GOP Goes All In for Rick Scott for President; Ben Carson for FL Senator

The preposterous nature of the title is sparked from a recent conversation I had with a friend of mine.

Rick Scott is the two-term governor of a state with the third most electoral votes in the nation. He is well-funded, business-friendly (well, corporate crony-friendly), a former CEO, Navy veteran and said he is definitely interested. The GOP and Koch-allied groups spent tens of millions of dollars in our state to promote Rick Scott's story and tell us he was a great leader. John Ellis Bush (JEB) couldn't say enough great things about him. Rick Scott was the man.

With all of those credentials, and with all of those people trying to shove him down our throats, you might be asking: why isn't he being promoted to run for president? Why isn't the national GOP and the Koch brothers pushing him for a national campaign if they believed in him so much?

Next question:

Florida resident Ben Carson is the rising star in the GOP field, at least according to Murdoch's Wall Street Journal. A famous neurosurgeon who was the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a tea party darling.

If he's "good enough" to run for the highest office in the nation, ever wonder why NO ONE (and I mean NO ONE) is trying to recruit him to run for the upcoming vacancy of Marco Rubio's FL Senate seat? Or governor of our state, for that matter?

These men are conservative's conservatives.

They represent the epitome of tea party "values". They are promoted as GOP "stars".

But deep down inside, the same republicans who are promoting these yahoos to the legion of Fox watching mouth-breathers know these are bullshit candidates.

When you rolled your eyes at the title, it was because you thought what all of them think: of COURSE they aren't going all in for Rick Scott. The man is a FREAKING criminal. Par for the course in our state, but you don't give someone like that NATIONAL power! My God, Rick Scott is embroiled in so many scandals now the damage he would do and the corruption he'd bring on the national level would be unfathomable.

And Ben Carson! Are you kidding me? Of COURSE no one wants Ben Carson to actually run anything--the man thinks the Earth is 6000 years old, homosexuality is no different than bestiality, ISIS are akin to our patriots and the flat tax is called for in the Bible!

Rick Scott may be evil, incompetent, and awkward, but Ben Carson is someone who has truly gone loonytunes and everyone in this state, including conservatives, don't want him making actual decisions.

If they did, they'd be running him. They'd be backing him. They'd believe in him.

They don't. We don't

So why are we playing their games? Tell the Florida GOP to put up or shut up. You think Rick Scott was so great? Get behind his dream to run for president. Why won't you?

You think Ben Carson is their new face of your movement? Put your money where your mouth is. I'd LOVE to see him go against Alan Grayson!

Or will you admit that you are terrified--almost as terrified as the rest of us. Not that they'd lose, but that they'd win.

PS, my friend is the son of Dr. Fergie Reid, the first African-American elected to Virginia's State Assembly and voting rights icon. Vetwife did a remarkable write-up on his latest effort to register 90 new voters in every Virginia precinct for his 90th birthday. Support the movement.

Republicans no longer believe in registering voters (and in Florida, you can be punished for it). In fact, they have become strong advocates of suppressing the vote nationwide, especially here in Florida. Fight back. Support 90 for 90. And thanks.

I-4 Ultimate Project is Crazy

The new I-4 Ultimate project starts next month. If you live in Central Florida, consider yourself affected. This is a 21-mile makeover that will be lead by the Swedish construction conglomerate Skanska. The video below shows some insane pictures of how it will look(starting at :36). The federally funded High Speed Rail would have been a great option for travel between Tampa and Orlando, but since that was killed by Rick Scott, (and the money transferred to another state), we can look forward to quite a bit of congestion for awhile

FL GOP Lawmaker Tries to Force a 24 Hour Waiting Period for Abortion

Depite studies that say waiting periods pose excessive emotional and financial harm, our teabag legislature is set to do just that. State Sen. Anitere Flores (R-Miami) introduced the bill to force a 24 hour waiting period for an abortion.

This despite the fact that waiting periods, counseling sessions, and mandatory TRANSVAGINAL PENETRATION ultrasounds have proven that do nothing to sway a women’s decision to terminate a pregnancy. These grotesque, emotionally manipulative and very unnecessary medical procedures are the antithesis of the teabag mantra of getting the government out of healthcare. However, forcing a woman to endure a humiliating procedure or a pointless delay out of spite isn't about changing minds but more of a twisted punishment for not subscribing to a backwater ideology.

GOP Lawmaker: Cancer Is "Fungus" & Can Be Flushed Out with Baking Soda!

So we had a GOP lawmaker a few days ago who tried to lecture a doctor during another anti-abortion fight right before he announced that he believed a woman's stomach was connected to her vagina. (And then proceeded to pass his anti-abortion bill).

Now we have another GOP lawmaker, tax cheat, and Cliven Bundy supporter Michele Fiore (R). If she sounds familiar, it's because just last week she suggested "hot, little girls" on college campuses have firearms or you like rape.

But this week the GOP has collectively decided to show their ignorance of biology, so Fiore contributed by proposing a bill that would let people use drugs without the approval of the FDA. (She thinks the government is holding out on us.) She made her point by literally arguing one of the most ignorant myths out there:

If you have cancer, which I believe is a fungus, and we can put a pic line into your body and we’re flushing with, say, salt water, sodium cardonate [sic-it's "bicarbonate"] through that line and flushing out the fungus. These are some procedures that are not FDA-approved in America that are very inexpensive, cost-effective.

