Category: Politics

Categories
Mitt Romney Politics

Breaking – Mitt Romney Is Questioning President Obama’s Honesty… Yes, Mr Romnesia Himself!

Remember Mitt Romney? No? Well how about Mitt The Flip Flop Romney, remember him now? Yea? I thought so.

Mr. Flip Flop himself Went On Fox ‘ s Hannity show tonight and actually said that President Obama had lost “integrity and honesty” with the American people. Yes, you heard that right. Romney, the man who gained a reputation of saying one thing to the people on his right then saying the total opposite to those on his left has the nerve to talk about “integrity and honesty.”

And to answer your question, no, Sean Hannity did not burst out laughing at Romney’s performance. He actually managed to keep a straight face, seemed interested in the utter nonsense he was hearing. Hannity played the classic Fox News host, and egged Romney on with more leading questions.

“It’s a very difficult thing to try and reestablish a reputation for integrity and honesty if you’ve lost it in such a dramatic way,” Romney said.

Romney was talking about the now infamous claim by the President, “if you like your insurance you can keep it.” The president has since apologized for making that claim and explained what he meant. But Republicans, even those like Mitt The flip Romney – known for their lies and flip flops – have suddenly become engulfed in truth and morals, to the point where they think they can lecture the president.

What a charade! Their performance typical if the average Republican.

Video

Categories
bridgegate Politics

Yet Another Chris Christie Scandal – Abuse of Power Allegations

In the post-Bridgegate world, charges of Gov. Chris Christie’s political bullying have gained more credibility. It’s like when one woman accuses a public figure of sexual harassment, inspiring several others to come forward too.

In the wake of the revelations that Christie’s allies toyed with traffic at the George Washington Bridge, apparently to punish a mayor who failed to endorse him, we heard new allegations from Dawn Zimmer — the Hoboken mayor who says his officials threatened to withhold Sandy aid unless she supported his favored real estate project.

And now, we are reminded of the accusations of Ben Barlyn, a former Hunterdon County prosecutor who says he was fired because he refused to drop a case against a Christie ally. For the past year, he’s been striving to prove his story, paying through the nose for a civil lawsuit against the state while telling it to anyone who will listen.

Barlyn says that after he secured an indictment in 2010 against Hunterdon County Sheriff Deborah Trout, a Republican with political ties to Christie, he was fired and the case hastily killed by Christie’s appointed attorney general at the time, Paula Dow. The real story isn’t the mundane crimes that were alleged: hiring without proper background checks, making employees sign loyalty oaths, threatening critics and producing fake police badges for a prominent Christie donor. It’s the possible abuse of power by the administration’s head prosecutor.

Barlyn is now trying to compel the state Attorney General’s Office to release the grand jury transcripts to prove his case had legs.

He’s not the only one who says so: Four grand jurors and other dismissed prosecutors have come forward to agree. A judge even ordered the release of the transcripts — yet still, the state is refusing to comply. It has filed a torrent of briefs in an effort to suppress the grand jury record, and will continue this fight at a hearing Tuesday.

More NJ.com

Categories
Politics

The Gun Used to Slaughter 20 Kids is the Heartbeat of These Republicans

Paul Broun

Sad, that since the gun was used to slaughter 20 innocent children in Sandy Hook Elementary school, the AR-15 has become the weapon of choice among diehard Republicans.

The new found love for the Kids-killing gun, is apparent when it is offered as an award in contests held by Republican officials.

U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, who is running in a primary campaign for U.S. Senate, announced Friday he will give away a AR-15 weapon to a lucky supporter of his campaign.

“How would you like to start off 2014 with a brand new AR-15 for free?” reads a bold line in an email the congressman — who represents the 10th district in Georgia — sent his supporters, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

“You see, it’s no secret that the Democrats and liberal media would love to take away our guns and mandate every aspect of our lives, but I refuse to let them get away with that,” he wrote in the email, the newspaper reported. “In fact, today, I have some exciting news for you.”

The lucky winner must be 18 and pass a background check.

On his campaign website Broun said he decided to give away the weapon because “Barack Obama would like nothing more than to ban the AR-15 rifle.”

