World News Korner

You know it's true.

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When are we going to recognize that preserving human life is more important than preserving our 2nd Amendment rights?

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Courtesy of NBC News:

Jurors on Saturday found a white Florida man guilty of three counts of attempted murder and one other charge for the fatal shooting of a black teenager over loud music, but a mistrial was declared on the most-serious charge against the defendant — first-degree murder.

The jury convicted Michael Dunn, 47, of three counts of attempted murder in the second degree and one count of firing a deadly missile into an occupied vehicle, but deadlocked on the first-degree murder charge, prompting the judge in the case to declare a mistrial on that charge.

Sentencing on the other charges was set for the week of March 24. Dunn still faces 60 years in prison on the lesser counts. He could face a retrial on the first-degree murder case, which could bring a sentence of life in prison if he was convicted.

Dunn argued he was acting in self-defense when he shot at an SUV 10 times while parked next to four teens at a Jacksonville, Fla., gas station in November 2012.

The shots killed Jordan Davis, 17, of Marietta, Ga.

What in the hell is the problem?

The man killed this unarmed teenager in cold blood for playing his music too loud.

I can tell you right now, with no equivocation, that if the roles had been reversed that Jourdan Davis would be on his way to prison for first degree murder and that the jury would have had no problem finding him guilty.

They should stop calling is "stand your ground" and start calling it what it really is, "a legal excuse to kill black people."

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Courtesy of Dana Milbank of the Washington Post:

The intrigue over the authorship of Sen. Rand Paul’s NSA lawsuit continues. In a column posted Wednesday, I wrote that constitutional lawyer Bruce Fein had been unceremoniously dropped from the complaint after writing it, that he had been replaced on the complaint by former Virginia attorney general Ken Cuccinelli, and that Fein had not been fully paid for his work. I quoted his spokeswoman and ex-wife, Mattie Fein, accusing Cuccinelli of stealing Fein’s work.

After furious complaints from Paul advisers, Fein issued a statement Thursday saying: “Mattie Lolavar was not speaking for me. Her quotes were her own and did not represent my views. I was working on a legal team, and have been paid for my work.”

So that's it right? I mean Rand Paul's history of plagiarism and stealing the intellectual property of others has come to an end.

I mean it's not like somebody has e-mails which contradict this story.

Wait, there ARE e-mails?

Here is the first email Fein wrote, which he sent to Doug Stafford, Paul’s top political advisor.

On Feb 12, 2014, at 1:56 PM, “Bruce Fein” b*****@thelichfieldgroup.com wrote:

Dear Doug,

The protocols for preparing and filing the class action complaint today were hugely suboptimal.

My name was not on the complaint despite the fact that it was predominantly my work product over several weeks and two hundred hours of research, meetings, and drafting. Ken never showed me the final complaint before submission. My name could not be on the complaint under DC Bar Rules because I could not prepare a timely engagement letter. I was never informed until yesterday by Ken of the details of the collaborative arrangement between FreedomWorks and Rand for litigating and paying for the lawsuit. I promptly revised the engagement letter when the information was received, and it has been forwarded via Ken to Rand and FreedomWorks.

I did not learn of the date for filing except by inadvertence from Ken a few days ago.

I was not included in any briefing of Rand about the complaint before filing and press conference today despite the fact that I know vastly more about the Fourth Amendment issue and the history of NSA surveillance than anyone else on the team.

All of this has been especially distressing because I have been an impeccable team player from the outset. I did not ask for an upfront retainer. I did not publicize my role to the media. I heavily discounted my fees. I shared my work product freely with Ken. I responded to all of Ken’s inquiries with alacrity. And I have eagerly defended Rand in the past on Fourth Amendment issues in the media.

Yet I was excluded from key decision points leading up to the filing of the complaint and press conference as though I could not be trusted. I was not only excluded from meetings. I was never informed that they took place and what the decisions were.

My marginalization was thoroughly unfair. Going forward, I expect complete transparency and inclusion on all non-trivial decisions. My name will be on all future pleadings. Ken and I plan to meet shortly to discuss these matters.