Flushing yourself with baking soda because cancer is a fungus is listed as one of the top myths according to the UK's cancer research center.

As always, I can laugh these proud ignoramuses of basic science and medicine off: but they are the ones that apathetic people are putting in charge of our healthcare. That's why you have 24 waiting abortion periods (like one coming to Florida), forced vaginal penetration ultrasounds and other spiteful measures that have little to do with medicine and more to do with spiteful "punishment" for not following a medieval ideology. Even my own state representative has an idea of fining doctors 5 million dollars if they ask about guns in the home.

I only wonder what subject the GOP will be discussing next week...

Anti-Abortion GOP Lawmaker: Swallowing Camera for Gynecological Examinations

Republican (of course) state representative Vito Barbieri argued with a doctor on a bill that would ban doctors from prescribing abortion-inducing medication through telemedicine. Dr. Julie Madsen, a real doctor who was testifying against the bill, was exlpaining colonoscopy patients swallowing small devices to let doctors examine colons. Which led the GOP lawmaker pose this scenario:

“Can this same procedure then be done in a pregnancy? Swallowing a camera and helping the doctor determine what the situation is?”

No, the doctor replied. Because despite what your mom told you when you were five, the baby does not live in your tummy!

These are the lawmakers who want to impose their will on your most personal medical decisions.

Despite the viral outrage that any lawmaker would think ingesting something solid would expel from a woman's vagina, it is important to note that the bill passed with support like people from Baribieri. Perhaps instead of banning biology textbooks, they could try reading one--especially if they insist on injecting themselves in the most personal decision a woman can make.

Tampa Bay Times Sues Rick Scott

The Tampa Bay Times, along with several good government groups, announced that they are suing Rick Scott to force somebody in this wretched, corrupt government of ours to examine whether or not he violated our state's Sunshine Law over "Baileygate". This is the first time the newspaper has ever had to take this type of action against our highest elected official, but then again, we never had a governor like Rick Scott.

Even several top GOP officials asked for an investigation, but did anyone in this state seriously think the guy who defrauded millions from Medicaid would have the integrity to investigate himself?

This was a "last resort" as Rick Scott's friend and, unfortunately, our attorney general Pam Bondi refused to do any investigation because she said she didn't believe that her friend Rick Scott would ever do wrong--even though he's famous for that kind of thing. Bondi admitted that she had no proof and even admitted that she never discussed the matter with Rick Scott, but she just knows OKAY!!

The rest of us who aren't friends with Rick Scott would like answers. I agree it's sad to have to sue in order for our highly paid top leadership to do their jobs, but thus is the state of Florida today.

Our Horrible DNC Chair Will Only Support Medical MJ If She Isn't "Criticized"!

Here's the f*&*ing problem we have as Democrats.

We elect leaders like Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Her counterpart, Reince Preibus of the RNC, is a complete ass but at least he's a conservative. He at least takes positions you would expect him to take. The same cannot be said of Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

However, Reince does have something in common with DWS: they both seem to want Democrats to lose elections.

Debbie is your typical establishment wus. She'll support conservative Democrats but not liberal ones. She led the charge that Democrats should "run from Obama" in 2014, despite massive healthcare enrollments, unemployment being under 6%, record DOW, and 54 months of consistent job growth. Instead, Democratic candidates thought they'd somehow score points by attacking the president. Every single one of them who employed that strategy lost (deservedly so).

DWS also reversed Howard Dean's wildly successful 50 state strategy. Perhaps worst of all, she refused any help, (and I do many ANY KIND OF HELP AT ALL), to hundreds of local candidates across the nation. (The story from those we tried to help were all the same: they were ignored. They couldn't even get their events posted on the DNC's freaking website!)

The DNC hardly had any GOTV and didn't list volunteer efforts. There was absolutely NO platform offered to run on, and ZERO messaging. Even if they had bothered to craft one, it is doubtful they would have listened to the activists.

At the very least, you would expect Debbie to not HURT Democrats or our causes. Again, not the case. DWS was not only vocally opposed to a winning issue like medical marijuana, she joined the GOP using OUR resources to actively campaign against it!!

Miraculously, the amendment for medical marijuana almost passed here. We received 58% of the vote: just 2% short of the 60% threshold. A big reason was because of John Morgan. He is very well-known here in Orlando as a respected lawyer and people's champion. John Morgan stated that his life's mission is to help alleviate Floridian's suffering. For him, it's personal: his father and brother both suffered debilitating conditions that were relieved by marijuana. His father in particular was relieved from severe pain right before he died.

I would have more respect for DWS if she actually believed that medical marijuana was just bad. But she doesn't. She had the exact same mentality on this issue that she had on several issues: run from the Democratic position in an off-election year to attract the mythical right-leaning "independent".

Now that the midterms are over, she decides now that medical MJ is ok. And then she contacted John Morgan to make a proposal:

If John Morgan stopped the criticisms, she would be willing to back medical-marijuana next time.

John Morgan was absolutely furious, and said so:

When Debbie Wasserman Schultz came out last year against Amendment 2, she didn't just simply empower our opposition - she obstructed thousands of patients who desperately need access to this medicine. Her poor timing and very public stand against medical marijuana helped squander the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors.