The contest ends on Feb. 27.

Broun is the second Republican in as many days who is offering an AR-15 weapon to a supporter as they gear up for a primary election.

South Carolina state Senator Lee Bright, who is challenging Sen. Lindsey Graham in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, will award the weapon to “one lucky Second Amendment supporter” in a contest on his website.

Categories
Abortion contraception Mike Huckabee Politics war on women

This GOP Hypocrite is Against Contraception – Made It Mandatory For Women in His State

I cannot figure out why this blowhard would thrust himself even more into the spotlight when he knows his closet is filled with skeletons.

Yes, I could be talking about any Republican official in this post. Go ahead, name one of them and I will tell you about their particular closet. This post however, is dedicated to none other than blowhard Mike Huckabee.

We all remember about a week ago when Huckabee felt the need, no, the urge to make a speech about the Republicans’ war on women, including his explanation of “Uncle Sugar”, women’s libido and of course, contraception? His entire speech was quite controversial, I’m sure you remembered it. Well as fate would have it, this same Huckabee guy – an outspoken opponent of women’s health especially where providing contraception is concerned – provided mandatory contraception to the women of Arkansas when he was governor.

Huffington Post described Huckabee’s change in position as an “epic flip-flop,” noting that Huckabee defended his view at the time, saying that “Religious employers are not required to comply with this policy. My position is, and always has been, that religious entities shouldn’t be forced to pay for contraception.”

Abortifacients were exempted in the Arkansas legislation, the Arkansas Times noted, but the law appears even more comprehensive than the ACA, mandating coverage under health policies issued by institutions with religious affiliations if they don’t exist primarily for that purpose and don’t primarily employ people of that religion, a standard most religiously-affiliated hospitals and schools do not meet.

Categories
Domestic Policies Healthcare Immigration Immigration Reform News Politics

The Six Year Itch

From where I sit, last year was worse for the Republican Party and for progress than it ever was for President Obama. Yes, yes, I know what the conventional wisdom said about the president’s fifth year, but really, I don’t necessarily buy it. As a matter of fact, I think that when all is said and done by 2017, many people won’t even remember what the fuss was all about.

For example, the health care website was a dud in October and November, but as we speak, over 3 million people have signed up for health insurance through the portal and Medicaid, and the goal of signing up 7 million people by the end of March is eminently attainable. The Republican blahblahgosphere will say that not enough young, healthy people have signed up and that the death spiral will begin any time now, but since they’ve been wrong about everything related to the law (remember when the election of Scott Brown meant the end of the ACA?), why would we want to believe them now?

On immigration, the critics say that because there was no final bill last year that this was a failure for Obama. Not if we get a bill this year, and it’s looking more and more likely that we will. Not because it was a bad idea last year, but because the GOP has finally realized that they are national election toast of they don’t do something to help the Hispanic electorate that is running very quickly away from their party.

Likewise for the minimum wage, climate policy, appointees and foreign policy. In every one of these cases, the president won’t get Congress to sign on to his initiatives, but he’s laying the groundwork for later years or, most likely, for his successor who will most likely be a Democrat. At this point, Obama can do the most for this country by executive order and that’s what we’re likely to hear on Tuesday.

Most presidents, if they are remembered at all, are usually known for one or two major laws that transform the country. The ACA will be Obama’s main accomplishment, but I could see him also being remembered for the Consumer Protection Board and the president who saved the American automobile industry. Immigration would put him in the top ten lists of great ones. The right-wing knows this and that’s why their last-ditch efforts to derail anything Obama wants to do will be loud and scary. But that’s all they’ll be for years to come.

In the meantime, we are living through a trying time with a leader that history will remember fondly.

For more please go to:
www.facebook.com/WhereDemocracyLives and Twitter @rigrundfest 

Categories
Chuck Schumer Politics

The Avonte Law would Offer Monitoring Devices for Autistic Children

Sen. Charles Schumer says new legislation proposed in the name of Avonte Oquendo, the 14-year-old New York City boy who disappeared from his school and was found dead three months later, would fund voluntary tracking devices for children who have autism.