My outstanding invoice for work indispensable to the lawsuit should be paid no later than Friday, February 14, an expectation which is completely justified in light of all the circumstances. Please alert me if the work description on the invoice needs alteration.

Thanks for your attention to these matters.

Bruce Fein

Wow, if I did not know any better I would think that this, and all the other e-mails that Dana Milbank has in his possession, prove that Paul's people pressured Mr. Fein into lying in order to protect a man with presidential aspirations.

But that would make Rand Paul a lying douchebag. And nobody thinks that, right?

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Courtesy of HuffPo:

It seems Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has taken up a new cause in Congress -- defending states' right to regulate marriage.

Amid a wave of court decisions striking down anti-gay marriage laws in states, the Texas Republican introduced a bill to the Senate Wednesday to amend U.S. law "with regard to the definition of 'marriage' and 'spouse' for Federal purposes and to ensure respect for State regulation of marriage." Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) is the bill's only co-sponsor so far.

The bill's authors sent out a release about the bill Thursday afternoon, saying "it will ensure the federal government gives the same deference to the 33 states that define marriage as the union between one man and one woman as it does to the 17 states that have chosen to recognize same-sex unions."

“I support traditional marriage. Under President Obama, the federal government has tried to re-define marriage, and to undermine the constitutional authority of each state to define marriage consistent with the values of its citizens,” Cruz said in a statement. “The Obama Administration should not be trying to force gay marriage on all 50 states. We should respect the states, and the definition of marriage should be left to democratically elected legislatures, not dictated from Washington. This bill will safeguard the ability of states to preserve traditional marriage for its residents.”

Oh yeah, coming out on this side of this issue now is kind of like coming out in favor of prohibition on the eve of its repeal. I swear Ted Cruz may be the most self destructive politician in American history.

Even Kansas has decided that their bill, which would allow businesses to discriminate against gay people, cannot pass.

This according to HuffPo:

The Kansas Senate will not pass a bill in its current form that would prevent lawsuits against someone who refuses, for religious reasons, to provide services to gays and lesbians, the chamber's president said Friday.

Senate President Susan Wagle said the bill, which was approved Wednesday in the Kansas House, goes beyond protecting religious freedom. She raised concerns about how the measure could impact businesses that would refuse services to gay couples.

"I believe the intent of the House was to protect religious liberties. We respect that, but the business implications are going to harm the practice of employment in Kansas," said Wagle, a Wichita Republican.

As Slate magazine pointed out, essentially gay rights are here to stay, and there is not much that can be done to stop it.

Smart Democrats, like Texas gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis, recognize which way the wind is blowing. And are embracing this new progress even in deeply red states:

Sen. Wendy Davis said Thursday that she supports same-sex marriage and that Attorney General Greg Abbott, her presumed general-election opponent in the race for governor, should stop defending the state's ban.

“It's my strong belief that when people love each other and are desirous of creating a committed relationship with each other that they should be allowed to marry, regardless of their sexual orientation,” Davis told the Express-News editorial board.

Davis, D-Fort Worth, said she is “pleased” that the state's constitutional definition of marriage, as being between a man and a woman, is under challenge in federal court.

“I think that what we see happening at the federal level in terms of constitutional interpretations on that provide some hope that it may be found unconstitutional,” she said.

Smart woman.

And this new acceptance of the LGBT community has empowered those in the closet to come out in ever increasing numbers.

Even the adorable Ellen Page:

"I am tired of hiding," Hollywood actress Ellen Page announced Friday at an LGBT youth conference in Las Vegas. "I'm tired of lying by omission.

"I’m here today because I am gay," Page, 26, told the audience to a raucous standing ovation. "And because maybe I can make a difference. To help others have an easier and more hopeful time. Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and a social responsibility."

There was a time when the Republicans could run on "family values" and be assured a political victory. But those days have passed.

It is a new day in America. A new gay day in America.




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Courtesy of Jim Romenseko:

The conservative Media Research Center often urges liberal news outlets to TELL THE TRUTH, but the Reston, VA-based press watchdog isn’t telling the truth about its own leader: Brent Bozell doesn’t write the syndicated column that appears under his byline.

