This & that.....

League of Conservation Voters

 

We can act on climate and build a stronger economy! Check out this great post from Senator Edward J. Markey touting the benefits of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan: http://bit.ly/1HEIof9

Show your support for Senator Markey and all members of Congress working to address climate change: http://bit.ly/18K5aZO

Bold Nebraska

 

Our ‪#‎NOKXL‬ allies at National Nurses United have endorsed Bernie Sanders for President, citing his vocal opposition to Keystone XL as a key factor.

Nurses Union: We’re Endorsing Bernie Sanders Over Hillary Clinton

National Nurses United gives Bernie Sanders his first national union endorsement — and Keystone was the difference maker.

BUZZFEED.COM

Nothing in the presidential hysteria defines the GOP Moral Bankruptcy more than HOMELESSNESS and US POVERTY.

There is NO EXCUSE except for the failures of GOP Bogus Economic Trickle Down.

The Rachel Maddow Show

The more Jeb Bush talks about Hillary Clinton's emails ...

... the more we're reminded he did the exact same thing she did. It's a stunning failure of self-awareness.

http://on.msnbc.com/1TuYzYE

Jeb Bush flubs test of self-awareness

The more Jeb Bush wants to talk about Hillary Clinton's email troubles, the more we're reminded he did the exact same thing she did.

MSNBC.COM

Media Matters for America

If you're suspicious about why conservatives suddenly care about toxic spills, you're right to be:

The Conservative Media's Faux Outrage Over The EPA Mine Spill

This is just another right-wing attempt to weaken the EPA and prevent it from fulfilling its mandate to protect Americans' air and water.

MEDIAMATTERS.ORG

Media Matters for America

The New York Times claims Fiorina could help the GOP court female voters, but they ignored how much her policy positions would hurt women:

What NY Times Didn't Tell You About Carly Fiorina's Anti-Woman Policies

She opposes 1) a paid family leave mandate 2) policies to address the pay gap and 3) minimum wage increases that would "benefit millions of working women."

MEDIAMATTERS.ORG

This & That from Daily Kos

Priceless!

Daily Kos Recommended

You know what's awesome and worth sharing? Yeah, me too: Romney advisor vomited during Clint Eastwood speech by Jen Hayden Stephen Colbert rips into Fox News' anti-woman arguments against Obamacare by BruinKid What the 1 percent thinks about you by Joan McCarter How "Obamacare cancelled your plan" is really an insurance company scam to rip you off by Vyan Koch Bros. jump the shark in Iowa, focus own spotlight, sow discord by bastrop I bet you didn't know this: Most Americans will get Obamacare at their drugstore by Pluto Who was the last president to outpoll non-voters? by Liberty Equality Fraternity and Trees Southern National Guards defying Hagel order to recognize same-sex military spouses by Laura Clawson Virginia gubernatorial election benchmarks by David Jarman Rand Paul, plagiarist, wants to challenge accusers to a duel ... but he won't by Hunter Sherrod Brown co-sponsors bill to extend Social Security's life and improve benefits by Active Retirees How are the rich getting richer? The more they make, the lower income tax rates they pay. Face palm. by Ian Reifowitz Log in or sign up for Daily Kos. There is nowhere else you can write a blog post with a good chance to be read by tens of thousands of dedicated progressive activists. Thanks for all you do, The Daily Kos team

P.S. Please help keep Daily Kos strong by chipping in $3.

Texas GOP Insanity Beyond Words

The Everlasting GOP Stoppers

A Thousand Words Graphic Arts goes boom!

Veruca.

American Women United

You know, I have to ask, why did the State Troopers comply with this? They are humans, after all, and know how sick it is to do this to women, especially when those products are NOT lethal weapons, nor are they illegal!!!!! Come on, can't the police think for themselves? Let's look at Egypt for some inspiration on this one. The Egyptian military protected their citizens from bad government, why aren't our police protecting us from bad Republican leaders? SERIOUSLY.....THIS BEHAVIOR IS A MESSAGE FROM THE GOP THAT THEY DON'T WANT YOU VOTING FOR THEM ANYMORE!!!

