Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Mira
Mira's Journal
Mira's Journal
March 31, 2016
Tonight's the night in my opinion. The decline of the Donald has begun a freefall
His lunatic self let himself get caught in the verbiage of Tweety's pushing.
Mr. Trump has started shoveling a grave for himself by saying women ought to be penalized / prosecuted in some yet undefined way if they get an abortion
(whether he rescinded it later to put the onus on abortion doctors is irrelevant)
and then to answer the question if men who get women pregnant should also be punished with a "No".
This was in my opinion the stop in time when asinine statements, and shocking revelations of skin thin thought processes have turned and will no longer provide a new climb in the polls.
I predict the reverse will happen, they will go down now, and he will lose Wisconsin for starters.
I have been waiting for the worm to turn and I think this will do it.
I don't agree with a DU thread in progress that MSNBC let us down by pushing this issue into the forefront of tonight's long individual interviews as the most important thing. I think it was just that important, and new info, and needed to be featured on the front burner.
The back pedaling the Donald did by later blaming the doctors simply indicates he caught on and tried to wipe the stain off the floor.
March 29, 2016
For me there was a time being born and raised in the state of North Carolina carried a great sense of pride. If you take a moment to reflect on it, we’ve got everything that you could ever ask for. Great eating, breathtaking scenery, amazing sports teams, and a diverse population. North Carolina as a whole is steeped in tradition and has rightfully substantiated it’s place in American history. We’re the home of The Lost Colony, the place where Babe Ruth hit his first home run as a professional, and where The Wright Brothers first took flight. Not to mention we’re the home of Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player that has ever lived.
“And in 2016, it appears that we’ve got it wrong again.”
But to be truthful, we have been known to be tardy when it comes to getting on the right side of history. We were the last state to pass an ordinance of secession during The Civil War. The University of North Carolina, which Michael Jordan attended, just started integrating African-American students in 1955. The city of Greensboro is known more for the 1960’s Woolworth sit-ins and the 1979 KKK “Greensboro Massacre” than as the home of Loretta Lynch, the first female African-American US Attorney General. And in 2016, it appears that we’ve got it wrong again.
On March 23 The Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, better known as House Bill 2, was signed by Gov. Pat McCrory (R) less than 12 hours after being introduced by the North Carolina General Assembly. Numerous critics are now referring to the bill as the most Anti-LGBT bill in the United States. The first lines of the bill say that it is “A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR SINGLE SEX MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY BATHROOM AND CHANGING FACILITIES IN SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES AND TO CREATE STATEWIDE CONSISTENCY IN REGULATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS.” So you’re probably thinking, “what’s the big deal”?
“It’s more than just some LBGT legislation that the language of the bill suggests.”
Many believe that this is simply a law that is made to make sure that people are using the restrooms and facilities related to their biological sex. It is much more than that. One of the things that a lot of people fail to realize is some of the actual underwriting of the bill itself. It’s more than just some LBGT legislation that the language of the bill suggests. For starters, the law now declares that state law overrides all local ordinances concerning employment, public accommodations and wages. That means should your county or city officials choose to raise minimum wage in your local municipality, now they can’t. The more affluent counties that can afford and wish to pay employees more are no longer allowed to under this “LBGT law.”
So where’s the discrimination in wanting men to use a men’s restroom and vice versa? Where’s the discrimination in protecting our children from sexual predators that may want to enter the privacy of their bathroom? For one, people who identify as transgender seem to be more likely to be assaulted in a bathroom or locker room. Concerning sexually predatory behavior, the previous Charlotte ordinance that protected those who identify as LGBT does not protect sexual predators from prosecution. Charlotte passed an ordinance that did not allow businesses to discriminate against gay, lesbian or transgender customers in addition to long-standing protections based on race, age, religion and gender. The North Carolina General Assembly overturned it and it now applies statewide. For example, now if you have had sexual reassignment surgery to become a man, law mandates that you have to use the same restroom as someone’s mother, wife, or daughter. The law also allows businesses to refuse to serve people who identify as gay, lesbian or transgender since they are no longer protected under said law.
