Clipmarks | masbury's Comments

Who Owns Americas Wealth?

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:00:05 GMT

clipped by: Yassin_M

Clip Source: video.stumbleupon.com

Who Owns Americas Wealth?

[Video]

Limbaugh: I am defender of Corporate America

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:40:43 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: An unashamed cadre of the corporatocracy

Clip Source: thinkprogress.org

Limbaugh: ‘I consider myself a defender of corporate America.’»

right-wing radio talker Rush Limbaugh declares himself “the intellectual engine of the conservative movement.” Described by reporter Zev Chafets as “less a theoretician than a popularizer”

“I consider myself a defender of corporate America.” Limbaugh’s claim is supported by the aggressive manner in which he acts as a “pitchman” for products on his show:

Some simply run their usual ads. Others use Limbaugh as their pitchman, which costs them a premium and a long-term commitment. And lately he has created a new option. At a much higher rate he will weave a product into his monologue (To a caller who said he took two showers after voting for Clinton in Operation Chaos, Limbaugh responded: “If you had followed my advice and gotten a Rinnai tankless water heater, you wouldn’t have needed to take two showers. And I’ll tell you why. . . .”)

Tags: limbaugh, media

UK patients to get free healthcare throughout EU

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:19:28 GMT

clipped by: righthand

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

NHS patients to get free healthcare throughout EU

Clip Source: www.europarl.europa.eu

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

NHS patients will be given the right to free treatment anywhere in the European Union under a new blueprint for cross-border healthcare.

The move, which covers all 27 countries in the EU, is designed to give patients greater freedom and ease congestion in health services with long waiting lists for operations.

Clip Source: www.autonomic-communication.org

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The draft directive, approved by EU governments today, guarantees that treatment costs are covered by the national health scheme of the patient's home country.

It gives British patients the right to seek any treatment offered by the NHS, such as cancer care or heart surgery, in any other EU country that could provide it more quickly.

Clip Source: www.cartoonstock.com

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The plans would also make it easier for patients to receive medication prescribed abroad after they return home.

Patients will have to pay upfront for their treatment but as long as the cost was lower than in the NHS, they could will be able to reclaim the amount in full.

Clip Source: stuffwhitepeoplelike.files.wordpress.com

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Wednesday July 2, 2008

Tags: uk, eu, health

It's Not Yours, It's God's

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:41:40 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: "It's not yours, it's God's, and you're not going to get it," Copeland says of his financial records. He has launched a website to publicize his crusade and has received support from several leading conservatives, including Paul Weyrich and Kenneth Blackwell.

Incredible! And tax free!

Clip Source: rawstory.com

They preach the “Prosperity Doctrine” - that God can make you healthy and wealthy - and they live what they preach.

Every year America’s best known TV evangelists bring in hundreds of millions of dollars from donors all over the world. But as BBC’s Jonathan Beale reports, some of the evangelists’ own lifestyles have begun to ring alarm bells and have prompted a Senate investigation into their activities.

Last fall, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, began probing the finances of six TV evangelists whose lifestyles include mansions, Rolls-Royces, and private jets, all paid for out of church funds. Grassley told BBC, “I would not contribute to an organization that is Christian and evangelical with money being wasted that way.”

Four of the ministers have since complied with the probe, but Rev. Kenneth Copeland, whose congregation recently bought him a $20 million private jet to preach the gospel

Clip Source: youtube.com

[Video]

Tags: scam, religion, money, greed

What did I say last year?

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:16:14 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: The really sad and outrageous thing is, for the troops anyway, and innocent Afghanis, is that they all will be sent to Afghanistan to continue the war. And Iran?

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Senator Barack Obama said Thursday that he might “refine” his policies for Iraq after meeting with military commanders there later this summer. But hours later he held a second news conference to emphasize his commitment to the withdrawal of all combat troops from Iraq within 16 months of taking office.

His two statements in Fargo, N.D., reflected how the changing dynamics in Iraq have posed a challenge for Mr. Obama, who is trying to retain flexibility as violence declines there without abandoning a central promise of his campaign: that if elected, he would end the war.

His remarks came as Republicans — including his all-but-certain opponent this fall, Senator John McCain of Arizona — have been arguing that Mr. Obama would most likely change his position on the phased withdrawal. They suggest that with violence dropping in Iraq, bringing the troops home would risk erasing the fragile gains that have been made.

The evolving situation in Iraq has, in fact, tested both candidates.

FBI To Join The "Presumption of Guilt" Parade BushCo Favors

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:28:59 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: Civil rights become a fond memory.