Tampons Confiscated, Guns Allowed as Texas Senate Debates Abortion

View Photo Tampons Confiscated, Guns Allowed …

State troopers confiscated tampons and maxi pads from people entering the Texas Senate gallery on Friday afternoon as senators began debating a controversial new abortion regulations that are almost certain to pass. However, folks with conceal-and-carry permits are allowed in with their guns, as state law allows. It seems like an unusual threat analysis, but things are different in Texas.

RELATED: Texas to Require Sonograms Before Abortions

The tampon confiscations were initially reported by the liberal Texas blog Burnt Orange Report and others entering the state Senate. (Photos above by Shelby Alexander.) State troopers said they were taking anything that could be thrown at legislators, which included tampons, maxi pads, sugar packets, and condoms. But guns are still a go. When state Sen. Wendy Davis filibustered the abortion bill during the previous special session, uproar from the crowd helped prevent Republicans from passing the bill before deadline. They took several measures to prevent that from happening again. This time, the vote is happening with weeks to spare in the special session, and on Thursday, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said, "We're going to have strict enforcement. If there are any demonstrations, we are going to clear the gallery."

http://news.yahoo.com/tampons-confiscated-guns-allowed-texas-senate-debates-abortion-203200591.html

Lady Liberals

My friends, the punchlines keep writing themselves. Look how this person created the tampon blowgun, registered a domain name and put up a Web site all in a few hours:

"Inspired by marshmallow shooters, this air-powered tampon gun turns your feminine hygiene products into high-flying projectiles. Have a shootout between rival tampon brands, or use it as a fun alternative to paintball. The tampon shooter has a range of 10 to 20 feet depending on your ammo and lung capacity. The matching bandolier lets you carry a full “clip” (i.e., box) of 20 tampons, so you’ll never be caught short in the heat of battle."

*\cs/*
http://www.tamponcrafts.com/gun.html

Tampon Shooter

Inspired by marshmallow shooters, this air-powered tampon gun turns your feminine hygiene products into high-flying projectiles. Have a shootout between rival tampon brands, or use it as a fun alternative to paintball. The tampon shooter has a range of 10 to 20 feet depending on your ammo and lung capacity. The matching bandolier lets you carry a full “clip” (i.e., box) of 20 tampons, so you’ll never be caught short in the heat of battle.

Materials

• 6 cardboard Tampax tampon vending tubes (not the cardboard applicators)
• Four Tampax tampons, removed from applicators
• Two 1/2-inch PVC T fittings
• Two 1/2-inch PVC couplings
• Two 1/2-inch PVC end caps
• One 1/2-inch PVC 90-degree elbow fitting
• Hot glue gun
• Utility knife

Instructions

With utility knife, cut 1/4 inch off ends of vending tubes to remove the crimped portion of the tube. Cut carefully to avoid bending or crushing the tube. Reserve the trimmings.

Lay out sections of tube and PVC fittings as they will be assembled: the barrel is composed of 3 cardboard tubes connected by the 2 T fittings, with a plain coupling at the open end of the barrel and the elbow fitting at the near end of the barrel. The elbow fitting has a tube going up, with another plain PVC coupling at the end to form the mouthpiece. Each T fitting has a tube coming down from it with a cap on the end to form the grips.

Test the fit of the tubes and PVC fittings before gluing in place. If the PVC fittings are not threaded on the inside, the fit may be too loose. To correct this, you can use some of the reserved tube ends you trimmed off as shims. Cut the cardboard rings vertically to open them and make a strip, then hot glue it around the outside of the cardboard tube end. Let glue dry before reinserting into PVC fitting. Stuff tampons into tubes to be used as grips. Filling the air space this way will make the airflow through the barrel more efficient.

To assemble, apply hot glue around the inside of a PVC fitting, insert the cardboard tube, and hold in place until glue has set. Then squeeze hot glue around the seam between the PVC and cardboard. Let each joint dry before moving on to the next.

Assemble grips, mouthpiece, and barrel separately, then connect the completed pieces.

Firing Instructions and Tips

• To “load” gun, hold vertically with barrel pointing up and drop the tampon down the barrel.
  
  
  
• To shoot, hold the gun steady and blow a hard, fast blast of air into the mouthpiece.
• Aim the barrel slightly above the point you want to hit.
• Wrapped non-applicator tampons (like OB) travel the fastest and furthest of any tampon ammo. They can also be fired unwrapped. If they are dipped in paint, they need to be fired quickly before they expand too much. Other unexpanded (i.e., unused) tampons (such as Tampax) can also be used as ammo provided they fit in the barrel. The gun can also be used to fire mini marshmallows.
  