The financial backlash of this has the potential to be utterly catastrophic. According to the Human Rights Campaign, the state is now at risk of losing $4.5 billion in federal funding because it is in direct violation of the federal non-discrimination act Title IX. Numerous global companies and entities such as, but not limited to, the NBA, Apple, Dow Chemical, IBM, Google, and Bank Of America have openly expressed deep concern and distaste for the law.
North Carolina has been making great leaps and strides progressively in recent years but once again, it seems like we take two steps forward and twenty steps back.
The law goes into effect April 1.
This is not the North Carolina I’m proud of.
from:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ronnie-c-rouse/what-is-wrong-with-north-carolina_b_9548006.html
“What is wrong with North Carolina” musing editorial by Ronnie C. Rouse
For me there was a time being born and raised in the state of North Carolina carried a great sense of pride. If you take a moment to reflect on it, we’ve got everything that you could ever ask for. Great eating, breathtaking scenery, amazing sports teams, and a diverse population. North Carolina as a whole is steeped in tradition and has rightfully substantiated it’s place in American history. We’re the home of The Lost Colony, the place where Babe Ruth hit his first home run as a professional, and where The Wright Brothers first took flight. Not to mention we’re the home of Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player that has ever lived.
“And in 2016, it appears that we’ve got it wrong again.”
But to be truthful, we have been known to be tardy when it comes to getting on the right side of history. We were the last state to pass an ordinance of secession during The Civil War. The University of North Carolina, which Michael Jordan attended, just started integrating African-American students in 1955. The city of Greensboro is known more for the 1960’s Woolworth sit-ins and the 1979 KKK “Greensboro Massacre” than as the home of Loretta Lynch, the first female African-American US Attorney General. And in 2016, it appears that we’ve got it wrong again.
On March 23 The Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, better known as House Bill 2, was signed by Gov. Pat McCrory (R) less than 12 hours after being introduced by the North Carolina General Assembly. Numerous critics are now referring to the bill as the most Anti-LGBT bill in the United States. The first lines of the bill say that it is “A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR SINGLE SEX MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY BATHROOM AND CHANGING FACILITIES IN SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES AND TO CREATE STATEWIDE CONSISTENCY IN REGULATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS.” So you’re probably thinking, “what’s the big deal”?
“It’s more than just some LBGT legislation that the language of the bill suggests.”
Many believe that this is simply a law that is made to make sure that people are using the restrooms and facilities related to their biological sex. It is much more than that. One of the things that a lot of people fail to realize is some of the actual underwriting of the bill itself. It’s more than just some LBGT legislation that the language of the bill suggests. For starters, the law now declares that state law overrides all local ordinances concerning employment, public accommodations and wages. That means should your county or city officials choose to raise minimum wage in your local municipality, now they can’t. The more affluent counties that can afford and wish to pay employees more are no longer allowed to under this “LBGT law.”
So where’s the discrimination in wanting men to use a men’s restroom and vice versa? Where’s the discrimination in protecting our children from sexual predators that may want to enter the privacy of their bathroom? For one, people who identify as transgender seem to be more likely to be assaulted in a bathroom or locker room. Concerning sexually predatory behavior, the previous Charlotte ordinance that protected those who identify as LGBT does not protect sexual predators from prosecution. Charlotte passed an ordinance that did not allow businesses to discriminate against gay, lesbian or transgender customers in addition to long-standing protections based on race, age, religion and gender. The North Carolina General Assembly overturned it and it now applies statewide. For example, now if you have had sexual reassignment surgery to become a man, law mandates that you have to use the same restroom as someone’s mother, wife, or daughter. The law also allows businesses to refuse to serve people who identify as gay, lesbian or transgender since they are no longer protected under said law.
