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[Measley]

CPAC hosting a panel featuring leader of a white supremacist group.

Wow, they don't even try to hide it any more.

 

[Black Republican]

why arent the black/hispanic gop members saying anything about this white supremicist?

 

[Invisible_Insane]

why arent the black/hispanic gop members saying anything about this white supremicist?

 

[Oblivion]

why arent the black/hispanic gop members saying anything about this white supremicist?

It's only racism when the victim White.

 

[Invisible_Insane]

The bishops also were dismayed that the administration did not consult them in crafting the compromise, presenting it to them as a fait accompli.

Which fucking country do you think this is?

Also, fuck Ben Nelson.

 

[sc0la]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/u...contraception-proposal.html?hp&pagewanted=all
Which fucking country do you think this is?

Also, fuck Ben Nelson.

All the more reason to completely decouple health insurance from employment.

The bishops want to provide religious and "moral" exemptions for any employer? So if I had a crazy ass employer that thought my asthma and allergies were psychosomatic, or an employer who opposed vaccines for children, that employer would have the right to only offer me a plan that did not include those things

F*CK OFF

 

[Byakuya769]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/u...contraception-proposal.html?hp&pagewanted=all
Which fucking country do you think this is?

Also, fuck Ben Nelson.

Fuck them, and fuck Nelson. Let them hang themselves on this stupid fucking war on contraception that I guarantee a majority of Catholic women use.

 

[Sadsic]

So are any of the candidates going to drop out anytime soon? OR is there now going to be 4 candidates for the long haul.

 

[Oblivion]

 

[sc0la]

from Invisible Insane's link above: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDYN9LuT1lQ&feature=related

The bishops will also renew their call for lawmakers to pass the “Respect for Rights of Conscience Act,” which would exempt both insurance providers and purchasers — and not just those who are religiously affiliated — from any mandate to cover items of services that is contrary to either’s “religious beliefs or moral convictions.”

I mean really.

3/17/2011--Introduced.
Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011 - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to permit a health plan to decline coverage of specific items and services that are contrary to the religious beliefs of the sponsor, issuer, or other entity offering the plan or the purchaser or beneficiary (in the case of individual coverage) without penalty. Declares that such plans are still considered to: (1) be providing the essential health benefits package or preventive health services, (2) be a qualified health plan, and (3) have fulfilled other requirements under PPACA. Declares that nothing in PPACA shall be construed to authorize a health plan to require a provider to provide, participate in, or refer for a specific item or service contrary to the provider's religious beliefs or moral convictions. Prohibits a health plan from being considered to have failed to provide timely or other access to items or services or to fulfill any other requirement under PPACA because it has respected the rights of conscience of such a provider. Prohibits an American Health Benefit Exchange (a state health insurance exchange) or other official or entity acting in a governmental capacity in the course of implementing PPACA from discriminating against a health plan, plan sponsor, health care provider, or other person because of an unwillingness to provide coverage of, participate in, or refer for, specific items or services. Creates a private cause of action for the protection of individual rights created under this Act. Authorizes any person or entity to assert a violation of this Act as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding. Designates the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to receive and investigate complaints of discrimination based on this Act. Makes this Act effective as if it were included in PPACA.

 

[Particle Physicist]

Please tell me that shit has no chance of passing.... please. I can't believe how effective Republicans are at manufacturing bullshit issues. I sincerely hope this blows up in their face.

 

[Byakuya769]

What's even more bullshit about this? These asses aren't paying for healthcare coverage that they object to, they're just applying the earnings of employees to that coverage.

 

[TestOfTide]

Please tell me that shit has no chance of passing.... please. I can't believe how effective Republicans are at manufacturing bullshit issues. I sincerely hope this blows up in their face.

Not unless one of the following happens:

1) at least 2 non-republicans cave and side with republicans in the senate and the president decides to also cave

2) at least 18 non-republicans cave and side with republicans in the senate, giving the senate a enough votes to override a veto.

If it does pass, then that's it. It will be proof that the republicans are capable of making ANY otherwise toxic viewpoint acceptable for conservatives.

 

[sc0la]

Please tell me that shit has no chance of passing.... please. I can't believe how effective Republicans are at manufacturing bullshit issues. I sincerely hope this blows up in their face.

I doubt it gets out of committee, I was just posting the summary of what the Catholic Bishops thought an acceptable "compromise" was on this issue. Complete bullshit.

