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Church Featured shooting

Gun Accidentally Discharges in Church – Yes, In Church!

That they cannot see something is terribly wrong and contradictory with bringing their guns to Church, shows just how mentally deranged these gun – fanatics really are.

In the middle of Sunday services, where God is supposed to be praised and where love is celebrated, a gun stored in someone’s pocket went off, grazing another man’s head… in church… during Sunday services!

The firearm’s safety was off and the trigger caught on the man’s pocket, firing off a shot and grazing the man’s hand, according to television station WTAE.

“I immediately took a step back and was about to take cover,” Jason Wagler, who was attending service at Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, told the station.

“You never know if you’re safe anymore in this world. It’s a shame to know you can’t go into church without having something like this happen,” he said.

Wagler caught video on his phone of one man sat in a pew, flanked by two women appearing to care for him.

He said he also noticed that the man handed the gun off to someone else, who attempted to conceal the weapon in a church booklet amid the chaos.

“He immediately concealed it in a white program, so I took pictures of the gun inside this program,” Wagler said.

Authorities have not released the name of the man they suspect mistakenly fired the gun. WTAE reported that he was driven to to hospital.

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Domestic Policies Indiana News Politics

Corporate America Hangs a left

All of the tension that’s been building in the grand Republican coalition, that uneasy mix of practical business, low taxes, libertarianism and the uncompromising religious sector is now being released. And it’s not working out for the most conservative of the party’s members.

Just a week ago it seemed that at least two new states, Indiana and Arkansas, would pass religious freedom laws that would, in essence, allow people to claim that a robust religious objection to a state or federal law was enough to nullify it, at least for the objector. By the end of the week, both states had to backtrack and add key provisions that did not allow religious people from discriminating against gays and lesbians, among others. Why the change?

Corporations. Walmart. Angie’s List. Axium. et.al.

Big business has seen the light and it’s a bright one. No, not the one that people who have near-death experiences talk about. This is the one that shines into the deep dark corners of discrimination, hatred and prejudice.  Yes, corporations do love they money, but they’re also getting a bit of a soul. After all, corporations are people too, right?

But uncovering the cloistered minds of the far right isn’t the only move forward. Major national businesses are also starting to…wait for it…raise wages. Yes, I know that it’s only a dollar more an hour for now, but the prospect of rising wages for those most in need is a positive step.

Despite a conservative movement that’s made great inroads into American political, economic and social culture, the basic democratic ideals of tolerance, respect for diversity and fairness have endured and are now beginning to emerge from an era where they were somewhat battered and bruised. Americans truly want a government that will stay out of its bedrooms and workplaces even as they want to make sure that there is a safety net for life’s perplexities.

This is why I think the GOP will end up nominating another more moderate candidate in 2016. That won’t make the conservatives happy, but it really is the best hope for the party. And the Democrats had better not take their supporters for granted. The economy is better, but job growth seems to have slowed and the deal with Iran is not a slam dunk, nor should it be.

For now, though, business seems to be on the side of a wider, more inclusive market. And that’s good news.

For more, go to www.facebook.com/WhereDemocracyLives or Twitter @rigrundfest

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Indiana Politics

Indiana’s Republicans Make Changes to “Religious Freedom” Law

Indiana’s Republican Governor Mike Pence proved in a recent interview last Sunday that the knew his state’s version of the “Religious Freedom” act opened the door to discrimination. When George Stephanopoulos asked that very specific question – “should it be legal to discriminate against gays and lesbians” – Pence dodged the question for almost 12 minutes. And now with continued pressure, the truth is finally coming out. And the rush is on to make changes to the law ASAP!

“What was intended as a message of inclusion was interpreted as a message of exclusion, especially for the LGBT community,” Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma told reporters at a 9 a.m. news conference on Thursday. “Nothing could have been further from the truth, but it was clear the perception had to be addressed.”

The proposed update, as released by Indiana GOP lawmakers online, states that the controversial religious-freedom law does not allow any business to deny service to any customer — including on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The new language will still have to be approved by Indiana’s legislature and signed by the state’s Republican governor, Mike Pence, before it goes into effect. Pence this week announced he would support changing the law.

