Homophobia, Mark Nuemann and the Republican Party. Should there be Gay Discriminated for Jobs? Yes!

Here in Wisconsin, former congressman and now gubernatorial candidate Mark Nuemann has garnered the important Senatorial endorsement of Tom Coburn. Two peas in a pod according Neumann’s campaign. But in an article by Milwaukee Journal Sentinal reporter Dan Bice, that similarity might not be saying much.

Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, once said gay people represented a greater threat to America than terrorism. "The gay community has infiltrated the very centers of power in every area across this country, and they wield extreme power," Coburn said in 2004, according to Salon. "That agenda is the greatest threat to our freedom that we face today. Why do you think we see the rationalization for abortion and multiple sexual partners? That's a gay agenda."

Wow, not only is that enough to take your breath away, it’s also something your campaign would immediately distance itself from with a press release. But that didn’t happen. Is it possible to believe such fiction and gay fear mongering? Mark Neumann does!

While still a member of Congress, he told The New York Times: "If I was elected God for a day, homosexuality wouldn't be permitted, but nobody's electing me God."

In an address to the Christian Coalition as he geared up to challenge U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, Neumann also suggested that he would not hire an openly gay staffer. "If somebody walks in to me and says, 'I'm a gay person, I want a job in your office,' I would say that's inappropriate, and they wouldn't be hired because that would mean they are promoting their agenda," he said in 1997, according to the Journal Sentinel and other media outlets.

It’s interesting to note some commenter's criticized Bice for focusing on the gay issue, instead of the more important pursuit of creating jobs and cutting taxes.

But do you think for one minute Republicans won’t resurrect every wedge issue imaginable and then some, like legislation prohibiting lawmakers from voting on bills after 10 p.m. and before 9 a.m. and a constitutional amendment to ban preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, and national origin?

Can we even afford considering the last two pieces of legislative incoherence in these tough times?

The Last Word on Lieberman's Ridiculous Citizenship Revocation bill. Take it away Jonathan Turley...

Republican Candidate Dan Finnelly, Racist Funnyman.

Dan Finnelly, a Republican nomination for Florida’s 8th district, is the subject of well deserved ridicule by Jon Stewart on a recent daily show:

As blatantly racist as that was, many conservatives believe that because the ad was "funny," it was therefore NOT racist. That's why many Republicans find racist and white supremacist Rush Limbaugh a laugh riot.

At David Horowitz's NewsRealBlog, contributor Mark Meed demonstrates the right wings total lack of good taste and humor.

Olbermann’s essential beef seems to be that Finnelly advocates some kind of rational screening policy at airports. This leads Olbermann to to apply both the “R” word and the “P” word, then respond to Finnely’s clearly self-effacing joke with a zinger of his own. So … clearly the less-than-ripped, balding Finnelly is poking a little fun at himself while making a larger point.

Crazy talk? Try this reader comment on for size:

Good analysis. Refreshingly well-written. Olbermann has no identity other than being fueled by what he hates.

Health Care Reform Regulations "Confusing" to Poor Hospitals and Doctors. We're crying alligator Tears.

In an article titled, "Health care arms race," the Chicago Tribune editorial attempted to portray the hospitals and doctors as the innocent victims of government meddling. For instance, the first paragraph reads:

"Doctors and hospitals are still trying to decipher what the new health care law means to them."

Like we could ever decipher our own patient billing and admissions papers. Aww, the poor hospitals are confused.

But then the editorial went on to complain how our corporate caretakers won't be keeping their double dip tax credit, a gift given to them by business friendly Republicans, a gift no "Joe Blow" citizen could ever dream of getting. It's tough when corporations has to pay their fair share like the rest of us.

But some big American companies — including AT&T, Boeing, Abbott Laboratories, Caterpillar … lost a sweet tax break. They'll be paying millions more for their retirees' drug benefits, if they keep providing those benefits.

