A closer look at Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore

Two-time former Chief Justice of the Alabama State Supreme Court Roy Moore, the confirmed “birther” and believer of inane right-wing conspiracies, is running to become the Alabama’s next senator despite his lawless actions that twice forced him from his elected offices.  And he very well may win.  He won the GOP primary and is favored in the general election.  But let’s be clear: It is insane for any American (Republican, Democrat, Other) to support Roy Moore, a man whose derelictions of judicial duty due to his refusal to accept the Constitution – and not the Bible – as the supreme law of the land twice resulted in his vacating a position entrusted to him by the people of Alabama, for the United States Senate. Moore’s disdain for man-made law is not a quirk.  He is running on his contempt for man made law.

The NRA’s Wayne LaPierre calls on Congress to pass a law requiring armed Music Festival Patrons

Note: These are the actual words of LaPierre on December 15th, the day after the Newtown Connecticut shootings where 20-year-old Adam Lanza fatally shot 20 children and 6 adult staff members. I've lightly edited the original sickening statement, and changed references from schools to music festivals, and changed an "us" reference (meaning the NRA) to Second Amendment enthusiasts.

Mike Purzycki Is a Racist

By RE Vanella

I knew that I had a facility with words and a power of facing unpleasant facts, and I felt that this created a sort of private world in which I could get my own back for my own failure in everyday life.

--George Orwell, ‘Why I Write’

Open Thread for Sunday October 1st – The Vanished Center

Two reading from the Book of "We are really in the shit now". One from Steve Newton via FB, and one from William Butler Yeats. As for me... While I am one to rage against the "center" as it is thought of nowadays. I understand the utility of "the center" as George Washington might have thought about it. In that I get that the secret to maintaining a Democracy is creating a system in which the losers can lose with dignity. A system that allows the runner up think, "Well... we lost, but the system is fair, so we'll get 'em next time." The idea of a "center" is good for maintaining that fantasy. We once had that. We don't anymore, so I guess we are pretty well fucked.