Schumer  (D-N.Y.), accompanied by Avonte’s mother and grandmother, Sunday to announce “Avonte’s Law.” The legislation would create a program that provides tracking devices and expands support services for families with autistic children.

Schumer says it would be similar to a federal program that tracks seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease. The $10 million in funds would go to police departments, which would hand out the devices to parents who request them.

“It will help put parents at ease, save precious lives,” Schumer told reporters, including 1010 WINS’ Glenn Schuck. “Avonte’s Law will allow his memory to live on while helping to prevent more children with autism from going missing.

“The technology will allow parents of all children with autism, no matter how much or how little money they have, to enjoy the benefits of a high-tech solution to an age-old problem.”

Avonte’s mother and grandmother weren’t ready to speak to reporters, but their lawyer, David Perecman, told WCBS 880′s Monica Miller that a tracking system would be a fitting tribute to the teen.

“The goal today, because we can’t go back in time, is to make sure … never again,” Perecman said. “And this will help.”

Categories
Politics pope francis

Pope’s Peace Doves Attacked by Angry Birds in Vatican City

VATICAN CITY – Two white doves that were released by children standing alongside Pope Francis as a peace gesture have been attacked by other birds.

As tens of thousands of people watched in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, a seagull and a large black crow swept down on the doves right after they were set free from an open window of the Apostolic Palace.

One dove lost some feathers as it broke free from the gull. But the crow pecked repeatedly at the other dove.

It was not clear what happened to the doves as they flew off.

While speaking at the window beforehand, Francis had appealed for peace inUkraine, where anti-government protesters have died.

Categories
Featured Politics

Rand Paul is Blaming Hillary Clinton for The Bill and Monica Escapades

Hillary Clinton has not yet declared that she is running for president in 2016, but already the Republican jokers have began their attacks.

This attack though, takes the cake. Somehow, Republican presidential wannabe candidate Senator Rand Paul is suggesting that the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal should give Americans pause when it comes to evaluating the Clinton legacy — and, by extension, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s potential presidential campaign.

Paul’s wife, Kelley, made similar remarks in a Vogue profile last year, and her husband agreed with her Sunday in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Rand Paul said the scandal is about more than just infidelity and lying to the American people, but also as “predatory behavior” from the former president.

“One of the workplace laws and rules that I think are good is that bosses shouldn’t prey on young interns in their office,” Paul said. “And I think really the media seems to have given President Clinton a pass on this. He took advantage of a girl that was 20 years old and an intern in his office. There is no excuse for that, and it is predatory behavior.”

Paul said the episode undercuts Democrats’ allegations of a GOP “war on women” and should color people’s perceptions of the Clintons. He added that “sometimes it’s hard to separate” Bill and Hillary Clinton.

“And then they have the gall to stand up and say Republicans are having a war on women?” Paul said rhetorically. “So yes, I think it’s a factor. It’s not Hillary’s fault, but it is a factor in judging Bill Clinton and history.”

Categories
Politics women are okay

Rand Paul is Clueless – Says Women are Just Fine Thank You. No Republican War at All

The midterm elections are fast approaching… okay, so it’s still January. But the midterms are coming this year, and with that knowledge, Republicans are quickly realizing… again, that their outreach to voting groups should go beyond rich white men.

Mike Huckabee began that outreach last week trying to convince women that Republicans are their friends. And today, Rand Paul picked up where Huckabee left off. Of course, Huckabee’s conclusion that Republicans don’t have a war on woman and Paul’s misguided understanding that women are doing just fine thank you, are both wrong. But they will keep saying it because they don’t have a clue, and the midterm election is almost here.

Said Paul on CNN.

“The whole thing of the ‘war on women,’ I sort of laughingly say, ‘Yeah, there might have been – but the women are winning it,'” the Republican senator from Kentucky said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” He said women have made great strides and, as an example, now make up more than half the students at medical and law schools.

“I think women are doing very well, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come,” the potential 2016 presidential candidate continued.

“And I think some of the victimology and all of this other stuff is trumped up. We don’t get to any good policy by playing some sort of charade that somehow one party doesn’t care about women or one party is not in favor of women advancing, or other people advancing.”