IF they keep providing those benefits? Would capitalism abandon their former hard working employees? Damn right. How "free" do you feel now. And who gets to pick up tab, you and me and Medicare.

Sweet freedom, sweet capitalism.

Ryan continues to Ignore the Final Devastating Criticism of his "Road Map" Disaster.

Peddling his snake oil solution to America's economic problems, using a CBO report filled with caveats and disclaimers, Ryan is convinced no one will notice the final report on his plan. Check it out here.

Give credit to Upfront's Mike Gousha (Goo-shay) for bringing it up, even though he gave the impression the "Road Map" criticism was pure opinion, and not the hard cold facts. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities looked at the tax implications of Ryan's "Road Map to a Dickensian America" and point by point smashed his screwy arguments. Video blocked by Hearts Corp. even though it's news and relevant to the story. And by the way, where are the tea party protesters with there primary candidate for Ryan's job? Ryan voted for the TARP:

Long Island Press Excerpt: Bennett has a lifetime rating of 84 percent from the American Conservative Union, but was targeted by tea partyers for voting in favor of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) bank bailout in 2008.

Ryan Blames Greece while ignoring U.S. Role in Global Meltdown.

Rep. Paul Ryan simply forgot how Greece and the rest of Europe was thrown into economic chaos due to his parties "free market" deregulation of Wall Street and reckless spending. It all started with Reagan, but took off when they took power of congress in 1995. We wouldn't be talking about any of this if the U.S. hadn't cause the near global depression.

And yes it's a global economy, so ignoring our role in destabilizing our trading partners and blaming them, is typical of Ryan and his fellow irresponsible Republicans.

Video Blocked by Hearst Corp.

Movie Studios can now Disable You're Media Stuff at Home!

I can't say I'm happy about this copy protection scheme endorsed by the Democratically dominated FCC.

(AP) - Federal regulators are endorsing Hollywood's efforts to let cable and satellite TV companies turn off output connections on the back of set-top boxes to prevent illegal copying of movies. The decision by the FCC is intended to encourage studios to make movies available for home viewing on demand soon after they hit theaters or even at the same time.

(But) critics say the blocking technology could prohibit legal recordings on some video recorders and other devices with analog connections. "We are unsure when the FCC has ever before given private entities the right to disable consumers' products in their homes," the Consumer Electronics Association said in a statement. "The fact that the motion picture studios want to create a new business model does not mean that functioning products should be disabled by them."

Here’s the rub, and why this is so surprising from a liberal dominated commission.

The FCC prohibits the use of so-called "selectable output control" technology, which encodes video programming with a signal to remotely disable set-top box output connections. The FCC granted a waiver from those rules on Friday at the request of the MPAA. The FCC said the waiver is therefore in the public interest, because the studios are unlikely to offer new movies so soon after their theatrical release without such controls … the agency stressed that its waiver includes several important conditions, including limits on how long studios can use the blocking technology.

The FCC said the technology cannot be used on a particular movie once it is out on DVD or Blu-Ray, or after 90 days from the time it is first used on that movie, whichever comes first.

The real issue is this: How long will it be before other content providers decide their programming needs a similar buffer time for copy protection? The FCC must already know HD movies are impossible to record now, thanks to protections built into HDMI connections. Analog recordings of regular definition movies, even the latest greatest releases in letterbox, look horrible and lack the sound quality demanded by today's consumer. Still, I do understand why they’re so intent on getting their movies out earlier.

Companies … have been trying to shorten the time between theatrical and home video releases, partly to benefit from one round of marketing buzz and partly to head off piracy.

And with the advent of 3D, good luck trying to copy that. Damn.

Republican Mantra: With Power, Comes Greater Irresponsibility.

This is a little round-up of some conservative "droppings" spread around this news cycle: Newsbusters:

With Katie Couric drawing him out, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg agreed the Times Square car bombing was likely “homegrown” as he proceeded, in an interview excerpt run on Monday's CBS Evening News, to speculate it could have been placed by “somebody with a political agenda who doesn't like the health care bill or something. It could be anything.”

