The Mania for Austerity Finally Hits the Military

The Mania for Austerity Finally Hits the Military

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You've been hearing this week about SecDef Chuck Hagel's proposed budget for the DOD for FY15. This budget reduced the number of active duty troops, reduces the number of reserve troops, reduces salary increases, requires uniformed staff to contribute more to their health care, reduces retirement benefits and focuses growth in cybersecurity and in Special Forces. It looks to re-orient the Pentagon's focus on being prepared for two land wars to dealing with current threats of terrorism. And this budget looks as though it accomodates some continued sequestration as well as real spending reduction. Remember as you hear more about this budget that if the US gets out of Afghanistan at the end of this year (as planned), the US won't be engaged in regular ground wars anywhere. From the WaPo:
Shorter Dick Cheney: Bombs are still free and Obama is still black

Shorter Dick Cheney: Bombs are still free and Obama is still black

If there is a person alive who is more evil than Dick Cheney, I've never heard of them. He was the guy who was supposed to be the adult in the room during the caretaker Presidency of George Bush's idiot son. Instead, to the non-surprise of many, he turned out to be a bloodthirsty sociopath. Well, now he is back talking to Fox News because he is such an expert on the military or something.
How to test if your RELIGIOUS FREEDOM!!! is really being infringed upon…

How to test if your RELIGIOUS FREEDOM!!! is really being infringed upon…

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The current excuse for the evil bigotry the Republican Party has displayed and advanced with respect to gays and marriage equality is that state action recognizing gay marriage and banning discrimination against gays infringes the religious freedom of those who oppose gays on religious grounds. The Reverend Emily C. Heath of the United Church of Christ has published a wonderful test to determine whether a person's religious freedom is truly being violated. Let's take it together, shall we?
This Week In Republican Outreach And Re-Branding

This Week In Republican Outreach And Re-Branding

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Let's see how things are going with the Republican wooing of gays, minorities and women. First up, the LGTB Republican love letter - that the Arizona legislature has passed (and sealed with a kiss) and the only thing that may stop Jan Brewer from signing it into law is the threat of losing the super bowl.  Priorities, people.  Anderson Cooper delivered the ultimate smack-down to Arizona state Sen. and gubernatorial candidate Al Melvin.  Seriously, watch the video.  Melvin isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but it seems Arizona is full of tools.

Tuesday Open Thread [2.25.14]

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"I think we got off that track when we allowed our government to become a secular government, when we stopped realizing that God created this nation, that He wrote the constitution, that's based on biblical principles." -- Former Rep.Tom DeLay (R-TX), in an interview on Global Evangelical Television. The sound you hear is our Founding Fathers, and most notably Thomas Jefferson, rolling over in their graves. "Once a child does exist in your womb, I'm not going to assume a right to kill it just because the child's host (some refer to them as mothers) doesn't want it." -- Virginia State Sen. Steve Martin (R), quoted by Slate. And that's how Republicans view women. As receptacles and hosts. Not as humans and mothers. “There are several possible explanations for why Republicans would not denounce Nugent and his statement in unqualified terms. One is that they aren’t all that offended by what Nugent said. A second is Nugent is on their “team” and therefore needs to be treated with kid gloves. A third explanation is that they fear that in denouncing Nugent they will upset elements of the GOP base. Any of these explanations is an indictment,” – Pete Wehner, Commentary.
Markell v. Arizona

Markell v. Arizona

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If only the socially progressive Governor Markell was also the economically progressive Governor Markell. Well, I will enjoy the former...
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell (D) spoke out against the controversial anti-gay bill in Arizona Monday, stating that if Gov. Jan Brewer (R) signs it into law, the state should not be allowed to host the Super Bowl next year in Glendale. "It seems to me if they pass this law and if she signs it, the NFL may be looking, or maybe should be looking, to move the Super Bowl out of that state. There are so many places around the country that are welcoming to everybody," he said in an interview on MSNBC with host Ronan Farrow.
Christine O’Donnell back to conjuring the same old spells of small scale grifting and vicitmhood

Christine O’Donnell back to conjuring the same old spells of small scale grifting and vicitmhood

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"Burble, bauble, toil and trouble. Give me a scotch and make it a double." That's my spell. Read on to see Christine ply her dark arts in an attempt to once again separate fools from their purses.
Delaware Tea Party star Christine O'Donnell is at it again, attempting to raise money and generate sympathy by claiming she was victimized by the IRS and Delaware's Division of Revenue. O'Donnell wrote an op-ed for the New York Post on Saturday, saying she was "preyed upon" by state and federal officials who "leaked" her private tax records, resulting in damage to her 2010 U.S. Senate campaign. She refers as evidence to a publicly available federal tax lien that was filed in New Castle County as the IRS audited O'Donnell's 2005 tax return for unpaid federal taxes. The News Journal wrote about O'Donnell's financial problems, including the lien, in this March 20, 2010 story.
Monday Open Thread [2.24.14]

Monday Open Thread [2.24.14]

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Arizona's Republican-controlled legislature passed a pro-discrimination bill last week that gives government sanction to any form of discrimination that a bigot wishes to practice. Now, obviously this law is blatantly unconstitutional and it will not survive its first encounter with a judge, any judge, anywhere. And Governor Jan Brewer (R) vetoed a similar bill last year. So there are hopes that this bill will never take affect as law. But to prod Brewer along, and to punish the bigots who call themselves the Republican legislators, George Takei has sent a message to the people of Arizona.
Acting DEGOP Chair, “Charlie” Copeland’s confused fundraiser

Acting DEGOP Chair, “Charlie” Copeland’s confused fundraiser

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There is a lot of weirdness packed into Acting DEGOP Chair, Copeland's fundraising appeal. Let's unpack it, shall we?
Dear Fellow Republican, This past week Joe Biden told his fellow tax. borrow and spend Democrats that, "There isn't a Republican Party". I need your help to prove him wrong!
That was February 14th. Way to jump on this hot news item, Charlie.
As a Delaware Republican, you've watched the strong arm tactics of the Biden family over the years, and the negative impact it's had on our nation and our state.
He doesn't say what strong arm tactics, so I guess this it just Biden hating for the sake of Biden hating. A little red meat for the downstate dummies who aren't at the cocktail parties Charlie attends with the Bidens. Maybe the strong arm tactics he is talking about is the dastardly winning of the elections? I can see how Copeland would view the ability to win elections as some sort of mysterious black magic.

Late Night Video — Omnipotent #WaveOfAction

This is pretty intriguing -- Eminem, Ice Cube, Korn plus elements of Anonymous put together this video meant to help promote the worldwide Wave of Action on April 4,2014. There's not a ton of info at the website, but they seem to want to inspire activity around the world (protests, social service, rallies, media projects) plus create celebrations of Occupy at their major protest sites. This video is 4:46: Anyone know anything more about this event? Let us know in the comments.