The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age
Orlando's picture

Supreme Court Rules Corporations are King

 

In perhaps the worst decision of all time, the Supreme Court overturned spending limits on campaign contributions from corporations.

The court's 5-4 vote ends a 20-year ban on businesses using money from their own funds to pay for campaign ads.

But US President Barack Obama condemned the decision, pledging to work with Congress for a "forceful response".

Forceful response, huh? I’m not holding my breath.

Topics: 
Politics
MJS's picture

College Republicans Irked by the Threat of Original Thought

It must be difficult for the GOP these days. On one hand, they want to continue to appeal to Bible-thumping, teabagging, gun-toting bigots, but on the other, they also want to extend their congregation beyond the high school drop-outs and the plantation owners. This level of re-branding is hard enough to do without the family of one of their most recognizable Senators breaking ranks with the party on one of their core issues.

Topics: 
Politics
William K. Wolfrum's picture

Brock Lesnar finally opens up about Universal Health Care

For the past year or so, one question has been on everyone’s mind: What does UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar think about Universal Health Care?

Finally, we have an answer – not much.

“I love Canada,” said Lesnar. “Some of the best people and best hunting in the world, but I wasn’t in the right facility.”

Topics: 
Politics
Sports
Michael Wolraich's picture

Hurling Thunderbolts for Health Care

Yesterday's Massachusetts' election affects me personally. I'm self-employed and have a cheap health plan. Within the first few months of beginning a new plan, I'm already involved in a dispute with the provider, Golden Rule, a subsidiary of UnitedHealthcare. My health plan, I recently discovered, doesn't cover preventive care in the first three months. I don't know why they have this restriction. It would not be a big deal except that no one told me about it, not when I signed up and not when I called to confirm that my physician was in network.

Topics: 
Politics
Health
Doctor Cleveland's picture

Call Your Representative

 

I'm going to shamelessly repost this from Tim F. at Balloon Juice, because it's good and timely advice. Call your member of the House and tell them to vote for health care reform. Tell them loud, and tell them proud. Here's how:

(1) Use a phone. Email has nigh on zero impact. Trust me on this. Letter mail gets read, but you don’t have time. Reach the House switchboard at (202) 224-3121 .

Topics: 
Politics
William K. Wolfrum's picture

Reconciliation is only an ‘Obscure Legislative Process’ because media won't explain it

While Democrats are fretting about what to do about health care reform following Scott Brown's Senate victory in Massachusetts, many have brought up the idea that they should use the legislative process known as Reconciliation to pass a reform bill.

The mainstream media, always happy to run with a meme, have decided that Reconciliation is an obscure, sneaky process:

Topics: 
Politics
Humor & Satire
acanuck's picture

Hey AngryDems! Quit griping; just take back your party

I get it. You're angry with the incompetent, self-serving, tone-deaf leadership of the Democratic Party. Just don't try to tell me you're surprised.

The good news is: the solution is at your fingertips. Channel that anger! It's a midterm election year -- traditional time for throwing out incumbents. Just beat the Republicans to the punch by primarying the asses off all these pseudo-Democratic dickheads. Not all of them, of course. There are at least a handful who stand with and for the common man. But there's a long list of corporatist anti-progressives who can go.

Topics: 
Politics
William K. Wolfrum's picture

Jesus Christ joins Marines to get his message out - one bullet at a time

AFGHANISTAN – Jesus Christ looked through his rifle scope. More than 200 yards away was known Muslim Ali-Aba Khan. With preternatural calm, Christ stared intently, lining up his shot. When he pulled the trigger, the back of Khan’s head exploded. Christ picked up his rifle and walked away.

“The power of Christ compelled him,” said a chuckling Christ.

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Politics
Humor & Satire
Religion
Doctor Cleveland's picture

Robert B. Parker Is Dead, Alas

Robert B. Parker died today, in Cambridge, at his writing desk. I turned on my cell after an afternoon class and found that every male member of my family had left a message with the news.

Topics: 
Arts & Entertainment
Michael Wolraich's picture

5-Year-Old Philanthropist Raises Money for Haiti

Last Thursday, I received a phone call from my friend, Lily, a San Francisco native halfway through her kindergarten year. In truth, we are more than friends. We married in an unofficial ceremony during the summer of 2008, and over a few brief hours of marital bliss and several cups of imaginary tea, we were blessed with four or five children, one of whom resembled a furry red monster.