The financial backlash of this has the potential to be utterly catastrophic. According to the Human Rights Campaign, the state is now at risk of losing $4.5 billion in federal funding because it is in direct violation of the federal non-discrimination act Title IX. Numerous global companies and entities such as, but not limited to, the NBA, Apple, Dow Chemical, IBM, Google, and Bank Of America have openly expressed deep concern and distaste for the law.
North Carolina has been making great leaps and strides progressively in recent years but once again, it seems like we take two steps forward and twenty steps back.
The law goes into effect April 1.
This is not the North Carolina I’m proud of.
from:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ronnie-c-rouse/what-is-wrong-with-north-carolina_b_9548006.html
March 23, 2016
Something Is Going Seriously Wrong at Arizona Polls Today
Nathan Wellman / US uncut
Arizona’s primaries aren’t even done yet, and there’s already legal action being taken as a result of incompetence or possibly even intentional sabotage.
Leaders from the Arizona branch of the Democratic Party have confirmed that its lawyers are officially making an inquiry after multiple Democratic voters showed up to the polls only to find that they were listed as independents, Republicans, or had no party affiliation at all.
Many voters wound up having to wait in line under the hot Arizona sun only to find that they were ineligible to vote for the candidates of their choice. To add insult to injury, the polling locations have been so poorly planned that many voters had to wait in line up to four hours before finding out that their information had been improperly filed.
Poll workers have been giving out “provisional ballots,” according to 12 News. It’s unclear at this time as to whether these ballots will actually count in the Arizona primary, and whether intentional or not, it could result in the disenfranchisement of Arizona voters. Some frustrated residents are taking to YouTube and social media to voice their frustrations.
full story here:
http://usuncut.com/news/arizona-polling-disaster/
March 18, 2016
Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò is a staunch conservative and was vocally opposed to same-sex marriage throughout his five-year tenure as the Vatican’s nuncio (ambassador) to the United States.
He also sent an anonymous invite to Ms. Kim Davis, of anti-equality fame, to the Pope’s DC visit. While people, here and elsewhere, initially thought this was a coup for Davis and bigotry, Pope Francis turned the other cheek.
And now word comes that the incident is prompting The Vatican to replace Vigano. A friend of the Pope’s claimed he was blindsided by the meeting, and the move caused the Vatican to distance itself from Viganò, leading many to believe the Pope would quietly replace him as his “statutory retirement age” was approaching. Viganò turned 75 in January; when bishops and archbishops reach that age, they are required to submit a letter of resignation to the Vatican.
Interestingly, the Pope is thinking about replacing the social conservative warrior with an advocate of immigration.
[W]ill be replaced by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, a French-born clergyman who is currently the nuncio to Mexico, Catholic magazine America reports, citing Sandro Magister, a blogger who covers the Vatican.
The Vatican is not expected to confirm the news until the Obama administration has agreed to the new nuncio’s appointment, the magazine notes, but it adds that “reliable sources” expect an official announcement before Easter, which falls on March 27 this year. Because of his experience in Mexico, Pierre may well emphasize immigration issues.
In addition to being the current nuncio to Mexico, Pierre was the nuncio to Uganda (1999-2007) and Haiti (1995-99) and is widely recognized as one of the Holy See's most accomplished diplomats.
Another small step in Pope Francis effort to modernize The Vatican.
http://www.alternet.org/belief/pope-francis-fires-vatican-ambassador-us-who-set-meeting-kim-davis
Pope Francis Fires Vatican Ambassador to U.S. Who Set Up Meeting With Kim Davis
Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò is a staunch conservative and was vocally opposed to same-sex marriage throughout his five-year tenure as the Vatican’s nuncio (ambassador) to the United States.
He also sent an anonymous invite to Ms. Kim Davis, of anti-equality fame, to the Pope’s DC visit. While people, here and elsewhere, initially thought this was a coup for Davis and bigotry, Pope Francis turned the other cheek.