 

[leroidys]

https://twitter.com/#!/fivethirtyeight/status/168379388029710338If Romney takes a beating in Maine, Arizona, and then Michigan... my confidence in his inevitability will be quite shaken. I don't expect him to take a beating in Michigan, but I don't think him losing is out of the question.

Any posters/lurkers from Washington or the Pacific Northwest that could shed a little light on what Republican politics in Washington should look like? That's the last primary before Super Tuesday.

Even in the 2010 "wave" election most tea party backed candidates failed to get on the ballot over the establishment candidate. I don't see a remote possibility of anyone but Mitt wining in WA.

I'm seeing campaign signs for my congressional district from the guy who lost in '10. Is this rematch election stuff common elsewhere, or is this just a weird Washington state thing?

What's your district? There are people like John Koster who have been running in opposition for like 10 years. Then, notably there is Dino Rossi running and losing for Governor, Governor, Senate. I bet if you look at all candidates it's not more common here, but there are a few notable examples.

 

[sc0la]

What's even more bullshit about this? These asses aren't paying for healthcare coverage that they object to, they're just applying the earnings of employees to that coverage.

Shhhh don't tell anyone. They don't want to lose one of the strongest forms of manipulation employers... er, employ.

 

[Oblivion]

Has this been posted?

“I know it seems like government doesn’t like you,” Mitt Romney told a group of about 900 business people Friday morning in a ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Hotel here. “I love you.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...rs-i-love-you/2012/02/10/gIQAc2U73Q_blog.html

Mittens has got to be the most inept politician I've ever seen.

 

[Averon]

CPAC hosting a panel featuring leader of a white supremacist group.

Between this and openly advocating raising taxes on the poor while lowering them on the rich, it's like the GOP is just abandoning all pretenses for their positions.

Amazing the media is giving this a huge pass. Shouldn't this a big deal?

edit: I mean, if a socialist/NBPP member were to give a speech at a Dem convention, you wouldn't hear the end of it, with Fox leading the way.

 

[Measley]

Has this been posted?



http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...rs-i-love-you/2012/02/10/gIQAc2U73Q_blog.html

Mittens has got to be the most inept politician I've ever seen.

A debate between him and Obama would be almost embarrassing to watch. Especially if the economy is in decent shape by October/November.

Honestly he sealed his fate when he opposed the auto bailouts. The spillover from Detroit's resurgence is creating jobs in almost every swing state in the Midwest.

 

[Mike M]

Even in the 2010 "wave" election most tea party backed candidates failed to get on the ballot over the establishment candidate. I don't see a remote possibility of anyone but Mitt wining in WA.



What's your district? There are people like John Koster who have been running in opposition for like 10 years. Then, notably there is Dino Rossi running and losing for Governor, Governor, Senate. I bet if you look at all candidates it's not more common here, but there are a few notable examples.

I'm in Larsen's district, so I'm seeing the Koster signs go up. Had no idea he was a perpetual opposition candidate, I just reminded me of Rossi's multiple election attempts (My favorite of which was his second gubernatorial bid where all his signs outside the Seatlle-Olympia I5 corridor had an extra "Don't Let Seattle Steal This Election!" subtitle. Why conservatives seem to think the square mileage that votes for a candidate is more important than the number of individuals that do, I'll never understand.)

 

[Invisible_Insane]

I'm in Larsen's district, so I'm seeing the Koster signs go up. Had no idea he was a perpetual opposition candidate, I just reminded me of Rossi's multiple election attempts (My favorite of which was his second gubernatorial bid where all his signs outside the Seatlle-Olympia I5 corridor had an extra "Don't Let Seattle Steal This Election!" subtitle. Why conservatives seem to think the square mileage that votes for a candidate is more important than the number of individuals that do, I'll never understand.)

Because cities are evil. Duh.

