirade.

“He said this was ‘unlikely’ that Ebola would come to America.  Why would this president make such a statement?” Matthews would then cap off his confusion with, “we are now living in the world of the unlikely.”

But on yesterday’s show,  one guest came close to explaining the difference to Matthews, that saying something was unlikely doesn’t mean it was impossible. Dr. Anthony Fauci was one of the guests yesterday and he tried to shed some light on the two words.

“How does the president two weeks ago say that something like this was “unlikely” to happen?” Chris asked the Doctor, then he continued, “he said that it would be unlikely. It isn’t unlikely, it happened!”

The doctor tried to explain. “Well, you can be unlikely Chris and still happen. It is unlikely, but in fact, it isn’t impossible. And that’s what happened.”

Chris Matthews continued, still not getting the difference.

“But how can you tell the American people don’t worry, it’s unlikely, and it just happened? You can’t keep saying it’s unlikely if it’s happened, can you?

The doctor tried again, “well again, it depends on what you mean. It’s still an unlikely situation that someone will get through. It’s still unlikely.”

Chris moved on to the next guest.

Again, Chris Matthews is a smart man, but he is tripping himself up on something that is so simple, a two year old would understand.

Unlikely and impossible are two different words Chris. One word means there is a chance, the other means there is no chance. When the president used the word “unlikely,” stop thinking that meant impossible.

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Categories
Ebola Texas

Thomas Eric Duncan The First Confirmed Ebola Carrier in The US – PIC

Thomas Eric Duncan is now in isolation in Dallas, but while in Liberia he tried helping his landlord’s daughter who was an Ebola victim. In an effort to save her life, Thomas Duncan rushed the young lady to the hospital in a taxi only to be turned away. Reports say that the girl was too weak to walk on her own and Duncan carried her back home where she died later on that night.

The girl’s brother, who also tried helping, also died a few weeks later.

Duncan left Liberia on September 19th to visit his family in Texas. On September 24th he went to the doctor when symptoms began manifesting themselves. He went back to the doctor on the 26th and was admitted on September 28th.

He is now in isolation. But according to a press briefing today it was also revealed that Thomas Eric Duncan was in contact with five children. The children attend four different schools in Texas. Authorities are presently monitoring those children for possible signs of Ebola.

Categories
Politics secret service

It’s About Time – The Secret Service Director Quits

The decision to quit was probably the best decision the former director of the Secret Service has made since accepting the job as Secret Service Director. Julia Pierson is finally out!

 U.S. Secret Service Director Julia Pierson resigned under fire on Wednesday after a series of security lapses came to light that exposed gaping holes in the protective cocoon around President Barack Obama.

Pierson, in her position for just 18 months, faced mounting calls from lawmakers to step down in the fallout from a Sept. 19 incident in which an Iraq war veteran with a knife scaled the White House fence, sprinted across the lawn and got deep inside the mansion before an off-duty agent stopped him.

Pierson had told a congressional committee on Tuesday she took “full responsibility” for gaps in presidential security. On Wednesday, she offered her resignation in a meeting with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, who accepted it.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama believed Pierson’s resignation was in the best interest of the agency, and that “recent and accumulating” reports of security lapses led the president to conclude new leadership was required at the Secret Service.

Categories
Racism

Racism From The Boston Herald – Obama and “Watermelon Flavored Toothpaste”

The Boston Herald thought this was funny when they decided to run it this morning, but the backlash is real, and the online publication is now trying to erase their dumb racist mistake.

In an attempt to poke fun at the Secret Service and the recent intruder who broke into the White House a couple weeks ago – the intruder reaching much further in the building that originally thought – the Boston Herald ran this cartoon showing the intruder taking a bath and the President brushing his teeth. The intruder asking the president if he tried the “watermelon flavored toothpaste.”

With their obvious racism out of the bag and a huge backlash from the public, Jerry Holbert, the man responsible for the cartoon, apologized, saying he is no racist and the obvious racism was not intended.

“To me, I was completely naive or innocent to any racial suggestion. I wasn’t even thinking along those lines at all. I was thinking about myself, I was thinking I really like watermelon.”

He said his inspiration came from a tube of children’s toothpaste left in his house by his son’s girlfriend. “I also apologize to anybody that I offended. This was not my intention at all.”

Then the paper issued its own apology, while saying they “stand by Jerry.”