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Entertainment

Model Walks The Streets Totally Nude Just Because… – Pics

Just because she can, apparently.

“It’s basically a photographic project that started in Barcelona and continued in Buenos Aires,” Paula Brindisi, a model and artist in Argentina explained to Central European News. “It picks up the reactions that people have when seeing someone naked doing the same things as people wearing clothes.”

Acting in a totally “normal attitude” and “without being sexual,” the 30-year-old nude activist said she stripped down and stepped out in the Argentinian capital and Spanish city as her photographer friend snapped pictures of her visiting local businesses.

“No one had anything against it,” Brindisi recalled. “People told us we made their morning nicer and we even received two rounds of applause. They understood it as art.”

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Politics

President Obama’s Announcement on Framework for Iran Deal – Video

President Obama made his announcement today from the Rose Garden and he spoke about a framework of the new Iran deal, a deal the President said will be finalized in June.

In his announcement, the president warned that any “backsliding” from the deal by Iran, would lead to a collapse of the deal and increased sanctions on Iran. And the president also used the opportunity to quashed some of the Republican lies about him not backing Israel, by pledging his continued support for that country.

Watch the announcement below.

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Politics

Protests Paid Off – McDonald’s Announces Wage and Benefits Increase

The voice of one only goes so far, but the voices of many echoes throughout the nation and the world, and the decision makers at McDonald’s took note.

In a statement released on Wednesday, McDonald’s announced wage increases for its employees and a benefit package including more paid time-off and educational opportunities for its full-time and part-time employees.

“We’ve been working on a comprehensive benefits package for our employees — the people who bring our brand to life for customers every day in our U.S. restaurants,” said McDonald’s President and CEO Steve Easterbrook. “We’ve listened to our employees and learned that — in addition to increased wages — paid personal leave and financial assistance for completing their education would make a real difference in their careers and lives.”

On July 1, 2015, starting wages at McDonald’s company-owned restaurants in the U.S. will be one dollar over the locally-mandated minimum wage. The wages of all employees up to restaurant manager will be adjusted accordingly based on tenure and job performance. By the end of 2016, McDonald’s projects that the average hourly wage rate for McDonald’s employees at company-owned restaurants will be in excess of $10.

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Politics

Bachmann’s Followers Chastise Her for Comparing Obama to German Co-pilot

Like only the crazy Bachmann Lunatic can, she took the opportunity to use the German plane crash for her own dumb Republican politics.

In a post on her Facebook page, the retired Republican congresswoman saw it fit to compare the president of the United States to the co-pilot of the German flight, whose apparent intentional actions crashed the plane killing all 150 people on board.

Said Bachmann;

With his Iran deal, Barack Obama is for the 300 million souls of the United States what Andreas Lubitz was for the 150 souls on the German Wings flight – a deranged pilot flying his entire nation into the rocks. After the fact, among the smoldering remains of American cities, the shocked survivors will ask, why did he do it?

Luckily, Americans have morals and we’re quick to shut down the lunacy emitting from the Republican.

Melissa Coca, replied with this comment;

Comparing this tragedy to anything is moronic and despicable. Congratulations, for once more upholding the level of stupid which only you can.

And this from Henry Graham Kicklighter

I’m so glad that you’re a political has-been, Michele

And Steve Crews had this to say;

Hey fear mongers you should try passing rumors that are true. But You would have to give up on a lot of your rants on here. It has been proven he is not muslim, he is a citizen of the US, he is doing everything he can to avoid a war with Iran (no thanks to 47 traitors) some of you are republican that no matter what you won’t belive anyone that disagrees with you. Some are racist, bigots. And some just vote stright party. He is a good man just he has different ideals than you and you can’t belive a black man might have a better ideal than a bunch of old white men. If you could get over it we would be lots better off.

On and on the disgust for Michele and the Republicans went, and I smiled in delight that my fellow Americans are seeing these people for the sickos they really are.