And now word comes that the incident is prompting The Vatican to replace Vigano. A friend of the Pope’s claimed he was blindsided by the meeting, and the move caused the Vatican to distance itself from Viganò, leading many to believe the Pope would quietly replace him as his “statutory retirement age” was approaching. Viganò turned 75 in January; when bishops and archbishops reach that age, they are required to submit a letter of resignation to the Vatican.
Interestingly, the Pope is thinking about replacing the social conservative warrior with an advocate of immigration.
[W]ill be replaced by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, a French-born clergyman who is currently the nuncio to Mexico, Catholic magazine America reports, citing Sandro Magister, a blogger who covers the Vatican.
The Vatican is not expected to confirm the news until the Obama administration has agreed to the new nuncio’s appointment, the magazine notes, but it adds that “reliable sources” expect an official announcement before Easter, which falls on March 27 this year. Because of his experience in Mexico, Pierre may well emphasize immigration issues.
In addition to being the current nuncio to Mexico, Pierre was the nuncio to Uganda (1999-2007) and Haiti (1995-99) and is widely recognized as one of the Holy See's most accomplished diplomats.
Another small step in Pope Francis effort to modernize The Vatican.
http://www.alternet.org/belief/pope-francis-fires-vatican-ambassador-us-who-set-meeting-kim-davis
March 18, 2016
Rachel is attempting Balance: Bernie Sanders on with her a 9 pm in one hour
I just now saw it on the scroll of MSNBC
It is his first national interview since the elections last Tuesday
I have not yet given up on Rachel, we go back together all the way to Air America / her first filling in for Olberman / her rise at MSNBC to her showing favoritism and a lack of courage in this years election coverage.
March 15, 2016
CINCINNATI (The Borowitz Report)—Republican front-runner Donald Trump was crying foul on Monday after Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders allegedly dispatched an army of vegan thugs to attack a rally of peace-loving Nazis in Cincinnati.
According to Trump, he had begun to address a group of “orderly and civil Nazis” at a downtown arena when his audience was suddenly set upon by an unruly mob of angry vegans, many menacingly clad in Birkenstocks and sustainable garments.
The Sanders supporters, singing an alarmingly militant version of Simon & Garfunkel’s “America,” marched into the arena and began “intimidating and threatening” the Nazis, Trump said.
“Make no mistake about who is starting the violence at these rallies,” Trump said. “It’s the vegans.”
Carol Foyler, a Nazi from suburban Cincinnati, said that she feared for her life when one of the vegans “ripped a Trump sign” from her hands and “tried to recycle it.”
Harland Dorrinson, a Kentucky Nazi who drove to Ohio to hear Trump speak, said he would never have attended the rally if he had known “there would be troublemaking vegans there.”
“One of them tried to swing an NPR tote bag at my head,” the terrified Nazi said.
www.borowitzreport.com
Sanders Sends Vegan Thugs to Attack Peace-Loving Nazis observed by Andy Borowitz
CINCINNATI (The Borowitz Report)—Republican front-runner Donald Trump was crying foul on Monday after Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders allegedly dispatched an army of vegan thugs to attack a rally of peace-loving Nazis in Cincinnati.
According to Trump, he had begun to address a group of “orderly and civil Nazis” at a downtown arena when his audience was suddenly set upon by an unruly mob of angry vegans, many menacingly clad in Birkenstocks and sustainable garments.
The Sanders supporters, singing an alarmingly militant version of Simon & Garfunkel’s “America,” marched into the arena and began “intimidating and threatening” the Nazis, Trump said.
“Make no mistake about who is starting the violence at these rallies,” Trump said. “It’s the vegans.”
Carol Foyler, a Nazi from suburban Cincinnati, said that she feared for her life when one of the vegans “ripped a Trump sign” from her hands and “tried to recycle it.”
Harland Dorrinson, a Kentucky Nazi who drove to Ohio to hear Trump speak, said he would never have attended the rally if he had known “there would be troublemaking vegans there.”
