Clipmarks | dmegivern's Comments

Factcheck: Palin, Giulani, Huckabee have facts wrong at RNC

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:58:25 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Is this ignorance? Or deliberate deception?

Palin’s accusation that Obama hasn’t authored “a single major law or even a reform” in the U.S. Senate or the Illinois Senate is simply not a fair assessment. Obama has helped push through major ethics reforms in both bodies, for example.

Giuliani distorted the time line and substance of Obama’s statements about the conflict between Russia and Georgia

Huckabee told conventioneers

that Palin got more votes when she ran for mayor of Wasilla than Biden did running for presiden

Not even close. The tally: Biden, 79,754, despite withdrawing from the race after the Iowa caucuses. Palin, 909 in her 1999 race, 651 in 1996

Palin may have said “Thanks, but no thanks” on the Bridge to Nowhere

But that was a sharp turnaround from the position she took during her gubernatorial campaign

The Alaska governor avoided some of McCain’s false claims about Obama’s tax program – but her attacks still failed to give the whole story.

Tags: palin, giulani, huckabee

St Paul the past; Denver the future of political demographics

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:20:11 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: RNC relies on shrinking demographic groups - growing whiter and older. Dem support comes from fastest growing demographic groups.

Clip Source: tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com

As I surveyed the crowd, I had an overriding thought: 'This place is really white.'

At Invesco, I was surrounded by blacks, Hispanics, Asian-Americans and whites; young and old; male and female; gays and straights

in St. Paul. The crowd consisted of middle-aged white men and middle-aged white women

Apparently my eyes don't lie. At the DNC, 34 percent of the delegates were black or Hispanic. At the RNC, 93% of delegates are white, 5% Hispanic and only 1.5% African-American - in fact, it is the lowest black delegate representation at a Republican convention in 40 years.

Obama is capturing

his support comes from the part of the population that is fastest growing

McCain's support comes largely from white voters and in particular older Americans

not to say that John McCain will necessarily lose

But having stood on the floor of both convention halls this past week, it seems quite clear that Denver represents the future of American politics - and St. Paul is the past.

Tags: politics, race

The Science of Happiness

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:27:08 GMT

clipped by: Kelika

Clip Source: www.latimes.com

IF RECENT scientific research on happiness -- and there has been quite a bit -- has proved anything, it's that happiness is not a goal. It's a process. Although our tendency to be happy or not is partly inborn, it's also partly within our control. And, perhaps more surprising, happiness brings success, not the other way around. Though many people think happiness is elusive, scientists have actually pinned it down and know how to get it.

Among the major findings of the last decade is that the pursuit of happiness is a worthy cause, Diener says. "Happiness doesn't just feel good. It's good for you and for society. Happy people are more successful, have better relationships, are healthier and live longer."

Great if you happen to be one of the people born happy, right? Not exactly. Another major finding is that about half of our tendency toward happiness is genetic, while the rest is controlled by the individual.

Tags: science

The United (Police) States of America - Medics harrased, arrested at RNC

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:55:58 GMT

clipped by: lap322
clipper's remarks: Scary.

Clip Source: narcosphere.narconews.com

"Four members of the Portland Street Medic Collective who had travelled to the RNC to provide medical care to the radical community were arrested on 9-1-2008.

"The four medics helped with the evacuation of at least five patients, including one with a broken hand from being hit with police weaponry, one with an injured ankle from being hit with police weaponry who needed physical support to walk, and one who was blinded by pepper spray.

"Later in the week, a group of six medics, three of them from Portland, were again the targets of police misconduct.

"The second medic was questioned as to why they were carrying a backpack and hip pack. The medic explained their status as an EMT and allowed officers to take their registration card as proof.

"During the search, officers repeatedly made threats about possible criminal charges against the medic, including "medical terrorism."

"These police actions were not based on any reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing.

Tags: police brutality, rnc, mccain, bush

The Psychology of Conservatism

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:47:41 GMT

clipped by: abailart
clipper's remarks: But of course, 'liberalism' is a mental illness.

Clip Source: blogs.psychologytoday.com

We are talking about someone full of fear, with a poor sense of self, and a lack of mental dexterity. I always tell my students that tolerance of ambiguity is one especially excellent mark of psychological maturity. It isn’t a black and white world. According to the research, conservatives possess precisely the opposite: an intolerance of ambiguity and an inability to deal with complexity.

A meta-analysis culled from 88 samples in 12 countries

revealed that “several psychological variables predicted political conservatism.”