Topics: 
Social Justice
World Affairs
William K. Wolfrum's picture

Mass. Senate Update: Black Panthers! ACORN! Voter fraud!!

MASSACHUSETTS – In a pre-emptive strike, Fox News, the GOP and the campaign of Scott Brown have come forward to file federal electoral complaints against the Black Panthers and the group ACORN.

“The fact that I haven’t already been declared the winner shows that there is massive voter fraud going on,” said Brown, several hours before the polls closed. “I blame ACORN.”

Topics: 
Politics
Humor & Satire
Doctor Cleveland's picture

Massachusetts Senate Betting Pool

I don't like to blog about narrowly political horse-race topics often, and whoever wins in Massachusetts today I'll be blogging the same big picture. If Coakley wins, it's still instructuve that she had trouble with a specific breed of Democrats (whom I will call the Big Daddy Democrats), and even if she wins there may be trouble ahead in places like Ohio and West Virginia. If COakley loses, Obama and the Dems will still be in much the same relatively difficult place as before, and the difficulties (and their relative nature) won't change radically.

Topics: 
Politics
William K. Wolfrum's picture

It's all about the beard

These are sad times. The world is a confused, chaotic mess. War is now considered diplomacy. Freedom is but a catch phrase with no literal meaning. Life is getting more perilous and frightening for more and more people.

And my beard’s a mess. And that really saddens me.

Topics: 
Humor & Satire
William K. Wolfrum's picture

Everyone in the U.S. loses their keys

AMERICA – The U.S. came to a grinding halt today, as everyone in America lost their keys.

“I could have sworn I put them on the counter,” said Tom Jenkins of Riverside, Calif. “Honest to God, I just can’t remember where I put them. No idea whatsoever.”

Topics: 
Politics
Humor & Satire
acanuck's picture

Some Democrats won't cry if they lose Kennedy's seat

I'm totally unqualified to predict who'll win tomorrow's Senate election, which puts me right up there with every other pundit or expert. I suspect Obama's last-minute intervention and a desperate get-out-the-vote effort just might eke out a narrow win for Coakley. But I wouldn't bet on it; she's a bad candidate with an aura of entitlement and zero resonance with the national mood Obama tapped into just over a year ago.

Topics: 
Politics
William K. Wolfrum's picture

Disgruntled Mass. Democrats to vote for Satan rather than Coakley, Brown

MASSACHUSETTS – Disgruntled Democrats – unhappy with candidate Martha Coakley – could throw President Barack Obama’s agenda for a loop as a large group of liberal voters have come forward to say that they will write-in Satan as their vote in tomorrow’s

Topics: 
Politics
Humor & Satire
William K. Wolfrum's picture

Tim Tebow’s mom didn’t get an abortion so no woman should have choice – a Super Bowl Special

While the team’s are still undecided, this Super Bowl XLIV promises to be a truly spectacular event where all Americans can come together and be thankful – for the fact that Tim Tebow’s mom didn’t abort him.

From the Denver Post:

Focus on the Family will air a 30-second “life- and family-affirming” television spot, featuring University of Florida star quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam, during the coverage.

Topics: 
Sports
Social Justice
Larry Jankens's picture

Sarah Palin's Favorite Founding Father - It's Not Who You Think: VIDEO

As you know by now, Sarah Palin is now a pundit on Fox News.  Oh - cruel irony - she has now become the media elite that she blames for everything.  Is it just me or does she sound like she is constantly making sh*t up off the top of her head and even though it sounds asinine she convinces herself that it sounds super smart and then goes with it?  Maybe it's not the media's fault that some people think she is an idiot, maybe it's because she answers questions like an seventh grader doing a book report on a book they didn't read.

Topics: 
Politics
William K. Wolfrum's picture

NBC names Newt Gingrich new host of the ‘Tonight Show’

BURBANK – Following a week that saw its late-night line-up explode in controversy, NBC has now announced that ex-Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich will be the new host of the “Tonight Show,” and that the show will be moved to Sunday at 8 a.m.

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Politics
Arts & Entertainment
Humor & Satire

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