 

[cartoon_soldier]

James Fallows has been doing a great piece on Obama

1st his cover story for the Atlantic - Obama Explained

Talks about his Presidency and analysis whether he is a chess master or a pawn. Good read

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1969/12/obama-explained/8874/

And then some excellent follow up blog posts:

1. Talking about Obama and his cool demeanor and how much more than others he must keep his emotions in check. Americans don't want to see him as the "Angry Black Man". Conservatives for years have now tried to make Michelle look like the "Angry Black Woman" already. A good reader email:

Jackie Robinson agreed that during his first year with the Dodgers, he wouldn't respond to any of the abuse he received from players, officials or fans, because even just yelling back would be seen as proof that "they" can't handle the pressure. I suspect Barack Obama is fairly laid back in general, but we'll never know because he can't be anything else.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics...nd-the-spectre-of-the-angry-black-man/252931/

2. Another follow up on that same space, this time also including a comparison of how Chris Christie's attacks on questioners and how would the Media handle it if Obama attacked questioners the same way. Oh and Jan Brewer fealing threatened by Obama...

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics...hot-christie-and-a-book-by-harper-lee/252949/

 

[empty vessel]

What?

About what do you disagree? Bush II, despite his old school elitist GOP pedigree, was southern conservative ideologically. He is nothing like his father, which makes sense because, despite his pedigree, he was raised in Texas and developed his politics and ideology there. His old school GOP pedigree made him the perfect politician to transition the party from the old school GOP of liberal capitalism to the new Dixiecrat GOP of southern conservatism. His ascendancy therefore marks the rise of the conservative South, which is now a dominant political force in the nation for the first time since the civil war. Before Bush II, the conservative South was a minority faction of the major national parties (first the Democratic, then after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Republican, until about 2000, which we can identify as roughly the time the conservative South came to dominate that party).

 

[Bulbo Urethral Baggins]

Everyone here knows that I'm smarter than any politician. But are you?

This is a little civics quiz that I found fun to take. The most interesting to me was a table at the end showing how elected officials scored on this test.

"The average score for all 2,508 Americans taking the following test was 49%; college educators scored 55%. Can you do better?"

Intercollegiate Studies Civics quiz

Ill tell you my score if you tell me yours.

 

[Tamanon]

79%, but I take issue with a couple answers.

 

[Mortrialus]

Everyone here knows that I'm smarter than any politician. But are you?

This is a little civics quiz that I found fun to take. The most interesting to me was a table at the end showing how elected officials scored on this test.

"The average score for all 2,508 Americans taking the following test was 49%; college educators scored 55%. Can you do better?"

Intercollegiate Studies Civics quiz

Ill tell you my score if you tell me yours.

My score:

You answered 30 out of 33 correctly — 90.91 %

 

[Arrowgigantic]

31/33

Missed the questions on what the puritans believe and how FDR handled the Supreme Court striking parts of the New Deal.

 

[empty vessel]

79%, but I take issue with a couple answers.

Some of the questions were not questions but indoctrination, e.g., "capitalism is best because ..."

The quiz is from a right-wing site and some of those civics questions weren't civics at all, e.g., what a business profit is. Of course, right-wingers love to weave capitalism into the very fabric of society as if it goes hand in hand with democratic governance, but it most certainly does not.

I also strongly doubt the website's claim (repeatedly emphasized) that government officeholders have scored lower than the general public. This is clearly meant to imply that democratic government is bad, which is ironic for a site purporting to promote civics in a democratic country.

 

[Arrowgigantic]

79%, but I take issue with a couple answers.

LOL, they're all really straightforward.

 

[Puddles]

Everyone here knows that I'm smarter than any politician. But are you?

This is a little civics quiz that I found fun to take. The most interesting to me was a table at the end showing how elected officials scored on this test.

"The average score for all 2,508 Americans taking the following test was 49%; college educators scored 55%. Can you do better?"

Intercollegiate Studies Civics quiz

Ill tell you my score if you tell me yours.

That test was pretty easy. I have a hard time believing that college professors score a 55% on average.

I scored a 32 out of 33, or 97%. The one I got wrong:

Question: What was the main issue in the debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in 1858? (Don't read if you haven't taken the test and plan to).

Spoiler

Your Answer: Is slavery morally wrong? empty space empty space empty space
Correct Answer: Would slavery be allowed to expand to new territories?

It's been awhile since I've read up on the Lincoln/Douglas debates.

 

[leroidys]

That test was pretty easy. I have a hard time believing that college professors score a 55% on average.

I scored a 32 out of 33, or 97%. The one I got wrong:

Question: What was the main issue in the debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in 1858? (Don't read if you haven't taken the test and plan to).

Spoiler

Your Answer: Is slavery morally wrong?
Correct Answer: Would slavery be allowed to expand to new territories?