It is longtime MRC media analysis director Tim Graham who writes “almost everything published under [Bozell's] name,” a former MRC employee tells me in an email. “That includes his weekly column. Same goes for his books, which at least carry Graham’s name in a secondary billing, but also aren’t written by Bozell (but Bozell keeps 80-90% of the advance and all profits!)”

Not only does Bozell take advantage of Graham, but apparently there is substantial resentment over that fact.

Two other people with ties to MRC confirmed that Graham is Bozell’s ghostwriter – and that Graham is not happy with the assignment.

“Tim just resents having to do it,” says a former employee.

Graham’s wife, too, is so angry about the arrangement that she refuses to attend Media Research Center events.

“She hates Bozell,” I’m told. “The forced ghostwriting is the issue,” says an ex-employee. (Laura Haugan Graham did not respond to an email sent Wednesday via Facebook. I also emailed Bozell and Graham for comment on Wednesday, but did not get responses. I called the Media Research Center offices on Wednesday and left a message that wasn’t returned.)

I have to say that this is really not all that surprising as I believe that the majority of crap that is spewed by these so-called Right Wing intellectuals in books and newspaper columns is actually written down by people who paid attention in school and were not angry that all the big words made their head hurt.

Of course they tried to excuse Bozell's use of a ghostwriter by suggesting that President Obama has help writing his speeches.

This is what Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist and National Society of Newspaper Columnists president Eric Heyl had to say about that:

“The argument that the columnist should be allowed to use a ghostwriter because the president has speechwriters is as limp as pasta left overnight in boiling water. The comparison is ludicrous. The columnist doesn’t have to spend much of his time dealing with a dysfunctional Congress or fretting over Iran’s nuclear program.”

Not only that but the President's job is to run the country, a small part of which is to give the occasional speech, Bozell's job is to write this column and a few books. THAT is his job, and he is not even doing it.

Besides I think we all know that if you locked President Obama in room by himself where he was required to write a speech, he would emerge with an incredible one that would probably both inspire you and move you to tears. After all the man can write!

However apparently Bozell, and I believe a great number of these Right Wing "writers," can't. And the credit they receive for being well versed in their subject matter is as phony as one of Sarah Palin's wigs.

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Courtesy of Right Wing Watch:

We’ve written quite a bit about the Religious Right’s conviction that conservative Christians in the U.S. are facing religious persecution through things like gay rights and the expansion of contraception access.

There is another movie mentioned in the above link that is also called "Persecuted," because you know thinking up titles is hard, but I will focus on the one that has higher production values and actors whose faces you might even recognize. The much higher-budget, star-studded production is directed by 30-year-old Daniel Lusco, whose previous films have included collaborations with End Times alarmist Joel Rosenberg and a fawning documentary about former general and current Family Research Council vice president Jerry Boykin’s anti-Muslim activism. Lusco's "Persecuted" stars James Remar and Dean Stockwell and includes guest appearances by Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson (in her film debut!) and former Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson.

What? The got Fox News bimbo Gretchen Carlson? Wow, they really are pulling out all the stops on this movie!

A press release outlines the plot:

PERSECUTED tells the story of a modern-day evangelist named John Luther, played by SAG Award-nominated and Saturn Award winning actor James Remar ( X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, "Dexter", DJANGO: UNCHAINED, WHAT LIES BENEATH, RED). Luther is the last hold out for a national endorsement to make sweeping reform in freedom of speech. As the government is mandating political correctness while covertly waging a war against religious organizations, a U.S. Senator, portrayed by Oscar-nominated actor Bruce Davison (X-MEN, "Lost", "Castle"), and his political allies create a sinister plan of denial and scandal to frame John Luther for murder. Suddenly his once normal life is turned upside down as he becomes a fugitive vowing to expose those responsible. It is a mission that brings him face-to-face with the coming storm of persecution that will threaten the moral ethics and freedoms of America.

American Center for Law and Justice director Jordan Sekulow, who also has a cameo in the film, explained today to the Christian Post that he doesn’t think the premise of the movie is that far-fetched:

On the surface, "Persecuted" plays out like many government thrillers. Similar to movies based upon Tom Clancy novels, it has a hero with limited resources faced off against corrupt politicians and government officials. Central to the plot, though, is an effort by the president and his cronies to pass the "Faith and Fairness Act," which would be similar to a "fairness doctrine" for religious groups. If this law were passed, religious broadcasters would be required to present all religious points of view when presenting their own point of view.