Now she wants to have a conversation in exchange for me toning down my criticism of her position last year (and the damage she caused)? Not a chance.

Because, while I don't believe she is well loved or personally has much influence in this state, I'll allow her the possibility that she might have changed a few minds that we needed. Staring down a campaign funded by a billionaire, we needed all the help we could get. She turned her back on people with Cancer, MS, PTSD, epilepsy, severe neuropathic pain, and more. She could have even stayed silent. She didn't. She made a big show of it.

I won't be bullied or trade favors when it comes to medical marijuana. If she thinks its time to support the bill - as she should - then SHE SHOULD SIGN THE PETITION, MAKE A DONATION TO UNITED FOR CARE AND SUPPORT THE BILL.

Everything else is B.S. politics in order to rehabilitate the damage she's done to herself by being on the wrong side of the issue. It's not support - it's a quid pro quo and I won't do it. 3.4 million voters came out for medical marijuana - and she should know that if she runs for Senate, we're not going to fall in line just because she's more open to it now.

Then Debbie did what she typically does. She lied and denied to save face.

Only one problem with that:

Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Friday denied claims that her staff offered a deal to reverse her opposition to medical marijuana in order to silence a Florida donor’s criticisms — attributing the controversy to a misunderstanding.

But text messages and emails obtained by POLITICO indicate her top political adviser was aware of some type of offer to donor John Morgan, who is accusing the South Florida congresswoman of after-the-fact spin.

F&*k Debbie Wasserman Schulz. She should have had the decency to resign after the midterm elections, but she won't so she should be forced out instead. I'm glad John Morgan told her to stuff it.

Go ahead and sign the petition to get it on the ballot in 2016. Click Here. We deserve relief from suffering. And we deserve a lot better than Debbie.

Meanwhile, O'Reilly Is Imploding...

2015 seems to be the year that the GOP has finally had to reckon with some of their idiot stars.

As Bill Maher said about Sarah Palin, while "the rest of us have been watching this dog eat grass for seven years", conservatives had to admit she was an idiot when even an audience of rabid teabaggers found her incoherent.

Giuliani just went from "America's Mayor" to "America's Top Bitter Racist".

Even John Ellis Bush (JEB) has shown that he just can't help being a Bush.

Now enter Bill O'Reilly.

On the heels of the Brian Williams incident, O'Reilly got on his high horse and somehow got the idea that he had the integrity to scold him.

Yes, Bill "loofahman" O'Reilly. The man who sits on a throne of lies at Fox News.

The man who, unlike Brian Williams, lied about winning two "Peabody" awards.

The man who, like Brian Williams, lied about being in combat--except worse.

O'Reilly claimed repeatedly that he was in the actual "war zone" of the Falkland Islands in 1982. (He wasn't) He said that he heroically rescued his cameraman in "a war zone in Argentina, in the Falklands," while being chased by army soldiers. (Nope--in fact we just learned he was ordered to leave Argentina for risking his cameraman's life.) O'Reilly didn't just tell this story once, but repeated it several times. He has it in writing in his 2001 book and stated it as recently as 2013 on his show.

He also said he faced down an angry mob in Argentina who "stormed the presidential palace" and were "trying to overthrow the government". (Lie.) He said soldiers "opened fire on" and "gunned down" civilians. (Complete lie). He said all the other CBS journalists "cowered" in their hotel rooms while he was the only one who covered the story. (Bob Scheiffer got him on this one).

To sum up: Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie.

Even Hugh freaking Hewitt, sensing a sinking ship, managed to call him out on some of his BS.

"Would you consider a riot a general combat definition?” Hewitt asked O'Reilly.

“Yeah, when it’s in a war setting, of course,” O'Reilly responded.

Hewitt also asked if the cameraman would back up his story of being saved by him. Bill seemed annoyed and said he had "no idea" where the guy even was.

When your lies are so bad you are challenged by a conservative, you've crossed a line.

Lest you think, however, that Hewitt actually developed some journalistic integrity, it's important to note that Hewitt didn't challenge O'Reilly for now saying he never said he was in the Falklands, despite repeated assertions that he was. Instead, sensing that Bill was getting upset, Hugh quickly turned to a lame joke asking if O'Reilly had ever played in a "big band" because several celebrities lie about playing with "big bands". Hilarious.

Billbo's big response to the Mother Jones story was a slew of unprofessional personal attacks, incitement of violence against the author of the story, and a ridiculous 33-year old memo from CBS that stated he did a good job on his reporting (to which Bill actually said was somehow "rock solid proof" that he didn't lie about being in a war zone).

Mother Jones responded awesomely, taking Bill down point by point in his personal attack.

As of now, the bureau chief for Mother Jones has said David Corn's life is in danger since Bill O'Reilly literally called for him to be killed.

That fact alone should be enough to end the career of such a lying, spiteful bastard.

Unfortunately, O'Reilly's audience doesn't care about truth nor his calls for violence against his fellow Americans.

If they did, they wouldn't ever have been watching Fox News in the first place.

However, this incident has forced the media to finally stop giving any semblance that Bill O'Reilly is a fellow "journalist", something he has desperately tried to pretend that he is. Everyone is now drawing distinctions between Brian Williams and Bill O'Reilly, and why one betrayed our trust while the other is just par for the course at Fox "News".