  
  
• Do not use tampons that have been worn. This is unhygienic and the expanded tampons will clog the gun barrel.
• Wear appropriate eye protection and never aim at someone’s face.

(Click above to watch video or download directly)

Tampon Bandolier

Materials

• Black duct tape
• Silver duct tape
• 7 plastic tampon applicators (from Playtex or similar tampons)
• Self-adhesive Velcro strips (or non-adhesive, with glue)
• Utility knife
• Ruler
• OB tampons or other non-applicator tampons

Instructions

Determine length of bandolier by looping a tape measure over your shoulder and diagonally around your torso for proper fit. Ours was about 40” long.

Create a two-sided strap of silver duct tape of the length needed. Do this by laying out the first strip of duct tape face up on a table or flat surface. Precut duct tape strips of a manageable length (about 12 inches or so) and very carefully lay them face down on the long strip, pressing them together and working from one end to the other. It’s OK if the strips overlap slightly as this side will be the back. Trim ends for evenness if necessary.

Starting about 4 inches from one end of the strap, mark ½-inch intervals where the “ammo” loops will be placed. The number of marks you make should be twice the number of loops you want on the belt. We made our bandolier with 20 loops, so there were 40 marks.

Cut ½-inch slits through the duct tape strap. Make sure the slits are even, centered, and straight because they will determine the placement of the loops.

To make the ammo loops, mark ½-inch intervals on the tampon applicator tubes and cut into ½-inch rings with the utility knife. Each applicator should yield 3 to 4 sections depending on its length. Slice each ring across its width to open it.

Starting with the first slit in the duct tape, insert the ends of loop into the front (solid) side of the strap. The ends of the loop should meet in the back and there should be a ½-inch space between the loops.

When all the loops are in place, turn the strap over. Secure the back side of each loop with a small piece of duct tape. Make sure the ends of the loop are close together so the loop will be tight enough to hold the tampons in place. A little too tight is better than too loose.

To create the backing and border of the bandolier, roll out a strip of black duct tape equal in length to your strap, and place it face up on your work surface. Holding the bandolier loop-side up, lay it carefully onto the adhesive of the black duct tape, lining it up so about ½ inch of adhesive is still exposed along the side. Fold the strip of black tape over onto the front of the strap. Repeat the process for the other side.

Finish ends of strap by wrapping with black duct tape. Lay a piece about 5 inches long face up on the work surface. Place the end of the strap face down on the adhesive, perpendicular to the tape, leaving about ¼ inch of the adhesive exposed at the bottom. Fold the ends of the tape across the back of the strap and press the adhesive surfaces together at the bottom to seal. Repeat for other end of strap.

Apply Velcro closures to ends of bandolier. Glue the Velcro in place if it doesn’t have adhesive backing. Use Velcro pieces about 1-inch square. One needs to be on the front of the strap and one should be on the back of the strap for the ends to overlap properly when closed. Load up the bandolier with tampon “ammo” and you’re ready to roll!

http://www.tamponcrafts.com/gun.html

MoveOn.org

Oh, Rick Perry. Oh, Texas. Really?

Thanks, You can't have a Tea Party without some Fruitcakes and Nuts for this hilarious take on a crazy situation.

 

 

Keeping Poor Women in Their Place

Too many haven't figured out that this is an economic issue.

Lady Liberals

Dirt-poor, underfed, underemployed Arkansans got just what the doctor ordered this week. The House overrode the governor's veto of a ban on all abortions past 20 weeks. An even more stringent bill is on the way, cutting off abortions after 12 weeks.

 Women there surely can't drive to Alabama or Mississippi to get an abortion, though. See, those two states are leading the fight for an outright ban on abortion. In Jackson, Mississippi, only one women's clinic was left in the whole state. The anti-choice governor, lt. gov., and GOP bigwigs passed a law that said abortion clinic doctors must have hospital admitting privileges.

Then they huddled with the CEOs and board chairMEN of the 7 local hospitals, urging them to refuse to even let the doctor apply for admitting privileges...to any of the hospitals. Easy, right? No privileges, no doctor, and the last women's clinic in the state closes.

