Author: Ezra Grant

I'm just tired of the lies and nonsense coming from the GOP, so this is my little contribution to combat the nonsense!

Categories
Politics

Fox News – Republicans Must Make a Moral Argument Against Unemployment Insurance


A Fox News contributor is perplexed. He is demanding that Republicans stand up and fight against extending unemployment benefits for the unemployed. Contributor Steve Hayes even went as far as calling congressional Republicans “a little too wimpy” for not forcefully standing up against Democrats on the issue.

While Democrats have always been for extending unemployment insurance, most Republicans have steadfastly been against it. These Republicans are demanding that any extension in benefits must come from cuts in other social programs. Steve understands their reasoning, but thinks they’re being “wimpy.”

“They make a very pragmatic, practical argument about deficit neutrality,” Hayes said. “I think that’s a fine argument, as far as it goes. But I think Republicans are being a little too wimpy on this. I think it’s time to make a moral argument against extended unemployment insurance forever.”

Like a majority of Republicans, it is Hayes view that extending unemployment benefits for these out of work Americans is in essence, holding these Americans back. Hayes, and others like him think providing this temporary assistance to those in need will lead to a society of lazy Americans depending on entitlements, thus, making unemployment a “way of life.”

“We’ve been hearing that it’ll be cut off now for the better part of five years,” Hayes said.  “There used to be widespread, bipartisan agreement in Washington that unemployment insurance was sort of the last place to go, the last place that somebody who was down on their luck could turn. Now, it’s increasingly becoming a way of life.”

“What’s surprising to me is that Republicans aren’t making a moral case about how often unemployment insurance that goes on forever leads to more unemployment.”

Got that? Considering that a minimum of three applicants apply for every one job opening, it is the Republican’s opinion that any help to these people is wrong. The apparent believe is if an unemployed cannot bully his/her way into getting that one job opening, then they and their family need no help.

Remember North Dakota congressman, Rep. Kevin Cramer? He tried to justify his vote to kick veterans, the elderly and children off of food assistance by misrepresenting and misquoting a passage in the Bible, saying ‘If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.’ Well that same ideology is being played out here in the unemployment insurance fight – if they don’t work, they shouldn’t eat.

Categories
democrats Politics

Democrats Defeat Republican Opposition to Move Unemployment Insurance Forward

Democrats have shocked the political world by defeating Republican obstruction and moving on to a final vote on extending unemployment benefits by a margin of 60-37.
All Democrats voted for the bill, and were joined by Republicans co-sponsor of the bill Dean Heller, Susan Collins, Kelly Ayotte, Rob Portman, Ben Coats, and Lisa Murkowski. These 6 Republicans deserve praise for doing what is right for their constituents who are out there looking every single day, but are struggling to find a job.

Before the vote, Majority Leader Harry Reid said that, “It’s true that the rich are getting richer, and everyone else is getting squeezed.” Reid said that among the unemployed who need an unemployment extension are 20,000 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Reid said, “For many Americans these benefits make the difference between being able to live a decent life and becoming homeless.”

The last time emergency jobless benefits were allowed to expire was in November 2008. At the time, benefits were extended for three months by a voice vote in the Senate. Republicans in both the House and Senate supported an extension under President Bush that was not paid for, but they are objecting to the same extension under President Obama, and demanding that it be paid for.

Categories
Ezra Klein Healthcare Politics

Matt Drudge Opts Out Of Obamacare – Ignores Question from Ezra Klein

Yes, Matt Drudge is the same conservative hero responsible for much of the daily Republican talking points. If he wants to, Drudge, the owner of the omline conservative’s bible called The Drudge Report, could afford to pay for his healthcare out of pocket.

Pocket change.

Today,  Matt took to Twitter and tweeted that he has chosen to opt-out of Obamacare for life. And he was advising his less fortunate followers to do the same.

The tweet caught the eyes of Ezra Klein. Klein tweeted a question to Drudge: “Are you going to be uninsured? Or are you just buying qualifying insurance (in which case you’re not opting oyt)?”

Ezra point? That any policy sold in America must meet certain standards as laid out in Obamacare. So if Drudge is buying a policy on his own, it will still be governed under Obamacare rules.