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New Jersey Politics

NJ Senator Bob Menendez Indicted on Corruption Charges

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Justice Department investigating New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, said, “Robert Menendez, a U.S. senator, and Dr. Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist, were indicted today in connection with a bribery scheme in which Menendez allegedly accepted gifts from Melgen in exchange for using the power of his Senate office to benefit Melgen’s financial and personal interests,” said Peter Carr, a Justice Department spokesman, in a statement.

The two were indicted in the district of New Jersey for one count of conspiracy, one count of violating the travel act, eight counts of bribery and three counts of honest services fraud; Menendez was also charged with one count of making false statements, according to Carr’s statement.

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Healthcare ObamaCare

Republican Congresswoman Tries to Explain Why Her Facebook Followers Love Obamacare

You knew this was going to happen. Ever since the Republican Congresswoman took to Facebook and asked her followers to post their horror stories about Obamacare and getting mostly positive comments in return, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers went silent, trying to find a way to paint these positive Obamacare stories as anything but positive.

Well, this is the best the Republican congresswoman had when explaining why her followers loved Obamacare so much. According to McMorris, the parts of the law her followers love are the parts Republicans agree with.

“The stories are largely around pre-existing conditions and those that are getting health insurance up to age 26,” she said. “That’s broad, bipartisan support for those provisions.”

The congresswoman has voted multiple times to repeal the health care law in its entirety, most recently in February on a resolution offered by Alabama Republican Bradley Byrne that would eliminate all aspects of the law, including the pre-existing condition and age 26 provisions. The resolution has not been put to a vote by the Senate.

Again, McMorris has voted numerous times to repeal the law in its entirety, including the “bipartisan” parts. I will file this McMorris person under the “total fail” category!

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News

Cell Phone Video Shows Chaotic Sceen Inside Doomed German Plane Before Crash

Photo: Getty Images

The New York Post is reporting that a cellphone video from the doomed Germanwings flight shows that helpless passengers knew they were flying toward their deaths — and many could be heard screaming “Oh my God!” in the final seconds, according to French and German reports Tuesday.

The reports describe a chaotic cabin scene with terrified shouts in several languages — as the pilot desperately bangs on the cockpit door to get inside.

Toward the end, after a heavy shake, the shouts and screams intensify. Then they stop.

French magazine Paris Match and German newspaper Bild both described the video but did not post it on their Web sites.

A police spokesman said the reports were completely wrong. However, he did acknowledge that cellphones had been collected at the crash site.

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Politics

New Poll – Majority of Americans Want Nuclear Deal with Iran

While Republicans continue to crucify President Obama for even trying to negotiate a deal with Iran that would end that country’s nuclear program, a new Washington Post poll finds that Republicans are once again on the wrong side of the issue, as Americans overwhelming support the negotiations.

Overall, the poll finds 59 percent support an agreement in which the United States and its negotiating partners lift major economic sanctions in exchange for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. Thirty-one percent oppose a deal.

Support outpaces opposition across nearly all demographic and political groups, with liberals (seven in 10) and Democrats (two-thirds) the most supportive. At least six in 10 independents and moderates also back the broad idea of a deal with Iran.

Republicans are about evenly divided on an Iran deal, with 47 percent in support and 43 percent opposed. The split contrasts with Republican lawmakers’ widespread backing of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech deriding the potential deal in early March before a joint meeting of lawmakers. Additionally, all but seven Republican senators signed a letter to Iran’s leadership warning that Congress or a future president could override any agreement made by the Obama administration.

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Celebrities

Jon Stewart’s Replacement Announced – Trevor Noah from South Africa – Video

I don’t know. Jon Stewart was and is something special and ever since he announced his retirement from Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, I knew his replacement would have some big shoes to fill. And now that his replacement is announced, I took it upon myself to YouTube him and I must say, I am somewhat surprised.

Maybe Trevor Noah will be able to keep The Daily Show going.

In an interview with the Times, Comedy Central President Michele Ganeless said that after an extensive search, the network decided Noah was “the best person for the job.”

“You don’t hope to find the next Jon Stewart – there is no next Jon Stewart. So, our goal was to find someone who brings something really exciting and new and different,” she said.

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