Also, it appears highly unlikely that Bill will get any big-named, nonconservative to ever appear on his program again to legitimize his brand of hate (looking at you Obama).

In other words, Bill O'Reilly isn't gone, but he is definitely over.

Update: Because this guy really has problems, here's a clip (start at 2:37) of Bill O'Reilly saying how badly he was wanted by pro-football leagues by "leading the nation in punting" and for being "undefeated" on his college football team his senior year. His college didn't have a football team. Also, he's so awesome the Mets wanted him as well.

Alan Grayson Senate Bid Absolutely Terrifies FL Right-Wing

Sunshine State News is a far-right conservative blog that does its level-best to look like a legitimate news website. It's kin to WorldNetDaily and NewsMax, except a lot worse--and primarily focuses on Florida.

Conservatives in this state are used to milquetoast candidates like Alex Sink and Charlie Crist that they can steamroll. Yet Alan Grayson is one hell of a fighter. This is how I know that an Alan Grayson Senate bid is getting under their skin. Sunshine State News says this:

But Grayson’s acerbic style, insults toward conservatives and endless procession of snide remarks about Republicans often get him in trouble and can turn off moderates and independents.

Absolute garbage. Grayson says the truth, albeit very bluntly. He said the GOP healthcare plan was to "not get sick", and if you do get sick, "die quickly". That's very accurate. I don't recall any moderate or "independent" getting turned off by that; in fact, most people said it was about damn time someone called the GOP out for their crap.

We need SOMEBODY who can motivate the base to work the campaign and, most importantly, show up at the polls on election day. Grayson is a true liberal that will fight for us, so we will fight in return.

The fact that conservatives are up in arms this early in the game means we've got a winner. His biggest challenge will not the rightwing, it will be the establishment losers who run our own party and keep trying to shove failed, spineless candidates down our throats. As long as we force our state Dem party to listen to their own base instead of trolling, rightwing conservatives, we will have a winner next year.

#ILoveObama trending on twitter

#ILoveObama because toothless hicks can't stand there is a black man way more educated and waaay smarter sitting in the White House BOOM!

— TheSeminoleDemocrat (@TheSemDem) February 16, 2015

UPDATE: Fox Station That Used Pic of Obama as Rape Suspect IS REFUSING to Apologize or Acknowledge "Error"

San Diego Fox News 5 used a picture of President Obama with the caption reading NO CHARGES while head anchorwoman Kathleen Bade was discussing a rape suspect.

Although it was up there the entire time during her lead-in, assignment editor Mike Wille said it was just a mistake. Since they knew it was a mistake, (and left it up there the whole time), why didn't they at least offer a correction or apologize?

Good question:

Asked why there was no on-air acknowledgment or apology for the error, Wille said: “They really don’t do that when it’s a small thing like that.”

Nice. Putting up a photo of a different person while talking about a rape suspect is no big deal.

But then again, this is not surprising when you have leading stories like THIS ONE at that station.

Here's a partial transcript. It focused on a rally with ten people in attendance:

Anchor: A rally against Obama on an I-5 overpass draws quite a crowd. Protestors were welcome to speak out against Obama, but also to voice concerns against gun control, war, and Benghazi. They ask people to come out no matter what their reason to ask Congress to impeach Obama and remove him from office.

The reporter then spoke to a birther questioning his eligibility and the anchor ended by telling everyone to show up at their next protest.

There are plenty of other examples of their bias, including this slanted broadcast attacking the ACA, and this hit piece on Hillary Clinton

I guess equating Obama as a rape suspect was just the next logical step. Mike Wille also justified not offering a correction because he said he received no calls about the Obama picture.

OK, let's make sure the station gets at least a few calls:

Contact Fox 5

FOX 5 Phone: 858-492-9269

Feedback: kswbreceptionist@fox5sandiego.com

FOX 5 Fax: 858-268-0401

Newsroom
Phone: 858-573-6500
Fax: 858-573-6600
email: news@fox5sandiego.com

Don't waste your time complaining on their facebook. They take them down pretty quickly. Several are saying it would be more effective to file a complaint with the FCC:

- File a Complaint Online here

- By phone: 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322); TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322)

UPDATE: Well, the campaign worked! Fox said they would offer a correction tonight. All it took was a couple hundred calls and emails to say maybe they should at least acknowledge their mistake of calling our president a local rapist.

JEB's Second Major Screwup This Week: Publishes FL Residents Personal Data ONLINE

Before my rant, I must ask: Why do republicans insist on pushing this stupid family down our throats? Bill Clinton had to rescue our economy after Bush I ran it into the ground, and now after several years, President Obama has finally pulled us out of the economic train wreck of Bush II.

So who is the current the GOP frontrunner? Bush III.

You realize that if JEB is able to pull of a win, (which is within the realm of possibility given the fact that the Kochs raised $249 million to help the GOP at a one-day summit last week), we'll have had 36 years of every GOP president being from just one family.

One very, very, AWFUL family.

Nonetheless, W's younger brother still has PLENTY of problems that he must overcome. The one problem he hasn't had to deal with is one he's been trying to hide for years: his genetically inbred incompetence streak.

That might be changing. For as hard as he tries, John Ellis Bush just can't hide being a Bush.

