March 27, 2017

While Trump approval plunges nationally, it goes UP in Utah

What exactly is there to approve of? The failure at repealing Obamacare? The Failure of a WALL idea? His meeting with Merkel where he wouldn't even look her in the eyes? The constant Russia conspiracies? His DOJ Sessions committing perjury? Holy hell, this state is dumber than a god damn box of rocks. First the BAC lowering to .05 to appease the LDS cult, then allowing 18 year olds to concealed carry, and now this. Living in Utardia is getting to be bad for my sanity. I always look longingly at sane neighboring states such as Nevada and CO, and wonder why I had to be born here.



http://www.sltrib.com/home/5099099-155/poll-majority-of-utahns-now-view



Washington • President Donald Trump's approval rating is increasing in Utah — a majority of registered voters now view him positively — even as his numbers nationally have sunk in his first two months in office.

A Salt Lake Tribune-Hinckley Institute of Politics poll finds that 54 percent of registered voters say they somewhat or strongly approve of Trump's job performance while 41 percent disapprove. In January, just before Trump took office, a Tribune-Hinckley Institute poll found 46 percent favorability for the incoming president and 52 percent unfavorable.

The poll was conducted March 15-21 by Dan Jones & Associates among 605 registered voters statewide and has a margin of error of 3.98 percent.

Utahns' view of the Republican president are the polar opposite of the national take on Trump where a Gallup tracking poll has shown a dip of 9 percent in approval rating since he took office Jan. 20. Gallup now shows 54 percent of Americans disapprove of the president's job performance compared to 45 percent who said the same thing in late January.

March 24, 2017

Oklahoma lawmaker defends anti-abortion bill, says rape and incest are will of God

Holy fuckamolie these people are mentally ill. I wouldn't trust this guy to watch my dog, and he's a state rep


http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2017/03/23/oklahoma-lawmaker-defends-anti-abortion-bill-says-rape-and-incest-are-will-of-god/

Oklahoma State Representative George Faught, the author of a controversial bill that would make it illegal in the state to pursue an abortion in the case of a genetic abnormality, made a powerful and potentially disturbing declaration of faith during questioning about the bill on the floor of the Oklahoma House on Tuesday. Asked by fellow state Representative Cory Williams about whether he considered rape to be the “will of God,” Faught boldly, if not necessarily unabashedly, answered in the affirmative.

“Well, you know, if you read the Bible, there’s actually a couple circumstances where that happened,” said Faught. “The Lord uses all circumstances. I mean, you can go down that path, but it’s a reality unfortunately.”

Williams then asked Faught whether he considered incest to be the “will of God” as well.

“Same answer,” said Faught. “Doesn’t deal with this bill.”

Williams countered by stating that Faught’s religious beliefs on the matter were important to his proposed anti-abortion bill, since the law as written would provide no exceptions to women in cases of rape or incest.

“You are proffering a divine intervention as the reason why you won’t do that and so I think it is very important,” said Williams. “This body wants to know — and myself personally — whether you believe rape and incest are actually the will of God.”

“You’re saying that God is not sovereign with every activity that happens in someone’s life and can’t use anything and everything in someone’s life,” responded Faught. “I disagree with that.”

March 23, 2017

Bullfighter gets horrifically gored in Mexico City (Graphic warning)

You know what they say..Mess with the bull, get the horns.. Very little sympathy for the bullfighter.
http://nypost.com/2017/03/21/bull-gores-11-inch-horn-up-matadors-butt/
Shocking footage has emerged showing a matador being gored by a bull — and ending up with its horn up his backside.

Antonio Romero was horrifically gored during a bout with the furious beast in Mexico City on Monday.

The matador ended up with the bull’s horn some 11 inches up his rectum, causing “severe” injuries.

The stomach-churning clip shows Romero seemingly in control as he goads the animal with a red cloth, called a muleta. But something goes wrong as he tries to get the bull to pivot around him. The angry beast rears up, catching him on the arm and knocking him off balance.

As Romero stumbles back in an effort to avoid the bull’s deadly horns, the animal throws off the muleta and homes in on its helpless target. Now, with its tormentor in its sights, the bull takes its terrible revenge.

It mercilessly attacks him, digging in its horns and rolling him across the ground. The goring only ends when other bullfighters come to their colleague’s aid and distract the animal.
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March 22, 2017

North Korea Missile Launch Fails, U.S. and South Korea Say

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/north-korea/north-korea-missile-launch-fails-u-s-south-korea-say-n736821

North Korea attempted a missile launch Wednesday morning but it failed almost immediately, U.S. military officials and South Korea said.

"A missile appears to have exploded within seconds of launch," U.S. Pacific Command spokesman Dave Benham said in a statement. "We are working with our interagency partners on a more detailed assessment. We continue to monitor North Korea's actions closely."

The launch comes a day after Kim Jong Un's regime issued an ominous warning of a potential pre-emptive strike after a test over the weekend of a new advanced rocket engine.


North Korea conducted two nuclear test explosions and 24 ballistic missile tests during 2016, and experts say it could have a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland within a few years.

Asked by NBC News' Andrea Mitchell whether North Korea's threat of pre-emptive military action represents a dangerous escalation, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson replied: "No comment today, thank you."

March 18, 2017

Bernie Sanders remains one of Americas most popular politicians

Too bad he'll be too old to run again in 2020. Sigh....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/03/15/bernie-sanders-remains-one-of-americas-most-popular-politicians/?utm_term=.b67cb1bd1a60
A fascinating new survey from Fox News asked Americans their opinions of a number of political leaders and politically relevant organizations. No elected official included in the survey had a larger net favorability — overall favorable views minus unfavorable ones — than Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), continuing Sanders’s strong showing in such polls.