As the GOP gears up for the 2014 midterms, some in the party have acknowledged that Republican candidates could do better when it comes to talking about women’s issues.

“Some of our members just aren’t as sensitive as they ought to be.” House Speaker John Boehner said last month, when asked about efforts by the House GOP campaign arm to improve how candidates appeal to female voters.

CNN’s chief political correspondent, Candy Crowley, pressed Paul on whether the issue is a “matter of words and tone.”

“Somewhat,” Paul said. “I think also a lot of the debates we have in Washington and in the public, generally, are dumbed down. They’re characterized and we get to the point where we’re talking about stuff and throwing stuff back and forth, and we are never getting to the truth.”

Categories
executive actions Politics

President’s New Plan – More Execute Orders While Congress Sits on its Hands

An internal White House assessment concludes that President Obama must distance himself from a recalcitrant Congress after being badly damaged last year by legislative failures, a government shutdown and his own missteps.

Obama has said that his fraught relationship with Congress, especially after Republicans won the House in 2010, complicated his ability to promote his agenda. But for the first time, following what many allies view as a lost year, the White House is reorganizing itself to support a more executive-focused presidency and inviting the rest of the government to help.

The new approach comes after weeks of internal White House debate over a single question: What went wrong in 2013? The answers will help determine the outline of the State of the Union address Obama will deliver Tuesday evening, as well as how he pursues a meaningful legacy in the remainder of his term.

Last year began with the fresh-start ambitions of his second inauguration but ended in a long trail of mistakes, international embarrassments and missed legislative opportunities that sapped Obama’s credibility with the public.

Senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer outlined the lessons learned in a three-page memo that Obama discussed with his Cabinet in recent weeks, according to several administration officials who have read the document.

Among its conclusions is that Obama, a former state legislator and U.S. senator, too often governed more like a prime minister than a president. In a parliamentary system, a prime minister is elected by lawmakers and thus beholden to them in ways a president is not.

As a result, Washington veterans have been brought into the West Wing to emphasize an executive style of governing that aims to sidestep Congress more often. A central ambition of Obama’s presidency — to change the way Washington works — has effectively been discarded as a distraction in a time of hardening partisanship.

Categories
Politics

This Republican Official Wants to Abolish All Marriages To Stop Gays from Marrying

Mike Turner

A Republican lawmaker in Oklahoma has proposed a controversial way to stopping same-sex marriages in the state. According to News9.com, state Rep. Mike Turner (R) has proposed scrapping marriage in the state altogether.

The lawmaker contends that it is the only way to keep same-sex marriage illegal in the state while still defending the U.S. Constitution.

“[My constituents are] willing to have that discussion about whether marriage needs to be regulated by the state at all,” Turner told Channel 9.

Other lawmakers feel the same way, he said. They envision a state that doesn’t recognize any marriages at all.

“That would definitely be a realistic opportunity, and it’s something that would be part of the discussion,” Turner said.

The Republicans currently have what is called a shell bill in the roster of bills on the state house floor. They can call the bill to the floor for debate or rewrite it at a moment’s notice in order to respond to any rulings regarding the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

Categories
Arizona Politics

Arizona Republican Party Formally Censures John McCain – Says He’s Too Libral!

The Arizona Republican Party formally censured Sen. John McCain on Saturday, citing a voting record they say is insufficiently conservative.

The resolution to censure McCain was approved by a voice-vote during a meeting of state committee members in Tempe, state party spokesman Tim Sifert said. It needed signatures from at least 20 percent of state committee members to reach the floor for debate.

Sifert said no further action was expected.

McCain spokesman Brian Rogers declined to comment on the censure. But former three-term Sen. Jon Kyl told The Arizona Republic (http://bit.ly/1mIyKyy ) that the move was “wacky.”

“I’ve gone to dozens of these meetings and every now and then some wacky resolution gets passed,” Kyl told the newspaper on Saturday. “But most people realize it does not represent the majority of the vast numbers of Republicans.”

Kyl also said McCain’s voting record was “very conservative.”

McCain isn’t up for re-election until 2016, when will turn 80. He announced in October that he was considering running for a sixth term.

Exit mobile version