Clip Source: www.suntimes.com

The Justice Department is considering letting the FBI investigate Americans without any evidence of wrongdoing, relying instead on a terrorist profile that could single out Muslims, Arabs or other racial and ethnic groups.

Although President Bush has disavowed targeting suspects based on their race or ethnicity, the new rules would allow the FBI to consider those factors among a number of traits that could trigger a national security investigation.

Currently, FBI agents need specific reasons — like evidence or allegations that a law probably has been violated — to investigate U.S. citizens and legal residents. The new policy, law enforcement officials told The Associated Press, would let agents open preliminary terrorism investigations after mining public records and intelligence to build a profile of traits that, taken together, were deemed suspicious.

Critics say the presumption of innocence is lost in the proposal.

Bill Maher is so funny on this one you have to take your

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:29:20 GMT

clipped by: Yassin_M

Clip Source: video.stumbleupon.com

Bill Maher is so funny on this one you have to take your ha…

[Video]

The FEC is Ready for Action (hopefully McCain action!)

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:55:19 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: The new commissioners joining sitting commissioner Ellen Weintraub, a Democrat, are:

* Democrat Cynthia L. Bauerly of Minnesota
* Republican Caroline C. Hunter of Florida
* Republican Donald F. McGahn of D.C.
* Republican Matthew S. Petersen of Utah

Also, recess appointee Steven T. Walther, a Democrat, was confirmed to a full term, completing the six-member panel. These appointments come after six months during which the FEC could not take official action because it did not have the required minimum of four commissioners, making it impossible to issue advisory opinions or dole out public funding. As we've written about several times, the impasse began when President Bush sent a controversial nominee to the Senate for confirmation.
As for the McCain debacle, "Knowingly violating the spending limit is a criminal offense that could put McCain at risk of stiff fines and up to five years in prison." http://www.democrats.org/a/2008/02/democratic_part_8.php

Clip Source: www.opensecrets.org

Just when the rest of us are taking off for summer vacations, the Federal Election Commission is getting back to work. The five new commissioners confirmed by the Senate this week now constitute a full quorum.

The business that's awaiting them, however, isn't so usual, as they will immediately take up issues new to this election year. First the new members will have to decide how to implement congressional rules requiring lobbyists to disclose the campaign contributions they collect

They'll also dive right into the issue of public financing, though their hands will be tied on deciding whether presidential nominee John McCain broke the rules when he used public funds as collateral to get a loan for his debt-ridden campaign (and then backed out of the federal financing program).

Because the FEC didn't have a quorum until Tuesday, it wasn't able to take up the issue within 120 days after the DNC filed a complaint

allowing the party committee to file a lawsuit

Tags: fec, violation

And the end of political apathy.

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:30:11 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: Let's keep it simple, folks. It's not NAFTA or Social Security that will beat McCain. It's 3 dollar milk, shrinking wages, skyrocketing gas prices and a war that has delivered nothing but three dollar milk, shrinking wages and skyrocketing gas prices.

Clip Source: blogs.tnr.com

It's possible McCain's numbers are stagnant simply because Clinton and Obama soaking up all of the media attention. But there may be another explanation, one I know I've read elsewhere (maybe in a Gallup analysis, though I can't find it now): That 45 percent figure represents a ceiling of his support.

After all, barring some outside shock to the political system, there is no reason to think McCain's numbers will go up. People already have overwhelmingly positive feelings about him--stronger than about either of the Democratic candidates. They see him as a likeable, principled war hero whom they trust on national security. Very few realize that he has supported privatizing Social Security, that he opposes universal health insurance, that he supports free trade without qualification, and so on. Once the voters learn these things, at least some of them are likely to abandon him.

If anything, McCain has the look of an Internet stock circa 1999: Great numbers, lousy fundamentals.

Tags: elections. politics, ethics, george bush, reform

Impeach The [Miserable Failure] Already!

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 23:15:40 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: If not, why not? If not now, when?

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

Congressman Wexler just signed on as co-sponsor of Dennis Kuchinich's articles of impeachment, as shown in the text of this letter that I just found in my in-box.

It's damn important to go through this process now. Why? Because that will put the next president - whoever they are - on notice that we will not tolerate this, nor will we allow them to put the powers Bush illegally, immorally and unconstitutionally claimed in their pocket.

So, let us do this right, by the book. And do it now before either "side" is surely in power. Right now, Nancy Pelosi has a duty to the Republic - and that duty comes before her duty to party or personal ambition.