Could be “anything,” but the first thing Bloomberg thinks of are those who don't like ObamaCare, presumably conservatives or Tea Party activists.

Daily Kos:

Notorious NARTH member and vigorous gay adoption opponent Dr. George Rekers was caught by the Miami New Times as he returned from a ten-day vacation with a young male prostitute that he hired on Rentboy.com. Rekers is a board member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), an organization that systematically attempts to turn gay people straight. And the Huffington Post recently singled out Rekers as a member of the American College of Pediatricians — an official-sounding outfit in Gainesville that purveys lurid, youth-directed literature accusing gays of en masse coprophilia. (In an email, the college's Lisa Hawkins wrote, "ACPeds feels privileged to have a scholar of Dr. Rekers' stature affiliated with our organization. I am sure you will find Prof. Rekers to be an immaculate clinician/scholar, and a warm human being.")

From Think Progress, if you ever wanted to know how crazy conservative voters are getting now, this should clear things up:

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) delivered a national security screed at the Heritage Foundation, a DC-based conservative think tank.

And here's an actual audience member question:

Guy in audience to Rep. Eric Cantor: My question is – and this is something I personally don’t understand – if it’s a naïve question then I apologize: in light of what Obama has done to leave us vulnerable, to cut defense spending, to make us vulnerable to outside enemies, and to slight our allies, how (pause) – what would he have to do differently to be defined as a domestic enemy? (applause)

I couldn't resist this beauty from Rush at Media Matters: "Limbaugh: Obama "looks at people of color as the genuine owners of the world's wealth who have been shut out of it"".

Obama "unfortunately won" According to online definition.

Hey Republicans, still smarting over Obama's big election win? Don't worry, you're winning the propaganda wars, so it can't be all bad.

Check out the below "definition" of "RUN AGAINST" in this English online definition. From Thom Hartmann's blog.


Crazy alert: "Obama slammed in on-line grammar textbook" by Mark Crispin Miller. Click image to enlarge.

John McCain throws out reading Miranda Rights: Cafeteria Constitutionalist!

This is how crazy the news media is about creating a "controversy."

Washington Post headline: "Times Square bombing arrest allows GOP to revive 'Miranda' debate"

"…congressional Republicans wasted no time in reviving the debate on whether to read Miranda rights to a terror suspect. The Miranda issue rose to prominence in the aftermath of the failed attempt to blow up an airliner on Christmas Day."

It's not a debate. It's not up for debate. It's illegal not to read a suspect his Miranda rights.

But the narrative is controlled by the Republican Party because of its "emotional" appeal, and encouraged by the press, who can't seem to get enough of these mindless "controversies."

FBI Deputy Director John Pistole said Shahzad was initially interrogated by the FBI under the "public safety exception to the Miranda rule" and … was later Mirandized … Pistole declined to say how long Shahzad was in custody before he was Mirandized.

The Daily Shows Jon Stewart painfully pointed out how Glenn Beck stood up for the rule of law, while Sen. John McCain stood out as a cafeteria constitutionalist.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), appearing on Don Imus's morning talk show, came out hard against affording Shahzad, a naturalized American citizen, his constitutional rights.

"Obviously that would be a serious mistake ... at least until we find out as much information we have. Don't give this guy his Miranda rights until we find out what it's all about."

It's not a debate, it's the law you vacuous ass.

Major Equipment Meltdown Slows Democurmudgeon's Blog Entries.

It's killing me.

The "stuff" that made adding stories and video so fast and efficient ended its life cycle last week, making my life a living hell. All the zany GOP statements about the oil debacle and terrorist attempt are out there, sure, but that's not how I typically get this stuff. So I'm a little out of rhythm right now. I will continue to add stories, just fewer of them this week.

Hopefully, next week will see a torrent of new additions.