It's been awhile since I've read up on the Lincoln/Douglas debates.

I got the same score, but missed

Question: What impact did the Anti-Federalists have on the United States Constitution?
Your Answer: their influence ensured that the federal government would maintain a standing army

Spoiler

Correct Answer: their arguments helped lead to the adoption of the Bill of Rights

I honestly don't know very much about this period in American history so I wasn't surprised that I got it wrong.

 

[Mike M]

Everyone here knows that I'm smarter than any politician. But are you?

This is a little civics quiz that I found fun to take. The most interesting to me was a table at the end showing how elected officials scored on this test.

"The average score for all 2,508 Americans taking the following test was 49%; college educators scored 55%. Can you do better?"

Intercollegiate Studies Civics quiz

Ill tell you my score if you tell me yours.

I had to guess on several, though.

EDIT: Woo hoo, topping the PoliGAF leaderboard!

 

[Aaron Strife]

29 out of 33

Missed the one about the Puritans, Socrates/Plato/Aristotlte/Aquinas, the free markets ensuring more prosperity because blah, and misquoted "Government of the people by the people for the people."

 

[gutter_trash]

Goodness. I had no idea.Speak for yourself, pinko elitist.

kind of funny when you call someone elitist when the GOP candidate will have the combined wealth of the 5 past presidents x 2

 

[Zoibie]

24/33, not bad for a non-US resident, although I got lucky more than I thought I would.

 

[remist]

31/33, I had to make an educated guess on about 5 of them so I'm lucky I only missed two.

 

[GhaleonEB]

My score:

You answered 25 out of 33 correctly — 75.76 %

EV hit on the nature of the quiz. Amusing but pretty transparent.


So, the GOP is going insane:

McConnell: GOP Will Fight To Let ANY Employer Deny Contraception Coverage

Not satisfied with President Obama’s new religious accommodation, Republicans will move forward with legislation by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) that permits any employer to deny birth control coverage in their health insurance plans, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said Sunday.

“If we end up having to try to overcome the President’s opposition by legislation, of course I’d be happy to support it, and intend to support it,” McConnell said. “We’ll be voting on that in the Senate and you can anticipate that that would happen as soon as possible.”

The Blunt amendment he was specifically referring to would “ensure that health care stakeholders retain the right to provide, purchase, or enroll in health coverage that is consistent with their religious beliefs and moral convictions” under the Affordable Care Act. Similar legislation was introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) before the White House announced Friday that it would allow religious nonprofits such as charities, hospitals and universities to opt out of paying for contraception coverage and force the insurance company to do so instead.​

Yes, you old white men. Please turn to doubling down on the wrong side of hugely popular social issues. This will work out well for you. Please ride it all the way to the election.

 

[NihonTiger90]

30 out of 33 correctly — 90.91 %

Not bad.

 

[Officerrob]

You answered 25 out of 33 correctly — 75.76 %

EV hit on the nature of the quiz. Amusing but pretty transparent.


So, the GOP is going insane:

McConnell: GOP Will Fight To Let ANY Employer Deny Contraception Coverage

Not satisfied with President Obama’s new religious accommodation, Republicans will move forward with legislation by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) that permits any employer to deny birth control coverage in their health insurance plans, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said Sunday.

“If we end up having to try to overcome the President’s opposition by legislation, of course I’d be happy to support it, and intend to support it,” McConnell said. “We’ll be voting on that in the Senate and you can anticipate that that would happen as soon as possible.”

The Blunt amendment he was specifically referring to would “ensure that health care stakeholders retain the right to provide, purchase, or enroll in health coverage that is consistent with their religious beliefs and moral convictions” under the Affordable Care Act. Similar legislation was introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) before the White House announced Friday that it would allow religious nonprofits such as charities, hospitals and universities to opt out of paying for contraception coverage and force the insurance company to do so instead.​

Yes, you old white me. Please turn to doubling down on the wrong side of hugely popular social issues. This will work out well for you. Please ride it all the way to the election.

This is actually the fight Obama wants.

 

[Averon]

So the GOP has given up on the economy and going all out on social issues?

 

[Invisible_Insane]

You answered 25 out of 33 correctly — 75.76 %

EV hit on the nature of the quiz. Amusing but pretty transparent.