Death anxiety, system instability, dogmatism/intolerance of ambiguity, closed-mindedness, low tolerance of uncertainty, high needs for order, structure, and closure, low integrative complexity, fear of threat and loss, and low self-esteem. The researchers conclude, a little chillingly, that “the core ideology of conservatism stresses resistance to change and a justification of inequality

Tags: humour

McCain Attempted Suicide Twice, But Won't Release His Mental Health Records During This Campaign

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:52:03 GMT

clipped by: lifecyce1898
clipper's remarks: Is this true??
Are the records public record?
Isn't this information the American voter should have?
This is very disturbing.
What psychiatric medications are they talking about.
Are his twitches Tardive dyskinesia or some other Parkinson like side effect of antipsychotics?

Clip Source: wizbangblue.com

The John McCain Campaign is hoping to ride the shallow message of don't vote for Barack Obama because he's young and popular all the way to the White House.

But this inch deep and very shallow campaign is also concealing some huge vulnerabilities of John McCain. Buried in the 1500 pages of medical records released by the McCain Campaign is information that McCain attempted suicide twice, yet his campaign won't release his full mental health records to the public. This is a serious issue that the McCain Campaign hopes to skirt; his full mental health records after years of physical and psychological abuse by his North Vietnamese captors and whether McCain is currently receiving any psychiatric care or medications.

An Alaskan's Letter about Sarah Palin

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:02:52 GMT

clipped by: moonspirit4ever
clipper's remarks: I recommend you read the entire letter.

Clip Source: community.adn.com

I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992.

I attended more
City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the
residents of the city.

During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running
this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been
pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had
gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had
given rise to a recall campaign.

Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a “fiscal conservative”. During her 6
years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over
33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the
City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation
(1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a
regressive sales tax which taxed even food.

Daily Show: 2008 McCain = 2000 Bush: A case of amnesia.

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:30:54 GMT

clipped by: ratilfar
clipper's remarks: McSame, word for word.

Clip Source: www.crooksandliars.com

Jon finds some eerie similarities between John McCain’s convention speech and the one given by George W. Bush eight years ago.

Download | Play Download | Play

John Amato: McCain wants us to forget that if he wins the election—America will be controlled by the Republicans for four more years that have produced such disastrous results. And the media will only help make this election about personalities instead of issues and then use Palin to distract us from those issues.

Given that 82 percent of voters believe we are heading in the wrong direction, it’s a logical position to take. But for the American people to buy into the notion that McCain, who has raced to Bush’s side on tax cuts, on offshore drilling — even on torture — is this campaign’s agent of change, it’s going to require an incredible suspension of disbelief. Or a serious case of amnesia.

Tags: bush, mccain, here, we, go, again

What Cindy wore for her RNC speech: $313,000

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:45:08 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: For how many years would Cindy's clothes outlay for one night feed your family? What would you have to do to your conscience to spend $300K on clothes?

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

It kicked off on Monday with Cindy McCain and First Lady Laura Bush in Oscar de la Renta.

Vanity Fair editors estimated that McCain's fierce saffron shirt dress with the popped collar, diamond earrings, four-strand pearl necklace, white Chanel watch and strappy shoes totaled up to $313,100.

And Bush's white sensible suit, Stuart Weitzman heels and pearl stud earrings would ring up to $4,325.

Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, waves during her speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

"She appreciates very well-made clothes and that have rich, luxurious fabrics," said Sasha Iglehart, Glamour magazine's Deputy Fashion Director

Tags: mccain, cindy, dress, rnc

Sarah Palin's Media Mavens: Fork-tongued devils

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:02:58 GMT

clipped by: zizzy

Clip Source: trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com

Rove says he finds Palin's experience as Alaska's governor (since 2007) and as the mayor of Wasilla (population 9,700) impressive.

But a month ago, when Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine was on Barack Obama's vice presidential short list, Rove belittled Kaine as too inexperienced. Kaine, you see, had only been governor for three years. And before that, he was mayor of Richmond, Va., only "the 105th largest city in America."

O'Reilly, alluding to the pregnancy of Palin's 17-year-old daughter, says: "As long as society doesn't have to support the mother, father or baby, it is a personal matter."

But last December, when it was disclosed that Britney Spears' 16-year-old sister was pregnant, he pontificated: "Here, the blame falls primarily on the parents of the girl. They obviously have little control over her." And a graphic behind him labeled the girl's parents as "Pinheads!"

US Teen Suicide Rate Rising

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:22:45 GMT

clipped by: DanaGarrett
clipper's remarks: Take away the meds from kids and this is what happens. Yet the reason for keeping kids away from psychiatric medication persists however absurd it might be.