First, he decided it was a swell idea to hire Ethan Czahor as his technology chief. Ethan is a mysoginst and racist (who was nonetheless fiercely defended by fellow conservatives). JEB knew this guy had called women "sluts", made fun of gays, and said African-Americans spoke "gibberish", but went ahead and hired him anyway hoping no one would notice. After the media firestorm, (and ONLY after), did Bush accept his resignation.

Two days later....

In an attempt to paint himself as transparent, Bush released thousands of emails from his time as governor. Obviously, he vetted many of them because the most damning ones, like the emails eliciting help for Bacardi in return for campaign donations, couldn't be found in the 300,000 emails he released.

However, many of the emails he did release contained people's names, birthdates and social security numbers: everything you need for an identify theft.

He also released people's phone numbers, home addresses, and email addresses.

There are too many to go over, but this one gives you an idea. A healthcare representative gave information about a child with a life-threatening medical condition, including the mother and child's name, phone number, social security number, and healthcare identification number.

It would have been nice if team JEB had bothered to put a minimum level of effort to delete sensitive information. At least they could have put as much effort into it as they did in deleting past offensive tweets.

Must Read: Reimagining Courts

Book by Victor Flango and Thomas Clarke argue that courts are a victim of their own success:

Reimagining Courts: A Design for the Twenty-First Century

Disputes that once were resolved either informally in the family or within the community are now handled mainly by courts, which strains government agency resources. The authors offer provocative suggestions for a thorough overhaul of American state and local courts, one that better fits the needs of a twenty-first century legal system.

Reimagining Courts recommends a triage process based upon case characteristics, litigant goals, and resolution processes. Courts must fundamentally reorganize their business processes around the concept of the litigant as a customer. Each adjudication process that the authors propose requires a different case management process and different amounts of judicial, staff, and facility resources.

Reimagining Courts should spark much-needed debate. This book will be of significant interest to lawyers, judges, and professionals in the court system as well as to scholars in public administration and political science.

One Place in America Where Developers Can Seize Property for Private Gain: Florida

Where else?

This is what happens when you give an inch to developers in this state.

In 2007, a condominium termination law was passed with the intent on helping developers salvage hurricane-ravaged property, since they claimed they couldn't always locate all of the owners after a storm. So our legislators passed a law that said a developer can terminate the condominium if they own 80% of the property unless 10% of the people object. If they own 90%, however, they can do whatever they want.

There is no language in the law saying the property needs to be hit by a storm for this to happen.

Here's the deal: developers realize that in today's market in Florida, they can make a lot more money by converting condominiums into rental property. The problem is they sold expensive condominiums which are legally owned by the buyer. However, with the 2007 law, as long as they have 10% or less of the units sold, they can throw them out and only have to pay "current market value". In other words, if you bought a condo at the prices they were going for in say, 2005 or 2006 (before the bust--and before the law passed), the developers get to keep everything you've given them and only pay you literally pennies on the dollar.

Developers are currently doing this to 216 properties in Florida, affecting more than 20,000 units. Thousands of people are being kicked out onto the street and forced to declare bankruptcy.

This is happening to several properties in my own Seminole county. In Lansbrook Village, a retired cop and school teacher paid $240,000 for their condo, which required $160,00 up front. The developer is kicking them out and only has to pay them $80,000 for today's current value. So not only did the developer get 160K, but has been getting 1.5K each month for decade for a property the couple thought they owned.

Another victim, Shirley Lofgren, 85, paid $217,000 in 2007 at complex ironically named Serenity. She will be getting 46K, losing a lifetime of savings.

Stephanie Kraswoski, who is being thrown out of yet another complex, said she'll be 100K in the hole once her complex is terminated. "There are no agencies in the state of Florida that are regulating what these bulk buyers or investors are doing. They're literally coming in here, doing whatever they feel they can do, and getting away with it. There's nobody helping us."

This is only, of course, happening in Florida. Few in the media are covering this issue. One outlet has been Al Jazeera.

When the Al Jazeera called the Miami law firm who sent out the notices to one property, she was told that it is all legal (which it is). The reporter responded by asking if it was moral. The response: "there's no question of morality in business."

Watch the Video

Sign the petition

#floridiansACT

Since Fox News Airs ISIS Propaganda for Free, Advertisers Demand Free Ads

Fox News before President Obama:

"The TV network Al Jazeera helps al Qaeda and other killers by broadcasting their executions propaganda." Bill O'Reilly, 2004

"American journalists [are] helping Iraqi terrorists by showing pictures of terrorist acts provided by Al Jazeera, a TV network that seems to have strong links to terrorists." Fox News, 2005

"Some people say the airing of what they call a terrorist propaganda video has actually put American soldiers in danger."javascript:; Fox News 2006, criticizing CNN for airing footage of American soldiers killed in Iraq

This was all before we had a black president that Fox decided they hated more than they hated Islamic terrorism.

Fox News is the only media organization to broadcast the graphic video in full. They justified it because some BS about President Obama not acknowledging the reality of the terrorism threat. Of course, not only do they show the poor man brutally being burned alive for several minutes, Fox even included, for no reason, the first 15 or so minutes of complete and unedited ISIS propaganda.

Then, in complete lack of any self-awareness, Fox later attacked President Obama for his prayer breakfast remarks complaining that he was "defending Islam" and said "the only thing propaganda does is recruit for Isis".

Again, this came right after Fox distributed Isis' recruitment video.

