July 27, 2014

The New York Times calls for a second end to prohibition.

It took 13 years for the United States to come to its senses and end Prohibition, 13 years in which people kept drinking, otherwise law-abiding citizens became criminals and crime syndicates arose and flourished. It has been more than 40 years since Congress passed the current ban on marijuana, inflicting great harm on society just to prohibit a substance far less dangerous than alcohol.

The federal government should repeal the ban on marijuana.

We reached that conclusion after a great deal of discussion among the members of The Times’s Editorial Board, inspired by a rapidly growing movement among the states to reform marijuana laws.

There are no perfect answers to people’s legitimate concerns about marijuana use. But neither are there such answers about tobacco or alcohol, and we believe that on every level — health effects, the impact on society and law-and-order issues — the balance falls squarely on the side of national legalization. That will put decisions on whether to allow recreational or medicinal production and use where it belongs — at the state level.


the rest (quite a spread NYT):
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/27/opinion/sunday/high-time-marijuana-legalization.html?_r=0

July 27, 2014

If the Kents Had Been "Patriots"...

http://bobcesca.thedailybanter.com/blog-archives/2014/07/patriots.html

July 27, 2014

Couple's Response To Pro-Life Protesters Couldn't Be Better

More (LOL) Pics Here: http://saturdaychores.tumblr.com/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/25/counter-protest-pro-lifers_n_5621936.html

July 27, 2014

Something's A Little Off Here - And I Think It Might Be Sarah Palin…

Judge for yourself: Did Sarah Palin get into Aunty Peggy Noonan's jar of Magic Dolphin Pills before her speech in Denver this week?
http://crooksandliars.com/2014/07/sarah-palins-oddball-speech-denver-sounds



For those of us in need of some comic relief, Sarah Palin, once again, delivers. In some ways, watching parts of the Western Conservative Summit, in Colorado, is excruciating. But in more ways, it's pretty damn amusing. That is, if you can make it through Dan 'All Racists Must Be Atheists' Caplis's intro. He says:

"It is a privilege to be in the same room as Governor Sarah Palin. Stop and think about it for a second. Governor Palin is the most influential woman in the history of the Republican party."

(Okay, if you say so.)

And then he steps into it deeper:


"And she remains one of the most influential political figures of the 21st century."

(Now, Sir - I do protest!)

Sarah starts at about 4:00 (LOL):
More Video:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/27/1317010/-Something-s-A-Little-Off-Here-And-I-Think-It-Might-Be-Sarah-Palin

July 26, 2014

The Big Lie That Still Plagues Humanity

The Big Lie That Still Plagues Humanity

(7-26-2014 Edition)


The Big Lie enables people to think they are more worthy and superior to others. That big lie has been told throughout the history of humanity, and of course it has taken many forms.

The Big Lie has been the most extreme when told by fascist leaders who have operated and still operate under a cloak of patriotism and religiosity, appealing to the ego, pride and prejudices of the gullible people that blindly follow them. However, that is not the most dangerous form of The Big Lie.

The most dangerous and wide sweeping big lie has proven to be as it was told in the most charming way, with self-deprecating good humor used to cunningly disarm, mislead and deceive — a way that successfully pulled the wool over many Americans’ eyes for the last 34 years.

In America The Big Lie in many forms was revived by Reaganism, which enabled certain Americans to think they are more worthy and superior because of their wealth, religion, nationality and partisan political ideology. And, unfortunately, those forms of The Big Lie have gradually over time made it easier for right-wing hypocrites and bigots to revive their other prejudices and once again assume that their race or gender or ethnicity or culture is also superior. Consequently, The Big Lie has gotten worse.





...............



deep:
http://messenger.cjcmp.org/biglie.html

July 26, 2014

Dear Administrators

I accidentally hit:
Don't ask me again
for DU Jury...

as much as I don't like deciding on the appropriateness of posts,
I did not mean to say NEVER.

can I hit a reset button?

peace and thanks,
kp

July 26, 2014

Billionaire Blasts Companies That Jump Overseas To Duck Taxes: ‘I’m Selling Your Stock’

Billionaire Blasts Companies That Jump Overseas To Duck Taxes: ‘I’m Selling Your Stock’

As more and more American corporations have used mergers and shell companies to shift profits and shrink their U.S. tax liabilities over the past few years, there has generally been a sharp divide between populists who decry the maneuvers and investors who celebrate them.