The notion that such a law could actually be passed in the United States is not out of the realm of possibility, Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, explained to The Christian Post. The law is similar to a resolution that was passed at the United Nations about the defamation of religion.

"It's backed predominantly by Islamic countries, but in the name of tolerance, so that they can criminalize defamation or defamatory speech so that you effectively become a criminal if you say Jesus is the only way, that becomes criminal. So it's real," Sekulow said.

Carlson apparently agrees. She told Charisma (Which I just learned is a Christian magazine.) in December, “There’s a Christian message here, a political message here and I think that it is very timely in regard to what some politicians might do in some cases to get things done.”

Now I know what you are thinking, only a truly paranoid person with a persecution complex would buy into this drivel.

Well you just described the Christian Right to a T.

Here is what Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said right out loud in front of actual people in a speech:

“The American people, whether they know it or not, are mired in a silent war,” Jindal will say at the Simi Valley, Calif., event. “It threatens the fabric of our communities, the health of our public square and the endurance of our constitutional governance.”

“This war is waged in our courts and in the halls of political power,” he adds, according to the prepared remarks. “It is pursued with grim and relentless determination by a group of like-minded elites, determined to transform the country from a land sustained by faith into a land where faith is silenced, privatized and circumscribed.”

That's right folks we are mired in a "secret war" of protecting our citizens from discrimination that is based on a religious bias, keeping superstition out of our public science classrooms, and supporting freedom of religion, and freedom FROM religion, for all American citizens.

So in short these people feel that they are being persecuted by the fact that they are not allowed to persecute others whose lifestyle they disagree with or who do not believe in their god.

Yeah, how unfair.

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Courtesy of TPM:

Bill Nye spent the 1990s providing science lessons to America's youth. Now he's pushing back against the country's know-nothing adults.

Nye will continue his crusade against misinformation this Sunday on "Meet the Press" with a debate against proud climate change denier Marsha Blackburn, the Republican congresswoman who serves as the vice chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee.

As many of you know Nye handed Creationist Ken Ham this ass in a recent debate, and now Nye is girding his loins to take on these moronic climate science deniers, starting with Blackburn.

Blackburn as some may or may not remember once accused climate scientists of doctoring their research in order to attract further funding and manipulate politicians.

Oh yeah I think this is one MTP that I will make sure not to miss.

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Courtesy of Slate:

The advice comes from the best possible source, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. The reason they are good role models is because despite having 19 kids, the “romance is still strong.” In fact, they are “like a newlywed couple every day,” says Jim Bob. The No. 1 secret? “Say yes to sex, even when you’re tired.” Apparently a friend once gave Michelle advice she will never forget: “In your marriage there will be times you're going to be very exhausted. Your hubby comes home after a hard day's work, you get the baby to bed, and he is going to be looking forward to that time with you. ... Anyone can fix him lunch, but only one person can meet that physical need of love that he has, and you always need to be available when he calls.” But don’t worry. This isn’t creepy or anything, because, “it's not all sexytime at the Duggars. They abstain when Michelle has her period, and also after childbirth: 80 days before sex if it's a girl, 40 days after a boy.”

Wow! What a revelation to married folks everywhere.

If you always give in to the needs and desires of your spouse, regardless of how you feel, then they will always be happy. And if you are like Mrs Duggar, a person whose identity is completely secondary to that of her husband, that means by definition that the maria will be happy.

Just so long as you don't want any autonomy of your own, or desire to be more than your husband's maid, live in cook, or sex slave.

These people have nineteen children. That is not a marriage that is a puppy mill for human beings.

This woman is not happy, she is simply too exhausted to attempt to analyze her emotions.

Perhaps I am not the best person to share my opinion, since I am twice divorced, but I could never be in a relationship with a woman who simply caved to my whims simply to keep me happy, or hid her emotions from me for fear of upsetting me.

That is how a whipped dog acts toward its abusive master, not how a wife should act toward their loving husbands.

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