And the reasons are absurd. If a teenager had a malfunctioning liver, only religious weirdos would say to keep the child off the medication. But when a child's brain malfunctions and there is is a medication that can help, many people cry foul and become suspicious. Why? We are only talking about organs of the body. Just as yellowing skin can be a symptom of a malfunctioning liver, so depression can be a symptom of a malfunctioning brain. The meds can save lives.

Clip Source: www.upi.com

A spike in U.S. teen suicides in 2004 -- sharpest increase in the past 15 years -- appears to have persisted into 2005, researchers said.

Jeff Bridge of Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus said researchers have identified what may be an emerging crisis, but the next step is to figure out why. One answer may lie in the prescription of antidepressant medication. Because of concerns over side effects, the number of teens prescribed antidepressants has dropped by as much as 20 percent.

"The vast majority of young people who complete suicide have some sort of psychiatric disorder. Most commonly depression or some mood disorder," Dr. John Campo also of Nationwide Children's Hospital said. "Kids who need the medicine most may not be getting it."

Who Cares about Size of Government? How about Competent Government?

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:39:52 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern
clipper's remarks: Don't be so scared of government that you serve it, instead of it serving you. Revolutions of the past did not protest how much governments were doing for their well-being. Fundamentally, if taxes had ever been used to actually deliver services to the people instead of funding monarchs and their wars, there might be less fear of taxes. Overcome your fears. Make your government serve you. Like the French providing household assistance services for free to all new moms a few hours a week until the mother feels ready to handle everything.

Clip Source: etext.virginia.edu

Thomas Jefferson on Politics & Government

Good Government

"The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of good government." --Thomas Jefferson to Maryland Republicans, 1809.

"The only orthodox object of the institution of government is to secure the greatest degree of happiness possible to the general mass of those associated under it." --Thomas Jefferson to M. van der Kemp, 1812.

"The energies of the nation... shall be reserved for improvement of the condition of man, not wasted in his destruction." --Thomas Jefferson: Reply to Address, 1801. ME 10:248

"All religions are equally independent here, our laws knowing no distinction of country, of classes among individuals and with nations, our [creed] is justice and reciprocity." --Thomas Jefferson to the Emperor of Morocco, 1803. ME 19:136

"It will be said that great societies cannot exist without government." --Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia Q.XI, 1782. ME 2:129

Tags: jefferson, government, competence, effectiveness

Inexperienced Former Mayor a McCain Heartbeat Away

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:34:51 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern
clipper's remarks: And his continued longevity is not assured

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Sarah Palin: Obama Response To McCain VP Pick

"Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies -- that's not the change we need, it's just more of the same."

Tags: palin, republicans, inexperienced

Amy Goodman Interviews Jon Stewart

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:55:12 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: Two of the best voices to expose the Goopers, together.

Clip Source: www.democracynow.org

AMY GOODMAN: There were a number of preemptive raids throughout this weekend. As they were taking place, thousands of journalists were making the trip from Denver, where they were covering the Democratic National Convention, to here in St. Paul to cover the Republicans. One of those who just happened to be on our flight was Jon Stewart of Comedy Central’s fake news program The Daily Show. I caught up with him next to baggage claim at the Minneapolis airport.

JON STEWART: I thought it was a reasonable flight.

AMY GOODMAN: You enjoyed the mixed nuts. Is that how you refer to your fellow passengers?

JON STEWART: That is how I refer—well, when you go to a convention, it’s really the only way to refer to your fellow passengers. But it was nice to see everybody rolling on. You were just checking off organizations—AP, New York Times, radio, Democracy Now!

AMY GOODMAN: What if the plane had gone down?

JON STEWART: American discourse would have risen. I can’t even imagine the depths.

The Real Reason for the Government's Pre-emptive strike on the Twin Cities

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:13:06 GMT

clipped by: ratilfar
clipper's remarks: They don't want any witnesses.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

The city has agreed to pay $2,007,000 to end a lawsuit brought by 52 people who were swept up in a mass arrest along a Midtown sidewalk during a protest against the invasion of Iraq.

They were charged with blocking pedestrians, but videotapes show that at their most annoying, they might have slowed a few people carrying coffee into work. Public order did not seem to be in unusual danger that morning — certainly nothing that called for rounding up 52 people, or spending millions of dollars.

Only two people were tried; they were acquitted, and charges against the other 50 were dismissed.

The arrests were made on April 7, 2003, during the opening days of the invasion of Iraq and right after the city persuaded the Republican Party to hold its 2004 convention in New York. The people arrested said their rights to free speech had been abused, and sued the city and the police.

Tags: i-witness, video, you tube, news, nyt, police, oppression, liberty, freedom, constitution