Alabama thinks the plan is nifty, so they're following the sa...me federally-illegal but state-legal plan. No admitting privileges? No abortions. And we won't even let you apply for those privileges. Done, and done.
 

These three Red States have some of the highest teen-pregnancy rates, the lowest household incomes, the lowest SAT scores and weakest graduation rates in the nation. Oh, and they're "Takers." Yep, they *take* huge piles of Federal Aid cash each year, allegedly to help their dirt-poor, uneducated, citizens better their lives. Yet their lives never get better.
 

Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi don't cotton to Big Government, though. That's how their GOP lunatic-fringe leaders have created this nauseating end-run around Roe v. Wade, a federal case approved by the US Supreme Court 40 years ago. In their leaders' eyes, the womenfolk are required to have those unwanted, unsupported babies because the Bible tells them so.
 

Where the hell is the U.S. Dept. of Justice in all this? With any luck, they're planning to take a lawsuit from each of these states all the way to the Supreme Court, so that women's rights aren't stripped away and Federal law isn't spat upon. But if they are planning a fight, they know it's an uphill battle. Why?
 

Because in states like Mississippi, where slavery was just "officially" outlawed *last week,* poor and uneducated women don't stand a chance against rich, white, male religious extremists. And because this Supreme Court, dominated by conservatives and the sub-human piece of dreck known as Scalia, aren't likely to think this clever little end-run is a problem.
 

This GOP/Tea Party strategy works, and will succeed in many other Southern states; they love all that big gub'mint cash, but they ain't gonna take no Federal laws. So missy, you just sit down and knit you some booties for that baby, who'll bring you closer to God. 'Cause this here's a States' Rights issue. Y'ALL. *h/mSee More

State Lawmakers Move To Force Through Controversial Abortion Bill

www.huffingtonpost.com

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas House voted 53-28 Tuesday to override Gov. Mike Beebe's veto of a bill that would outlaw most abortions starting in the 20th week of pregnancy, hours after a state Senate committee approved a package of even

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/20/us-usa-abortion-alabama-idUSBRE91J05E20130220

http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/11/opinion/granderson-mississippi-abortion/index.html

 

What is it with GOP Men and Rape?

Another Republican wacko endorsed by Romney --

Mourdock apologizes for ‘misinterpretation’ of rape comments, Obama campaign pounces

Posted by Aaron Blake and Chris Cillizza on October 24, 2012

Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock on Wednesday insisted his comments about rape and pregnancy were being willfully misinterpreted for political gain even as President Obama’s campaign sought to ensnare Mitt Romney in the growing controversy.

VIDEO: Richard Mourdock: ‘I don’t think God wants rape’

“If there was any interpretation other than what I intended, I really regret that,” Mourdock said in an midday press conference in the Hoosier State. He added: “Anyone who goes to the video tape and views that understands fully what I meant.”

Mourdock’s explanation will likely do little to quiet the national firestorm created by his initial comments at a debate Tuesday night; “I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen,” he said. (The full video of Mourdock’s comments is at the bottom of this post.)

In fact, even before Mourdock sought to clarify his comments, President Obama’s campaign was working to hang those remarks around Romney’s ankles.

“This is a reminder that a Republican Congress working with a Republican president Mitt Romney would (feel) that women should not be able to make choices about their own health care,” Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Wednesday morning. To further drive that point home, the Democratic National Committee released a web video splicing Mourdock’s rape comments with Romney’s full-throated endorsement of him.

Romney, sensing danger to his growing momentum and to his attempts to court suburban women, sought to quickly distance himself from Mourdock’s comments.

“Governor Romney disagrees with Richard Mourdock’s comments, and they do not reflect his views,” Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said in a statement Tuesday night. But on Wednesday, Saul said that Romney would not rescind his endorsement of Mourdock or ask that the recent endorsement ad he cut for the Indiana Republican be removed from the airwaves.

But while Romney distanced himself from Mourdock, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (R-Texas) gave the party’s nominee a vote of support.

“Richard and I, along with millions of Americans – including even (Mourdock’s Democratic opponent) Joe Donnelly – believe that life is a gift from God,” Cornyn said. “To try and construe his words as anything other than a restatement of that belief is irresponsible and ridiculous.”

While about half of Americans oppose abortion, many who do also support exceptions in the case of rape and incest.