He's not Politicizing Obamacare! Does AG Van Hollen also want us to believe in the tooth fairy too?

Did you hear the one... about Wisconsin's "Attorney General General J.B. Van Hollen (being) involved in e-mail exchanges about filing a lawsuit to block the new federal healthcare law…" for political purposes?

Of course he would have you believe that he is only thinking of protecting you from an unconstitutional mandate of buying our own health insurance.

It's just a coincidence that:

Madison.com: (campaign manager) Chirag Shah was copied on e-mails between staff members from attorney general offices in various states, a GOP political consultant who works with the Republican State Leadership Committee, and Ray Taffora, a deputy attorney general from Wisconsin. The e-mails, obtained by the Wisconsin State Journal discuss plans for states to join Florida in a lawsuit to block the healthcare law, and the deadline for being included on the complaint.

"I wanted to gather as much information as I could," Shah said.

That's all there is to it. It has nothing to do with firing up the base, making it a campaign issue or trying to get free health insurance for conservative freeloaders worried about their constitutional liberties.

It's like saying personal responsibility is one thing, but taking real personal responsibility is another.

While J.B. and other Republican ideologues complain that you shouldn't get something for nothing, they are now whining about not getting something for nothing. Hey, that's why we have charities and emergency rooms right, it's free? Will you take a chicken?

Protecting your freedoms and constitutional liberties, Tea Party Movement missing in Action.

I can't stress enough how incredibly interesting it is for the tea party movement to be "missing in action" over the "show me your papers" law in Arizona. Not one press release, not one protest, not a peep. Perhaps the compilation of clips below will provide a few answers. It's not pretty.

The Popular Pope Song Offends and Stays with you All Day.

I saw this video at Super Jesus, and couldn't get it out of my head. A real ear worm. Similar to South Park, this cartoon video features the word motherf***er from beginning to end, so I would warn anyone playing this to consider who might be listening. But like I said, it's a catchy tune.

Ezra Klein on the cost of Health Reform: "covering 34 million Americans is worth adding a percentage point..."

If you haven't noticed already, the Washington Post's Ezra Klein knows health reform, and this lates piece of information about the horrific rising cost to consumers in the next 9 years by Republicans is really... just bluster.

Third Way, the centrist policy outfit, sent over its own analysis of the data. "The fact is that by 2019, national health spending per insured person will be $15,132 compared to $16,812 without the new law," they write. "That’s 10 percent less spending per insured person than it would have been, according to the actuary’s report."

As Third Way says: "The actuary’s report shows that the nation will be getting a bigger bang for its health care buck. For a mere two-tenths of one percent more in health care spending, the new health care law will cover most of the uninsured and more Americans will be healthier and living longer because they will be getting treatments like cancer care and heart surgery that had previously been denied them."

Accidental Democratic Congress and President. How did that happen?

With a Democratic president, and huge Democratic majorities in congress, did you know 70 percent of the country is "center right?" Who the hell voted in '06 and '08? Newt's got the answer:

Media Matters: Gingrich says it's an "accident" that we're governed by "very left-wing radicals"

Got Deficit Problems, why not Cut Taxes and Spending? NO. The Answer: Give People Jobs.

The Economic Policy Institute shocked me back to reality.

While I am constantly exposing myself to a lot of Republican rhetoric, a job I need a break from, I find that slowly but surely I too am drawn into the weeds and murky water. Think about it; Instead of proposing tax cuts to reduce the deficit, why not go to the source of the problem, the recession and joblessness. Dah! Notice too that the article points how horrific Rep. Paul Ryan's economic "Road Maps" is for our future. That's a rarity nowadays and a bit of honesty you won't get from the other media sources that continue to praise Ryan for his "courage."