Malcolm Nance, executive director of the Terror Asymmetircs Project on Strategy, Tactics and Radical Ideology blasted Fox saying they "are literally - literally - working for al-Qaida and Isis' media arm. They might as well start sending them royalty checks." Rick Nelson, senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that the Fox's actions empowers groups like Isis because "these groups need a platform, and this gives them a platform."

Apparently, not only are sane people ticked off by this, but some longtime advertising partners of Fox. They are getting some serious backlash over this and, after all, they are the ones who have been paying for ad space while brutal terrorists got their entire ad on Fox News for nothing.

There is sick irony in the fact that the US military has to pay an exorbitant fee to air recruitment videos on Fox but Isis can have apparently have their recruitment video featured for free --as long as it is brutal enough.

A couple of business owners have emailed Fox to say that this isn't fair and they deserve free advertising. If you own a business or even if you don't, but just want YOUR message to get a national audience, contact Fox News and demand they give you at least equal treatment as Isis.

Now, I do understand if you don't want to be associated with such an awful organization like Fox. Maybe I should be cutting them some slack. After all, maybe they realize that their brand is so tarnished that terror groups may be the only ones left still interested.

#ShowMYAdFox

#boycottfoxnews

Shady Florida law firm goes after Orlando vendor

The top story on CNN is Katy Perry sic'ing her lawyers on the Orlando-based politicalsculptor.com. Fernando Sosa has done amazing work in the new field of 3D printing, and started a business using his skills to satirize several political figures, such as Rick Scott, Chris Christie, Vladimir Putin, and many others. Although his work is popular, (he has been featured on HBO, MSNBC, Howard Stern, and many other outlets), he has made many enemies of the powerful. His latest work was non-political: he created a shark figurine.

The law firm of Greenberg Traurig sent him a letter saying that Katy personally became aware of his work and that they are going to go after him for a massive sum of money. If the name of the law firm sounds familiar, it is because these are the same unethical bastards who wrote the now infamous memo threatening to jail Florida clerks simply for following the law on gay marraige.

Even GOP is calling for Scott investigation, but AG PamBo flatly refuses

Everyone is starting to pile on Rick Scott regarding "Baileygate". He's a sinking ship and rats want off.

Quick recap: Gov. Rick Scott ousted Gerald Bailey, who was the head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He is a 35-year veteran who worked closely with Rick Scott in his first term. But then, as he always does, Rick Scott asked Bailey for a few favors:

•Scott's office asked Bailey to falsely claim that a local official was being criminally investigated in connection with an escape from a state prison — an escape Scott's staff didn't want to be blamed for.

•Scott's staff asked Bailey to quickly conclude an investigation into an ally whom Scott wanted to appoint to a state board. Said Bailey: "Scott wanted the case to go away."

•Scott's campaign improperly asked Bailey to get involved with Scott's re-election campaign. When Bailey objected to mixing public and private business, he said Scott's staff told him to simply delete the email ... even though it was sent to his public email account.

Unlike Rick Scott, Bailey has ethics. He refused.

So he was given an ultimatum: "Retire or resign".

Bailey resigned. That probably would have been the end of it. However, in typical Rick Scott fashion, he took things too far. He took to a podium to express shock (shock I say!) that the popular leader of FDLE resigned "suddenly" and feigned ignorance about why he left so quickly. He even pretended to be upset about it. This was all a little too much for Gerald Bailey.

Bailey went right to the Tampa Bay Times and said Rick Scott himself forced him out. Bailey wouldn't fabricate a criminal investigation just to help Scott's unethical staff. He wouldn't close the other investigation and flatly refused to be a party to election fraud. So Rick Scott forced him out.

When the story hit, Rick Scott's staff went on a smear campaign (like they always do). It's obviously Bailey who was lying because who are you going to believe: a respected 35-year veteran lawman who was entrusted (by Scott no less) to run the state police? or the always ethical Rick Scott?

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, a Scott ally but who wants higher office someday, described Bailey's ouster as "shabby". Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater also complained about the way Bailey was ousted.

Both of them have demanded an investigation.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, however, is having none of it. In fact, she was indignant that someone would question her man:

"Did I know that Jerry Bailey was going to be told he was fired and have his things packed up, his entire life as a career law enforcement officer in a cardboard box, and be told to be out of the office before the end of the day? Absolutely not. Nor do I believe the governor knew it," Bondi said to reporters.

Later, she added: "I do not think that Rick Scott would do that. I think it was done at the staff level. I firmly believe it was done at the staff level."

Bondi had to admit, however, that she had no proof to back her opinion. She also admitted that she never discussed the matter with Rick Scott.

I can't blame the woman. PamBo has been accused of worse and she'll be damned if she ever investigates herself.

Scott is so dishonest and inept that I do think that he is going to be brought down before his term ends. I don't know if this will be the final straw, or another future scandal (and there will be plenty) that will be his ultimate undoing. All I can guarantee is that no matter how bad it is, Pam Bondi will be right there to defending him from any consequences.

Obama v. Reagan: Fun Comparison I Did To Piss Off Wingnuts on Reagan's B-day

Crossposted as Rec diary on DKOS. As you can see, 42K Shares and over 880 Retweets. On 2/16/15, was inducted in DKos Classics.