“His cartoon satirizing the U.S. Secret Service breach at the White House has offended some people and to them we apologize. His choice of imagery was absolutely not meant to be hurtful. We stand by Jerry, who is a veteran cartoonist with the utmost integrity.”

The Tweet.

Categories
Politics secret service

I Agree – Mounting Calls for Head of Seacret Service to Resign

If you can’t do the job, then stop wasting everyone’s time and money, and stop putting the lives of the First Family in your incompetent hands. Over the last few years, our once respected Secret Service Agency has plummeted to something that is now the joke of the town in a very scary way. Something has to change, and that change should start at the top!

“The president is not well-served. … I think this lady has to go – Ms. Pierson,” the committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Elijah Cummings, reportedly said during a radio interview on NewsOneNow Wednesday, the day after Pierson testified before the committee. “There has to be drastic changes.”

In another interview on MSNBC, he said that he does not “feel comfortable” with her at the head of the agency.

“I have come to the conclusion that my confidence and my trust in this director, Ms. Pierson, has eroded. And I do not feel comfortable with her in that position,” Cummings said.

An aide to Cummings later said that Cummings and Pierson spoke Wednesday morning and he told her “if she can’t restore the public’s trust in the agency – and in particular address the cultural issues so agents feel comfortable raising security concerns to their higher-ups – then of course she should not be in that position.”

“After yesterday’s hearing, and after new revelations last night, the Congressman’s trust is eroding, and he believes there needs to be an independent review of the agency,” the Cummings aide said.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, told reporters Wednesday that she will follow Cummings’ recommendation if he ultimately calls for Pierson’s resignation.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, who has been deeply involved in investigating the Secret Service, told Bloomberg News, “The president should fire her or at least she should resign.”

Categories
Politics secret service

Unacceptable That All 5 Layers of White House Security Were Breached by 1 Man – Video

I can understand and accept the first layer of White Hpuse security being breached and maybe on a good day, maybe the second layer as well.

But the third, the fourth and the fifth layers being overcome by one man is not only impossible to even imagine, it shows a negligence by the Secret Service in doing their most basic job – to protect the First Family and the White House.

Video

Categories
Ebola

Possibly A Second Case of Ebola in Texas

Zachary Thompson

Zachary Thompson, Director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, broke the news on Wednesday, that someone closely associated with the man confirmed as having the disease, is being monitored for the deadly Ebola.

“Let me be real frank to the Dallas County residents: The fact that we have one confirmed case, there may be another case that is a close associate with this particular patient. So this is real. There should be a concern, but it’s contained to the specific family members and close friends at this moment.”

Yesterday, the Director of the CDC confirmed that a man who recently traveled from Liberia has the first case of Ebola and is currently in isolation at a Texas facility.

Categories
fail New Jersey Politics

Chris Christie Gets His Lowest Job Approval from NJ Voters

He wants to lead the country, when he cannot even lead New Jersey.

New Jersey voters give Gov. Christie one of his lowest job approval ratings ever, as 46 percent approve and 45 percent disapprove, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today.

This compares to a 49 – 47 percent job approval in an August 7 Quinnipiac University poll. Today’s approval rating is his lowest since a 44 – 47 percent job approval in a June 21, 2011, survey.

Categories
Featured

Republican Member of Congress Urging Generals to Quit in Middle of War

AP Photo/Ed Andrieski

How ridiculous is this? A sitting United States congressman, caught on camera admitting that he and others in congress – all Republicans I’m sure – are urging Generals to quit at a time of war, clearly for political reasons.

U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn made the shocking statement at a town-hall type meeting he had in Colorado after a man in the audience called on Lamborn to support the generals because of the “Muslim Brotherhood in the White House” and FREEDOM! You know, the usual nonsense that shows just how uneducated these Republican voters really are, and how they are more than satisfied to remain ignorant.

Then came this from the Republican congressman.

“A lot of us are talking to the generals behind the scenes, saying, ‘Hey, if you disagree with the policy the White House has given you, let’s have a resignation. You know, let’s have a public resignation, and state your protest, and go out in a blaze of glory.”

I remember the days when politics stopped at the water’s edge and both sides – Democrats and Republicans – came together to show a unified face when our military was engaged in a war. Those days are long gone with the wind, and Republicans like Doug Lamborn are asking our generals to go too!

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