EPI: Deficit reduction begins with getting people back to work. "The large deficits of the last couple of years are largely a result of the recession, which has dramatically reduced tax receipts and increased the need for many government services," EPI President Lawrence Mishel said in a statement on April 27, issued ahead of the first meeting of President Obama's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

"The first step toward reducing the deficit, therefore, is getting Americans back to work. It is shameful to permit concerns about the deficit to stop much-needed investments in job creation at a time when so many Americans want and need a job." Mishel stressed … "It is important not to let the rhetoric outrun the facts."

Rep. Paul Ryan, who also participated on the panel with Mishel, argued that the country's existing social insurance system would not be sustainable in the 21st century. Ryan, a member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, is the author of the Roadmap for America's Future, which outlines a series of budget reforms, including large cuts in Social Security and Medicare benefits. In March, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities published an analysis of Ryan's budget proposals finding that they "would result in a massive transfer of resources from the broad majority of Americans to the nation's wealthiest individuals."

Recent EPI research has shown that the families with the highest incomes are enjoying a disproportionate share of income growth, while also seeing tax rates fall. The Huffington Post quoted Mishel arguing that cutting Social Security benefits would hurt lower-income people disproportionately.

Deficits and interest rates: No clear connection … In his new paper, Budget Deficits and Interest Rates, EPI economist Josh Bivens explains the fallacy of that argument and shows that, as long as private demand for new borrowing and spending is weak, higher interest rates are not likely to result.

Prostate Vaccine Offers Hope for a Cure.

When I saw this Newsy story on the new vaccine treatment for prostate cancer, I immediately thought "how would the vaccine effect the early stages of the disease?"

That question is brought at the very end of the video below, offering up the promise of current or future testing trials. We can only hope, despite the massive cost of making the vaccine, that many are given the treatment so developers are able to fine tune and successfully do away with cancer completely in its early stages.

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The Complete Absence of the Tea Party Protesters over Arizona's Bizarre "can I see your papers" Law Says it All.

The discussion should be: Why are the tea parties completely silent right now? We're getting nothing from them when it comes to our big government asking for "your papers please." While the rest of the country is motivated and protesting, tea party protesters are suddenly absent, completely out of the picture. Not their fight?

Draw your own conclusions, but apparently "big government" works just fine if it's going after someone else, and not retired white guys on Medicare protesting their own assistance and Social Security checks.

The tea party movement exposed themselves as racist-self-interested-elitist-low information Americans. Freedom and liberty my ass.

Here's Chris Matthews and the Daily Beast's Peter Beinart's take on obvious:

Health Care Reform Spurs on Medical Innovation! Change can be Good?

What if the unintended "consequences" are actually resulting in innovation and lower premiums? That's what is taking place now. Change brings other changes, which in turn, will result in more experimentation. Like the following:

Dallas Morning News: Wildly different prices for the same medical procedures, sometimes in the same towns, are prompting doctors and hospitals across the nation to experiment with new ways to cut unpredictable health care spending that often leaves consumers bewildered and financially ruined. In one closely watched test beginning in August, several of California's best-known health care providers.

That's a radical departure from the traditional practice of hospitals and doctors charging separately for their services, a fragmented system that drives up costs while leaving no one to coordinate decisions about patient care. Leading experts say the California experiment and others like it nationwide offer a glimpse into the future of health care spending.

The federal government already is testing similar "bundled" payments for its Medicare program in Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. And President Barack Obama's new health care law calls for exploring additional arrangements for surgical services for the elderly and the poor. Advocates believe that greater cooperation among health care providers will ultimately slow the rise of spending and drive down insurance premiums.

Under the new approach, hospitals and doctors say they expect to share in savings when patients recover promptly, while bearing the risk of additional expenses when complications arise.

Get a load of this change brought about by health care reform:

AP: Several health insurers said Wednesday they plan an early start on a slice of health care reform by pledging to limit the circumstances in which they cancel coverage when a customer gets sick.

Let's hope many of these changes will drive down costs. But returning to a system that leaves so many people at financial and medical risk, while the private sector decides whether its worth the expense to change, is inhumane and a public danger.

The road to health care security is always under construction, and that's a good thing.