I share this post on Reagan's birthday for with those who start dripping with sentimentality forgetting what he did, what his legacy is still doing, and worst of all, (for my conservative friends), that they wouldn't have liked him today anyway! Enjoy:

Imagine a world that never knew Ronald Reagan:

No Scalia, No Rumsfeld, No Cheney. No Bushes and all of their appointments and disasters. No funding of dictators like Saddam Hussein (Reagan propped him up big time) or psychopaths like Osama Bin Laden (that worked out well).

An America far less dependent on oil. A superpower respected for skilled diplomacy in ending conflicts, instead of starting them. And a healthy economy with a strong middle class instead of a world where the labor movement has been viciously attacked, and the middle class is systematically being dismantled. Under Reagan, corporations gained massive power to the point today where they have become "people". Unions, the worker's last protection, were severely weakened, and the socioeconomic gap exploded. He also bankrupted us, pouring hundreds of billions into wasteful spending, like the failed and ridiculous Star Wars missile-defense system. All in just 8 short years.

Reagan created the modern plutocracy. He introduced us to the whole "take from the poor, give to the rich" supply-side economics that we still suffer today. He turned compassion to the less fortunate to villianization... created the mythical "welfare queen", mocked AIDS patients, and let his fellow "Christians" know it was okay to belittle the homeless.

CEOs before Reagan made 78 times their minimum wage workers. Today, its almost 3500 times! Without Reagan, America might have had the same income distribution we had in the 1970s, which would mean we would be averaging $120,000 annually--not $40,000.

Reagan was the realization of Barry Goldwater's failed dream that put the GOP on the path of crazytown where it is today. He somehow managed to blend the selfish, plutocratic Ayn Randian economic philosophy with fundamental Christianity and wrap it all up into a cowboy, patriotic image that was as phony as this ranch. Bottom line. REAGAN WAS A BASTARD.

And we are still hurting. So when I hear the idiot conservatives longing for him on social media, the radio and the "specials" on Faux News, I want them to hurt. And the best way to do that? HIT THEM WHERE IT HURTS.

Next time someone starts revising history or just starts a syrupy tribute, hit them with this. Comparing their St. Ronnie with the man that literally drives them insane... Mr. O'Barry himself. Shoot them the following information...then just watch them squirm and enjoy the fireworks:

REAGAN CUT AND RUN, OBAMA DIDN'T COWER
Remember when the GOP loved to say "cut and run" as an excuse to keep our troops in Iraq forever? Even after they said "Mission Accomplished"? But who invented cut and run? The Gipper.

OBAMA: Our troops were repeatedly attacked in Afghanistan, yet when Obama came into office, he increased troop strength by 68,000. (Along with an actual plan, unlike his predecessor.) His track record of killing terrorists far outweighs his predecessors.

REAGAN: Reagan retreated from Lebanon immediately after the 1983 terror attack by Hezbollah that resulted in the murder of 243 Marines. According to the 9/11 Commission Report (p. 96), Reagan's cut and run INSPIRED Bin Laden, who viewed the United States as a “paper tiger” because of its rapid withdrawal after the attack.

OBAMA KILLED TERRORISTS, REAGAN GAVE THEM WEAPONS
OBAMA: Gave the naval commander the go ahead to kill several pirates, which resulted in saving the life of Captain Richard Phillips. (PS--Even though terrorists were killed and the captain rescued, f--king Rush Limbaugh, who originally accused Obama of dithering on saving Capt. Phillips, then cried that Obama killed teenagers when the snipers took out the pirates. Obama-Derangement-Syndrome.)

OH! And there was also that whole killing of Osama thing you might of heard about. Obama went against the advice of his own vice president and Defense Secretary Gates and ordered the assault. He is even responsible for ordering the two backup helicopters in case of problems, which was a good thing since one of the assault choppers crashed outside the compound.

I would also like to point out that Obama's military intervention thru a multi-state coalition resulted in the death of Muammar Gaddafi and ended his regime without the death of one American soldier. Reagan tried a unilateral action against Gaddafi and failed miserably. You're welcome.

REAGAN: Reagan APPEASED terrorists. He ignored their atrocities and spent taxpayer dollars to train, arm, equip, fund and overall coddle Islamist mujahidin fighters in Afghanistan for his proxy war with the Soviets. He is directly responsible for making a terrorist kingpin out of Osama Bin Laden. Reagan loved him some Taliban

Scoll down this link to see Reagan meeting with leaders of the Islamic Jihad at the White House 1985

But all I really need to say is two words: IRAN-CONTRA. Reagan was so bad he SECRETLY TRADED F*^KING arms for HOSTAGES! DO I really need to say more?? Can you just imagine the wingnut explosion if Obama did that?

Reagan also met with our enemies without preconditions (1985, Soviet Union)... something that Obama was attacked for saying he just wanted to do. But again, giving weapons to terrorists pretty much takes the cake.

AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS:
This drives the GOP NUTS when I point this out. Who knew?

REAGAN:

I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and lived here even though sometime back they may have entered illegally.
-Ronald Reagan 10/28/1984

OBAMA:

No matter how decent they are, no matter their reasons, the 11 million who broke these law should be held accountable.
-Barack Obama July 2010

Made that up, did I? Watch it yourself

REAGAN RAISED INCOME TAXES 11 TIMES, OBAMA NEVER
OBAMA: In fact, wound up being the largest tax-cutter in presidential history cutting $654 billion in 2011 and 2012 alone. He was in favor of letting the Bush tax cuts EXPIRE for the super wealthy, (which no, is not the same as a tax hike), but even that didn't come to pass. Romney in 2012 even admitted Obama didn't raise taxes.