As of now, Drudge hasn’t responded.

Categories
Celebrities Entertainment Television

SNL Finally Adds Black Female Cast member to Line up – Video


It took an appearance by Scandal’s Kerry Washington for Saturday Night Live to finally realize that they need, not want, need a black female cast member. When Washington hosted the show back in November, she was forced – well, maybe not forced – to play various black roles in the same skit. Her appearance highlighted the void in the popular television show.

Enter Sasheer Zamata, a comedian from Brooklyn New York. According to SNL’s producer, Zamata will make her appearance on January 18th, when the show airs its first broadcast for 2014.

Get yourself acquainted with the new addition. The video reel below shows some of Zamata’s acting skills,as she played the roles of Michelle Obama, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, and more!

Categories
Celebrities Entertainment Music

Jay Z invites 12 Year Old Audience Member to Rap Onstage – Video

TMZ is reporting that the boy held a sign asking to rap with Jay Z. During his performance, Jay Z made the boy’s wish a reality.

Video

Categories
Politics

Jon Stewart – “The War on Christmas is Over, War on Carbon Begins”

On Monday’s episode of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart took on the Foxes in the henhouse, you know, the same folks whose only goal is making money, so they cloaked themselves in the light of a news organization to win the trust of millions.

I’m talking about Fox News. They have made their millions convincing their herds that there was a war on Christmas, now that it’s cold outside they’re cashing in on their war on facts. In this case, Global Warming.

“There you have it: ‘War on Christmas’ is over; ‘war on carbon’ begins,” Stewart said. “Global warming: Just one more liberal conspiracy. Because even though there is a great deal of scientific data establishing climate change trends. Even though many of the models of global warming predict more extremes of weather — not just warming — apparently decades of peer-reviewed scientific study can be, like a ficus plant, destroyed in one cold weekend.”

Stewart got particularly incensed at Fox News host Stuart Varney’s argument that a Russian research ship’s getting trapped in ice in Antartica proved the world was getting colder, which he punctuated with a blithe, “That’s just my opinion.”

“That’s just your opinion — your opinion,” Stewart raged. “It means nothing.”

Instead, Varney’s colleagues were turning to the likes of Donald Trump for “analysis,” much to Stewart’s chagrin.

“So global warming must be a hoax,” Stewart said sarcastically. “Because, I mean, Mr. Trump would never conceal bald-faced truth or go through any effort to hide when something’s clearly receding over the years.”

Categories
Celebrities Entertainment

No, Wayne Brady and Chilli are Not Dating

Just in case you were wondering, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas from TLC and Wayne Brady are not dating.

Don’t get it twisted.

This tweet from Chilli herself.

Categories
News North Korea Politics Sports

Dennis Rodman and Other NBA Stars Land in North Korea

Basketball diplomacy?

Hall of Fame basketball player Dennis Rodman arrived in North Korea Monday with a team of former NBA players in tow as part of the next step of his program of so-called “basketball diplomacy.”

Taking his by-now customary route, Rodman arrived in Pyongyang via Beijing Monday with a squad of a dozen former basketball stars, including Vin Baker and Cliff Robinson, despite criticism from U.S. officials.

The U.S. players are to compete in an exhibition game against a North Korean team on Wednesday, the birthday of North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un.

“It’s about trying to connect two countries together in the world, to let people know that: Do you know what? Not every country in the world is that bad, especially North Korea,” Rodman told The Associated Press in an interview outside his hotel before heading to the Beijing airport with the team.

“People say so many negative things about North Korea. And I want people in the world to see it’s not that bad.”

When a reporter from Sky News suggested to Rodman that he had a responsibility to raise the issue of human rights as the only American with such access to the  North Korea leader, Rodman responded “That’s not my job. The only thing I am doing right now, I am only doing one thing: this game is for his birthday. It’s for his birthday.

“And I hope that if this opens doors and we can actually talk about certain things, then we can do certain things, but I am not going to sit there and go in and say ‘Hey guy, you’re doing the wrong thing.’

“That’s not the right thing to do. He’s my friend first. He’s my friend. I don’t give a (expletive). I tell the world: he’s my (expletive) friend, I love him.”