So, the GOP is going insane:
Yes, you old white me. Please turn to doubling down on the wrong side of hugely popular social issues. This will work out well for you. Please ride it all the way to the election.

31/33.

Something you want to tell us, Ghal? I will say that it supports the "chessmaster Obama" theory if he "picked" this fight to force the GOP to the right, but I really doubt that that's the case.

So the GOP has given up on the economy and going all out on social issues?

They can't talk about the economy if it keeps getting better.

 

[Bulbo Urethral Baggins]

Some of the questions were not questions but indoctrination, e.g., "capitalism is best because ..."

The quiz is from a right-wing site and some of those civics questions weren't civics at all, e.g., what a business profit is. Of course, right-wingers love to weave capitalism into the very fabric of society as if it goes hand in hand with democratic governance, but it most certainly does not.

I also strongly doubt the website's claim (repeatedly emphasized) that government officeholders have scored lower than the general public. This is clearly meant to imply that democratic government is bad, which is ironic for a site purporting to promote civics in a democratic country.

When I was taking the test, believe it or not, I thought of you and knew you'd have issues with those types of questions.

 

[speculawyer]

Everyone here knows that I'm smarter than any politician. But are you?

This is a little civics quiz that I found fun to take. The most interesting to me was a table at the end showing how elected officials scored on this test.

"The average score for all 2,508 Americans taking the following test was 49%; college educators scored 55%. Can you do better?"

Intercollegiate Studies Civics quiz

Ill tell you my score if you tell me yours.

32/33

Got this wrong:

Question: What impact did the Anti-Federalists have on the United States Constitution?

Spoiler

Your Answer: their influence ensured that the federal government would have the power to tax
Correct Answer: their arguments helped lead to the adoption of the Bill of Rights

Spoiler

So those people in the "Federalist Society" have a proud tradition of being the opposite of the people that got the Bill of Rights past? Yeah, that makes sense actually.

 

[GhaleonEB]

31/33.

Something you want to tell us, Ghal? I will say that it supports the "chessmaster Obama" theory if he "picked" this fight to force the GOP to the right, but I really doubt that that's the case.

They can't talk about the economy if it keeps getting better.

Yes. I forgot to type the letter 'n'.

I remember reading a few stories from TPM and such that got background tips from (naturally anonymous) administration advisers who said the White House was indeed picking and welcoming this fight. I was dubious because they tend to say that kind of thing about a lot of issues, even right before they fold. This issue plays strongly in their favor, but none the less I'll be watching for even the slightest hint that the administration is looking for further policy accommodation with people who oppose the very idea of contraception. I would like nothing more than to believe they will hold the line. For now I'm cautiously optimistic.

 

[cartoon_soldier]

23/33

Not bad, got a bunch of historical questions wrong, figures never having learnt American History.

 

[speculawyer]

So, the GOP is going insane:

McConnell: GOP Will Fight To Let ANY Employer Deny Contraception Coverage

Not satisfied with President Obama’s new religious accommodation, Republicans will move forward with legislation by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) that permits any employer to deny birth control coverage in their health insurance plans, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said Sunday.
.​

Yes, you old white men. Please turn to doubling down on the wrong side of hugely popular social issues. This will work out well for you. Please ride it all the way to the election.

Checkmate in Obama's 3 dimensional chess?

 

[speculawyer]

I scored a 32 out of 33, or 97%. The one I got wrong:

Question: What was the main issue in the debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in 1858? (Don't read if you haven't taken the test and plan to).

Spoiler

Your Answer: Is slavery morally wrong? empty space empty space empty space
Correct Answer: Would slavery be allowed to expand to new territories?

It's been awhile since I've read up on the Lincoln/Douglas debates.

The only reason I got that right was because of Newt constantly talking about having Lincoln/Douglas style debates. So I looked it up.

And then I thought . . . why the fuck are you bringing up having "Lincoln/Douglas style debates" with a black guy? Is this more dog-whistle politics? But Mr. brain historian probably didn't think it that far through.

 

[Byakuya769]

90.91%.

-smug look-

 

[Snake]

Can't complain about my score, but as already mentioned the last 9 or so questions were lol-worthy for a "civics" test.

 

[Invisible_Insane]

90.91%.

-smug look-

chair ain't reconize yo ass

You know what we've heard surprisingly little about so far? The payroll tax extension. Is it dead?