Obama has consistently CUT taxes, not raised them.

REAGAN: He got through a big tax cut once he took office. But to hear conservatives talk, that's where the story ends. They forget he raised income taxes in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987.

Actually, he raised taxes 11 times to include four MASSIVE tax increases!

DEFICIT SPENDING
REAGAN: Whether you are looking at the economic policies of Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush, reining in the deficit was clearly of no concern. Reagan tripled the Gross Federal Debt, from $900 billion to $2.7 trillion. Ford and Carter in their combined terms could only double it. It took 31 years to accomplish the first postwar debt tripling, yet Reagan did it in eight. Reagan soared the spending, Clinton brought in back down a bit, and W. took it way back up. To be fair to the Gipper, NO ONE did deficit like W. He spent the Clinton surplus like a drunken sailor. And by the way, Obama's spending initiatives were less than half of his predecessor.

OBAMA: Even though Obama inherited a huge debt from W., and focused on a stimulus that benefited the people instead of Bush's stimulus for Wall Street, he still has a much better record on spending than the Gipper and much better than W. Obama did not triple the gross federal debt like Reagan did. Obama is following the Clinton model of spending up front and then focusing on deficit reduction. I predict at the end of Obama's term in 2016, the deficit will be cut drastically--but it can't be anywhere close to what Reagan or Bush had at the end of their two terms. Why? Because the GOP loves to throw money at their base...tax cuts for Big Oil and the wealthiest amongst us which add hundreds of billions to the debt but create nothing. That ain't happening--you are welcome teabaggers.

UPDATE: From politifact, Obama has cut the national deficit in half!

Another politifact article was actually sent to me from a wingnut troll to prove Obama was bad on the deficit and Reagan was good. Idiot never read his own link. The article clearly stated the worst ever were Reagan and Bush! Facts just don't work on some people.

ABORTION
OBAMA: Believes abortion should be safe, legal and rare. And they are. Abortions under Obama are at their lowest rate since 1973. Granted, as the article says it has more to do with advances in birth control than anything a politician does, but once again shows conservatives to be liars when they claimed abortions would skyrocket under Obama. Although Obama supports reproductive freedom, when the Dems controlled both houses of Congress, he proposed no legislation that would make abortion access easier (which would have been nice because of the constant assault from conservatives).

REAGAN: Stauchly forced-birth. Yet wingnuts never talk about his policies as governor. Reagan signed the "Therapeutic Abortion Act" only six months as California governor. There were 518 legal abortions in California in 1967, and the number of abortions would soar to an annual average of 100,000 in the remaining years of Reagan’s two terms. This was more abortions than in any U.S. state prior to the advent of Roe v. Wade. Just sayin'

GUN CONTROL
(I give Reagan props for this, even though it was only because he got shot. But like his abortion law, conservatives sweep this under the rug:)

REAGAN: COMPLETELY supported the Brady Bill, the holy grail of gun control. Reagan even wrote an op-ed piece for it in the evil NY Times.

OBAMA: The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence flunked Obama on every single gun control issue. Proposed nothing for federal gun control laws when he had a super majority Dem Congress. When he had that Dem majority, in fact, federal gun rights EXPANDED by allowing guns on trains and in our national parks. Yet the NRA still told their idiot members that Obama was coming to take their guns.... and gun sales skyrocketed.

So what's the verdict? Conservatives love affair with Reagan and their hate affair with Obama seems to be bassackwards.

I submit it was REAGAN who was the illegal amnesty-supporting, gun control loving, deficit spending, tax raising, terrorist coddling coward. (As for support of "traditional family values", Obama has a great relationship with his family--Reagan was the first divorced president and was estranged from his children.)

Challenge a conservative to disprove anything I mentioned here. I supported it with the facts. Just be prepared for all kinds of name-calling.

And just to turn the screws... presidential scholars think Obama outranks Reagan as president. So in a few years I expect to be flying into Obama National in DC! Oh, it is going to happen.

Happy birthday Wingnuts!

EXCLUSIVE - Koch Brothers, Rick Scott And Jeb Bush Exposed In Florida Pipeline Scandal

There's an exclusive story on DailyKos today from attorney Steve Medina. Tons of toxic waste is being dumped in the St. Johns River by Koch Brothers company, Georgia-Pacific. Naturally, this involves Jeb Bush and Rick Scott.

READ MORE

News Flash: Prior Corrections Chief Throws Rick Scott Under the Bus!

A timely story here, in light of what I've been saying lately about corrections as a barometer for Scott's intentions. Now you know that even with what little he gave to his new leader of corrections, he's still neglecting the agency in a dangerous way. Don't forget the warning offered by Crews at the end, which sounds a lot like my own:

 “I hope during this session the Legislature and governor recognize how significant it is to properly fund the DOC. If they don’t, there is probably going to be a catastrophe, whether it’s a riot or an officer being killed. Our prisons are not safe.’’

How would a few prison riots look on the GOP resume' during the 2016 elections?

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article8875121.html#storylink=cpy