Categories
Politics

Judge to Chicago Gun Sellers – You’re Free to Sell More Guns

Chicago already has the reputation of being one of the deadliest cities in the nation. But that fact didn’t stop a District Court Judge today from laying out the welcome mat for more gun sellers.

Gun dealers can set up shop in Chicago, a federal judge has ruled — declaring the city’s ban on firearms sales unconstitutional.

U.S. District Court Judge Edmond E. Chang wrote in a 35-page opinion published Monday that Chicago’s 2010 ordinance banning gun sales within city limits “goes too far in outright banning legal buyers and legal dealers from engaging in lawful acquisitions and lawful sales of firearms.”

Though Chang stayed his ruling to give the city a chance to appeal — and said a less restrictive ordinance than the unconstitutional blanket ban could yet pass muster — lawyers for the Illinois Association of Firearm Retailers were quick to predict that neighborhood gun stores could now open before the end of 2014.

The ruling is the latest in a series of legal blows to the city’s efforts to restrict gun ownership since the Supreme Court in 2010 ruled Chicago’s handgun ban unconstitutional.

City Hall attorneys had argued that the gun sale ban makes it harder for criminals to get their hands on weapons.

Chang agreed the city had a “fundamental duty” to protect its citizens and acknowledged that “the stark reality facing the City each year is thousands of shooting victims and hundreds of murders committed with a gun.”

Categories
Michelle Obama Politics

Michelle Obama is Chilling in Oprah’s Maui Pad

She packed up the president and the kids and shipped them back to the White House following their Hawaii vacation, then the First Lady jumped on a plane and flew over to Oprah’s 12 bedroom Maui escape.

The First Lady — who turns 50 next Friday — stayed behind when her hubby went back to the Oval Office.  She island hopped from Oahu to Maui … and went directly to Oprah’s 12-bedroom spread.

A photog on the island tells TMZ … Michelle will have company, as in Oprah.

Sources tell us security on the island is airtight, with SWAT teams and just about every other resource securing wide perimeters around Michelle. 

It’s truly a lady’s vacation.  Sasha and Malia went back with dad.

Categories
Politics

More #GunSense – While Showing Off His Gun, Man Shoots Himself, Then his Friend

A New York man accidentally shot himself and a friend Saturday when he showed off his gun inside a busy restaurant, Rochester TV station WHAM reported.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said John Cassata, 70, accidentally fired the handgun when he took it out to show friends.

Ellen Smith, who said she was sitting a few tables away from Cassata when the gun went off, told WHAM she ran over to help him. Cassata went into shock after the bullet went through his hand and leg, Smith said, ultimately hitting his friend’s foot.

“I don’t know what people are thinking when they carry a pistol into a family restaurant,” Smith told WHAM. “There was a family right next to him with a small baby, maybe two months old and a toddler.”

No charges have been filed, according to the sheriff’s office.

Categories
democrats Politics

Democrats to Bring Unemployment Bill to Senate – Republicans Still Oposing Benefits

Back in session after holiday break, the Senate will hold a procedural vote Monday evening on whether to reinstate unemployment benefits to more than 1 million Americans, as a compromise deal struggles for the votes it needs for passage.

The extension to unemployment benefits was a casualty of December budget negotiations, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., vowed to resume debate in the New Year, and President Barack Obama has since called on lawmakers to greenlight the “vital economic lifeline.”

Along with calls for raising the minimum wage — which polls show most Americans support — extending unemployment benefits could become a key part of Democratic talking points in advance of the midterm elections set for November.

The payments stopped on Dec. 28 and Democrats, led by Obama, are pushing hard to revive them. The issue is perceived to be vital to many of the party’s core voters, who could be crucial in low-turnout, midterm elections.

And Democrats have left little doubt that they will use any Republican opposition to unemployment benefits as a political cudgel.

As pressure mounts, some are seeking a bipartisan compromise.

According to the Washington Post, Sen. Dean Heller R-Nev., and Sen. Jack Reed D-R.I., are behind the bill senators will consider Monday evening, which provides $6.5 billion to extend unemployment insurance to 1.3 million Americans for another 3 months.

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