Mourdock, who beat longtime Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) in a primary earlier this year, is locked in a tight race with Donnelly despite Indiana’s Republican lean. Republicans note that Donnelly also opposes abortion rights and was a co-sponsor in the House of a bill that would have denied abortion funding for victims of rape and incest and created a separate category called “forcible rape.” The bill was soon amended to eliminate the “forcible rape” designation, which Donnelly said he didn’t know was included in the original bill. Republicans believe they can level the playing field — at least somewhat — by pointing to Donnelly’s involvement in that controversial bill.

For the national GOP, it’s a potential case of deja vu. The party’s chances in the Missouri Senate race plummeted when newly minted nominee Rep. Todd Akin remarked in August that “legitimate rape” rarely causes pregnancy.

Akin has since apologized for the comment but is struggling both in the polls and in fundraising. GOP leaders tried unsuccessfully to push him out of the race so they could get a different candidate.

If the GOP loses the Senate races in Indiana and Missouri, its path back to a Senate majority becomes very difficult.

Romney — and Republicans more broadly — have worked hard in recent weeks to push back against Democratic allegations that they are waging a “war on women” because of the policies they pursue. The Mourdock controversy is likely to re-ignite that debate just 13 days before the election.

VIDEO: Mourdock makes controversial comments during a debate Tuesday night.

Read more from PostPolitics

The Fix: Is Richard Mourdock the new Todd Akin?

Sheldon Adelson: A man of many motives

Gloria Allred’s October surprise?



http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/10/24/mourdock-god-intended-for-babies-to-result-from-rape/?wpisrc=nl_pmpolitics

Paul Ryan's Fantasy Land

Great articles!

Oct26

Paul Ryan Is Living in a Fantasy Land Older Than Ayn Rand

By Charles P. Pierce

Read more: http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/paul-ryan-heritage-foundation-speech-6530510#ixzz29sF5MxLV

Paul Ryan condemns “war on women” rhetoric of leading Democrats

Republican Vice President says next war may be on left handed Irishmen - VIDEO [click link below]

By CATHY HAYES
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Saturday, October 20, 2012

Republican Vice Presidential candidate, Irish American, Paul Ryan poked fun at the Democrats rhetoric, when referring to the “war on women”.

Shushanna Walshe (@shushwalshe), of ABC News, tweeted from a Naples, Florida, fundraiser. She tweeted “Paul Ryan at his Naples fundraiser: "Now it's a war on women tomorrow it's going to be a war on left-handed Irishmen or something like that"”

Mitt Romney brought their “war on women” into the general population’s consciousness earlier this week after his comments during the presidential debate at Hofstra University this Tuesday.

 

Romney’s comments on choosing females employees from “binders full of women” has cause an onslaught of online jokes and criticism from his opponents. By Wednesday morning hundreds of thousands had logged on to the “Binder full of women” Tumblr account.

The Republican’s views on abortion earlier this year were brought under scrutinity as Senator Todd Akin, representative for Missouri, spoke about on abortion stating that women who were raped did not become pregnant. He has later said that some abortions carried out aren’t even necessary as the women are not pregnant.

In spring of 2012 Rush Limbaugh also opened the debate by calling student Sandra Fluke a “slut” for using contraception. The controversy surrounding the conservative radio host’s “clanger” live on air was called“sluggate” and cost Limbaugh a great deal of his advertisers.

Since 2011 Democrats have been using the phrase “war on women” when describing what they believe to be an unprecedented legislative focus on women’s access to abortion and contraception.

 

Paul Ryan has cast 60 votes on abortion and reproductive rights during his time in the House of Representatives. All of them were deemed “anti-choice” by women’s health groups.

 

On Thursday this week Rich Beeson, Mitt Romney’s campaign political director, reaffirmed that apparent Republican views on women. He said reproductive rights and equal pay were “small things” that are not important to voters.

Beeson said “Barack Obama four years ago said, 'If you don't have something to talk about on the issues you talk about the small things.

“And that's what we're seeing from the Obama campaign ... They don't have an issue to run on, they don’t have an agenda for the next term, so they want to talk about the small things and distract America from the important things of restoring and strengthening the middle class and putting America back to work."

Read more: http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Paul-Ryan-condemns-idea-of-GOPs-war-on-women-suggesting-next-will-be-war-on-left-handed-Irishmen-174992951.html#ixzz29sCURelT