Somewhat surprisingly, the second-highest net favorability was held by Planned Parenthood. Part of this is probably because the organization enjoys strong partisan support, and has in polls in the past. Had the NRA been included, it, too, probably would have been highly popular, thanks to a push from Republicans.

Besides Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Vice President Pence were the most popular politicians on net. Notice that the embattled Affordable Care Act is better viewed on net than President Trump and most of the other Republicans included in the poll.

March 17, 2017

Pretty sure Trump needs a war to salvage things at this point

No other way he'll get Americans to unite behind his presidency. The only question is whether it will be NK or some Middle Eastern country. He needs to get that "Go America, let's get those bastards" spirit going again.

March 16, 2017

Jeff Sessions: Marijuana Is Only Slightly Less Awful Than Heroin

Hey Sessions, maybe you should quit preaching reefer madness and get to work on that massive opiate epidemic ravaging the nation.

Did I die in my sleep and wake up in Hell or something? How are these nutjobs running our government? We have a head of the EPA who denies basic climate science, a POTUS who tweets insane stuff about wiretapping, and now the head of the DOJ saying that cannabis is only 'Slightly less awful than heroin'. It's like I cannot even respect or come up with a dignified response to such statements. They're just completely stupid as fuck, ignorant, corrupt and wrong. If our nation makes it through these next 4 years intact it will be some kind of miracle. God save us all!

http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2017/03/15/jeff-sessions-marijuana-slightly-less-awful-heroin/
Jeff Sessions, the U.S. Attorney General, had some typically harsh words about marijuana today, at a time when legal pot supporters in Massachusetts and elsewhere are on high alert over how the new government will treat the drug.

In prepared remarks for a speech to law enforcement in Richmond today, he outlined his stance on marijuana use, which he has long opposed, saying that “dependency” on it is “only slightly less awful” than heroin.

I realize this may be an unfashionable belief in a time of growing tolerance of drug use. But too many lives are at stake to worry about being fashionable. I reject the idea that America will be a better place if marijuana is sold in every corner store. And I am astonished to hear people suggest that we can solve our heroin crisis by legalizing marijuana – so people can trade one life-wrecking dependency for another that’s only slightly less awful. Our nation needs to say clearly once again that using drugs will destroy your life.

March 15, 2017

Is climate change a 'forgotten issue'?

Seems like this issue comes in pretty low on everybody's concern meter lately. Even around here I seldom see climate related topics get many replies, while anything related to the newest stupid thing Trump said gets tons of attention. Personally I consider how we handle climate change to be one of the issues that will make or break humanity as a species. We'll either get our shit together and figure out viable green alternatives, or end up with an overheated mess of a world in 100 years where we lose all of our coastal cities to sea level rise.

The consensus gap is actually stunning to behold. In addition to general ignorance you see nonstop 'zombie theories' propagated by the right for the purpose of misleading the scientifically ignorant. Seems like everybody is more concerned with things like healthcare and petty politics than how to save the future of our world. I actually hope the deniers are correct on this issue, because if not we're pretty much screwed.

March 15, 2017

Trump to challenge Obama fuel economy standards

This seems like a step backwards in terms of progress, but perhaps people will vote with their wallets and continue buying fuel efficient vehicles and EV's.
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=43501812&nid=157&title=trump-set-to-challenge-obama-era-fuel-standards-in-detroit
WASHINGTON (AP) — Moving forcefully against Obama-era environmental rules, President Donald Trump is set to announce in Michigan plans to re-examine federal requirements that regulate the fuel efficiency of new cars and trucks.

Trump is expected to reveal his plans during an appearance Wednesday at the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he'll challenge emissions targets that were a centerpiece of former President Barack Obama's strategy to combat global warming. The rollback underscores the Trump administration's rejection of mainstream climate science in an effort to boost economic growth.

The center, about 30 miles west of Detroit, was used to produce B-24 bombers during World War II and is being converted into an automotive testing and product development center. During his visit, Trump is expected to meet with auto executives and workers and discuss "how his plans for rolling back federal red tape will lead to more American jobs and higher wages, specifically in the automobile sector," Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters.

The EPA under Obama's stewardship had promulgated a rule for cars and trucks requiring a fleet-wide average of 36 mpg in real-world driving by 2025.

The president will travel later Wednesday to Nashville, Tennessee, where he'll lay a wreath at President Andrew Jackson's tomb to mark what would have been Jackson's 250th birthday, before holding a campaign-style rally in the city.

But the most significant move of the day will likely be the president's announcement on the fuel-economy targets. While the move will have no immediate effect, it is expected to set the stage for weaker fuel efficiency standards as well as drawn-out legal battles with environmental groups and states such as California that have adopted their own tough tailpipe standards for drivers.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers — which represents a dozen major car manufacturers including General Motors, Ford, Fiat Chrysler and Toyota — praised Trump's action. It said he was creating an opportunity for federal and state officials to "reach a thoughtful and coordinated outcome predicated on the best and most current data."

March 11, 2017

EPA chief Scott Pruitt says carbon dioxide is not a primary contributor to global warming

Oh my god, how is this even real life? We have an epa administrator who doesn't even understand basic climate science. This isn't exactly challenging rocket science here.

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/09/epa-chief-scott-pruitt.html
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt said Thursday he does not believe carbon dioxide is a primary contributor to global warming.

"I think that measuring with precision human activity on the climate is something very challenging to do and there's tremendous disagreement about the degree of impact, so no, I would not agree that it's a primary contributor to the global warming that we see," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box."

"But we don't know that yet. ... We need to continue the debate and continue the review and the analysis."

The statement contradicts the public stance of the agency Pruitt leads. The EPA's webpage on the causes of climate change states, "Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas that is contributing to recent climate change."