Tags: impeachment, george bush, dick cheney, wexler, kucinich, nancy pelosi, articles of impeachment

My Favorite quote versus Michael Savage et al

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:25:47 GMT

clipped by: cptenaud
clipper's remarks: A quote for the true patriots
And those who think they are.

Clip Source: www.vetvoice.com

by: TexDem

Sat Jun 21, 2008

My favorite quote or I should say my contemporary favorite quote is from journalist Sidney J. Harris. Sidney's quote although made several years is very relevant today and directly addresses the likes of Michael Savage and most of this administration.

Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country's virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, 'the greatest,' but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is.

Ernie1812's diary reminded me of Sidney's quote, it could very well become one of your favorite quotes. Use it as a refute to those who claim to be patriots but are really only nationalist and bigots.

Tags: nationalism, patriotism, michael savage, sydney j. harris

MN judge finds against WalMart in 2 MILLION labor violations

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:14:55 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Will WalMart ever stop leeching American workers?

Clip Source: www.truthdig.com

Wal-Mart may face up to $2 billion in fines after a Minnesota state judge found a total of 2 million contractual violations by the retail giant.

The judge also ruled on Monday that Wal-Mart owed $6.5 million to 56,000 current and former employees because of contractual violations, including a failure to give workers promised rest breaks at least 1.5 million times. The judge also found that Wal-Mart managers in Minnesota had systematically broken the law by having employees take in-house training while off the clock.

“It’s only through a decision like this that Wal-Mart can be held to its contractual agreements and to complying with Minnesota law.”

Tags: walmart

For WHAT? One Man! And the Next WAR?

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:46:24 GMT

clipped by: righthand
clipper's remarks: And all for the lack of one assassins bullet. Where is Mossad when it's needed? "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" If he was such a bad man could no one be found to "judicially assassinate" this 'turbulent' ruler? Keeping the rules has NOT been the hallmark of this administration, so why not 'eliminate' Saddam?

The truth is that he was never the target. Assassination would not have produced occupation. It would have save 4,000+ US lives but we have learnt that these didn't matter either. The out of sight, out of mind, no presidential presence at funerals worked for AWOL Bush. However the broken in mind and body will not go away so easily. Until they are swamped by the next lot.

Clip Source: 66.102.9.104

El soldado David Rozelle. The soldier David Rozelle.

David Rozelle. David Rozelle.

Tags: photos, iraq, war, usa, bush

"Global disruption" better than "Global warming"

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:00:08 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: John Holdren, professor of environmental policy at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is the director of the Woods Hole Research Center and just completed a term as board chair of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Clip Source: www.democracynow.org

“Global Disruption” More Accurately Describes Climate Change, Not “Global Warming”–Leading Scientist John Holdren

Leading scientist John Holdren says “global warming” is not the correct term to use; he prefers “global disruption.” “‘Global warming’ [is] misleading. It implies something that’s mainly about temperature, that’s gradual, and that’s uniform across the planet,” says Holdren. “In fact, temperature is only one of the things that’s changing. It’s a sort of an index of the state of the climate. The whole climate is changing: the winds, the ocean currents, the storm patterns, snow packs, snowmelt, flooding, droughts. Temperature is just a bit of it.” [includes rush transcript]

Tags: environment

Bush: those who disagree with him "slander America"

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:47:12 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: How very, very cheap - taking those who disagree with HIM and labeling them slanderers of AMERICA. He attempts to manipulate people who want to be patriotic into sitting down, shutting up, and asking no questions about his abuse of power, so he can do whatever he wants with their money.

Clip Source: thinkprogress.org

BOULTON: There are those who would say look, lets take Guantanamo Bay, and Abu Ghraib, and rendition and all those things and to them that is the complete opposite of freedom.

BUSH: Of course, if you want to slander America.

a short — but by no means exhaustive — list of those who have

slandered America:

– The United States Supreme Court: The Court ruled last week that “terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay have a right to seek their release in federal court” saying that Bush’s policy compromised “the Constitution’s guarantee of liberty.”

– McClatchy Newspapers:

the U.S. has wrongfully imprisoned “perhaps hundreds” of men “in Afghanistan, Cuba and elsewhere on the basis of flimsy or fabricated evidence, old personal scores or bounty payments.”

– The Federal Bureau of Investigation:

according to its agents, “[m]ilitary officials at Guantanamo Bay used some aggressive techniques before they were approved, possibly in violation of Defense Department policy and U.S. law.”

Tags: bush, gitmo, war on terror