“One of them tried to swing an NPR tote bag at my head,” the terrified Nazi said.
www.borowitzreport.com
March 13, 2016
RALEIGH — Count U.S. Sen. Richard Burr among the voters taking advantage of an exception to the state law requiring an acceptable form of identification to cast a ballot.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reports that state elections records show Burr cast a provisional ballot and filled out a form explaining he couldn't show a photo ID due to a "reasonable impediment." The Republican from Winston-Salem then cast his ballot during the early voting period for the North Carolina primary
A spokeswoman explained in an email that the two-term senator discovered he lost his ID after arriving at the polling location, but then got a new driver's license.
SOURCE AND MORE:
http://www.journalnow.com/news/elections/state/us-sen-richard-burr-lost-photo-id-casts-provisional-ballot/article_0eae6e70-05f1-53e9-b8ce-4c160d55f72b.html
What Voter Fraud actually looks like and Richard Burr, R, NC not having any ID at the poll
RALEIGH — Count U.S. Sen. Richard Burr among the voters taking advantage of an exception to the state law requiring an acceptable form of identification to cast a ballot.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reports that state elections records show Burr cast a provisional ballot and filled out a form explaining he couldn't show a photo ID due to a "reasonable impediment." The Republican from Winston-Salem then cast his ballot during the early voting period for the North Carolina primary
A spokeswoman explained in an email that the two-term senator discovered he lost his ID after arriving at the polling location, but then got a new driver's license.
SOURCE AND MORE:
http://www.journalnow.com/news/elections/state/us-sen-richard-burr-lost-photo-id-casts-provisional-ballot/article_0eae6e70-05f1-53e9-b8ce-4c160d55f72b.html
March 8, 2016
TORONTO (The Borowitz Report)—Canada, already bracing for the possible inflow of millions of American refugees in November, might have made matters worse by releasing an unacceptably adorable photo of its Prime Minister hugging two baby pandas, Canadians fear.
The photo, taken at the Toronto Zoo and showing Justin Trudeau cuddling with two panda cubs, was “the last thing this country needed,” Harland Dorrinson, the executive director of Canadians for Responsible Immigration, a prominent anti-immigration organization based in Ottawa, said.
“Canada is already staring down the potential crisis of millions of Americans pouring over its border later this year,” Dorrinson said. “Did we really have to announce that we have pandas, too?”
The news photo, which Dorrinson called “an unmitigated disaster,” is expected to worsen the influx of illegal Americans because, he said, “in addition to pointing out that Canada has pandas, it is also reminding people that our Prime Minister is an unusually handsome man, especially for someone in government.”
In an open letter published online, the anti-immigration leader urged Trudeau “to put his country first” and cancel a visit scheduled for Friday at the Winnipeg Puppy and Kitten Shelter.
www.borowitzreport.com
Canada Fears Photo of Prime Minister with Pandas Could Worsen American Refugee Crisis
TORONTO (The Borowitz Report)—Canada, already bracing for the possible inflow of millions of American refugees in November, might have made matters worse by releasing an unacceptably adorable photo of its Prime Minister hugging two baby pandas, Canadians fear.
The photo, taken at the Toronto Zoo and showing Justin Trudeau cuddling with two panda cubs, was “the last thing this country needed,” Harland Dorrinson, the executive director of Canadians for Responsible Immigration, a prominent anti-immigration organization based in Ottawa, said.
“Canada is already staring down the potential crisis of millions of Americans pouring over its border later this year,” Dorrinson said. “Did we really have to announce that we have pandas, too?”
The news photo, which Dorrinson called “an unmitigated disaster,” is expected to worsen the influx of illegal Americans because, he said, “in addition to pointing out that Canada has pandas, it is also reminding people that our Prime Minister is an unusually handsome man, especially for someone in government.”
In an open letter published online, the anti-immigration leader urged Trudeau “to put his country first” and cancel a visit scheduled for Friday at the Winnipeg Puppy and Kitten Shelter.
www.borowitzreport.com
Profile Information
Gender: Do not displayMember since: Thu Oct 21, 2004, 06:06 PM
Number of posts: 22,380