Friday morning saw a high-profile defection from the economic elites’ camp, however, as outspoken billionaire investor Mark Cuban pledged to sell off his holdings in companies that move offshore for tax reasons. “If I own stock in your company and you move offshore for tax reasons I’m selling your stock,” Cuban tweeted.

https://twitter.com/mcuban/statuses/492636707011829760

MORE:
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/07/25/3464235/billionaire-blasts-overseas-mergers/

July 26, 2014

House Republican Hearing On The Harmful Impact of Obamacare Completely Backfires

A House Republican hearing on the harmful impact of Obamacare on Medicare Advantage completely backfired when the expert witnesses that Republicans invited disagreed with them.

............................

The Republicans quickly crashed and burned when their own witnesses disagreed with them.

Chris Wing of SCAN Health Plan said, “The MA program continues to grow in popularity. It gives seniors and other eligible individuals what they want: choice, coordination of care, affordability. It has begun to put the incentives in place for constant quality improvement by rewarding collaboration between providers and plans. Congress should have a strong interest in seeing the continued advancement of Medicare Advantage.”

Joe Baker of the Medicare Rights Center testified, “Many predicted that ACA changes to MA payment methods would lead to widespread disruption of the MA market. However, there is little evidence that this has occurred. In fact, it is important to note that MA enrollment is at an all-time high, with nearly 16 million beneficiaries now enrolled in an MA plan, representing a steadily growing percentage of beneficiaries. In addition, premium costs, benefit levels, and the availability of MA plans remain relatively stable across the country.”

Robert Book of Health Systems Innovation Network told the committee, “Since its inception, Medicare Advantage has proved to be one of the most popular and successful components of Medicare, with enrollment steadily increasing over time.”

...........

the rest:
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/07/24/house-republican-hearing-harmful-impact-obamacare-completely-backfires.html

July 26, 2014

Good Lord! Look At The Mess...

July 26, 2014

NSA Got Into Bed with the Saudis Just Before Our Technical Cooperation Agreement Expanded

DOC HERE: http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1236112-saudi-arabia-information-paper.html

Between January 14 and 16, 2013 MbN traveled to Washington and met with just about every top National Security person (many of whom, including Brennan, were just assuming new jobs). On January 16, MbN and Hillary Clinton renewed and expanded the Technical Cooperation Agreement initiated in 2008. The TCA was modeled on the JECOR program used from the late 1970s until 2000 to recycle US dollars into development programs in Saudi Arabia; in this more recent incarnation, the Saudis recycle dollars into things like a 30,000 mercenary army and other military toys for internal stability and border control. Last year’s renewal — signed just over a month after Clapper made the Saudis full Third Person partners – added cybersecurity to the portfolio. The TCA — both the existing security resources and its expansion under close ally MbN — shored up the power base of one of our closest partners (and at a time when we were already panicking about Saudi succession).

In other words, in addition to expanding Saudi capabilities at a time when it has been cracking down on peaceful dissent, which is what the Intercept story on this document discusses, by giving the Saudi MOI Third Party status, we added to the power of a key ally within the royal family, and did so at a time when the TCA was already shoring up his power base.

We did so, the Information Paper makes clear, in part because MOI has access to internal Saudi telecommunications. While the Information paper talks about AQAP and Iran’s Republican Guard, they are also targeting Saudi targets.

And these new capabilities? They get coordinated through Chief of Station in Riyadh, the CIA. John Brennan’s agency.

It’s all very tidy, don’t you think?


MORE:
http://www.emptywheel.net/2014/07/25/nsa-got-into-bed-with-the-saudis-just-before-our-technical-cooperation-agreement-expanded/