Clipmarks | thinkingblue's Pops

AP: Food industry bitten by its lobbying success

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:58:23 GMT

clipped by: schreibe
clipper's remarks: I guess this is what is meant by less government is good government. This administration has been on the side of big business every step of the way, and this is only one of the paybacks that we the citizens have had to endure. I wonder how many more "slaps in the face" we have been unknowingly receiving through the fact that our President and the present administration, and now including the Supreme Court are on the side of BIG BUSINESS! I kinda think that the 28% interest rate on credit card loans, or the inability to declare bankruptcy, or the lack of adequate health care...etc. etc. etc., might just be a result of the successful lobbying of Big Business to help them with the only thing they are really concerned with.....and that my friends is their BOTTOM LINE! Deregulation has bitten us upon the ass on many fronts....this is just one of them!

Clip Source: news.yahoo.com

AP: Food industry bitten by its lobbying success

WASHINGTON - One of the worst outbreaks of foodborne illness in the U.S. is teaching the food industry the truth of the adage, "Be careful what you wish for because you might get it."

The industry pressured the Bush administration years ago to limit the paperwork companies would have to keep to help U.S. health investigators quickly trace produce that sickens consumers, according to interviews and government reports reviewed by The Associated Press.

The White House also killed a plan to require the industry to maintain electronic tracking records that could be reviewed easily during a crisis to search for an outbreak's source. Companies complained the proposals were too burdensome and costly, and warned they could disrupt the availability of consumers' favorite foods.

The government's plans would saddle business with unnecessary and costly regulations.

Tags: politics, business, deregulation, big business, fda, food

FACT: US economy does better under Democrats

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:42:03 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Graphic proof: Democratic admins usually bring growth in jobs, GDP, and stock values; Repub admins bring deficits, greater gap between rich and poor. If blue-collar Americans ever understand this, it'll be mighty bad news for Republicans.

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Proof: Democrats Are Better For the Economy

Democrats have a clear edge on GDP growth: 4.4% vs. 2.6%.

Democrats also create more jobs than Republicans

Income inequality as measured by the Gini index increases under Republicans and decreases under Democrats

Republicans are more liberal with the red ink than Dems

On average, a Republican in the White House has meant a shift of -1.9% of GDP in the government's budget balance (i.e., towards smaller surpluses or bigger deficits), while a Dem has meant a 1.5% improvement in the budget position (or 1.8%, if you start in 1949, thereby omitting the huge World War II deficit)

Democrats are better for stocks:

Simply put the economy grows more under Democrats than Republicans

The Democrats clearly have a better record of growing the economy for more people. Those are the facts, not the spin.

Tags: economy, politics, news, history

Inequality Widens in the USA

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:09:06 GMT

clipped by: DanaGarrett

Clip Source: delawarewatch.blogspot.com

Inequality in the United States is widening to levels resembling a yawning abyss:

The American Human Development Index has applied to the US an aid agency approach to measuring well-being - more familiar to observers of the Third World - with shocking results.

The US ranks 42nd in global life expectancy

The US constitutes 5 per cent of the global population, yet it accounts for 24 per cent of the world’s prisoners.

Asian-American males have the best quality of life and black Americans the lowest, with a staggering 50-year life expectancy gap between the two groups.

Despite the fact that the US spends roughly $5.2bn (£2.6bn) every day on health care, more per capita than any other nation in the world, Americans live shorter lives than citizens of every western European and Nordic country, bar Denmark..

Tags: inequality

Rush Limbaugh Attacks Katrina Victims

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:30:38 GMT

clipped by: LAWriter

Clip Source: showbizexpress.net

Limbaugh Attacks Katrina Victims

On his radio show Rush Limbaugh attacked Katrina flood victims and praised
Iowa flood victims: "I want to know. I look at Iowa, I look at Illinois—I want to see the
murders. I want to see the looting. I want to see all the stuff that happened in
New Orleans. I see devastation in Iowa and Illinois that dwarfs what happened

in New Orleans."

"I see people working together. I see people trying to save their property…I don’t
see a bunch of people running around waving guns at helicopters, I don’t see a
bunch of people running shooting cops. I don’t see a bunch of people raping

people on the street."

"I don’t see a bunch of people doing everything they can…whining and moaning
—where’s FEMA, where’s BUSH. I see the heartland of America. When I look at
Iowa and when I look at Illinois, I see the backbone of America." Listen Now!

(Source: CrooksandLiars.com)

Tags: rush limbaugh, politics, katrina, flood, victims

Rush Limbaugh Attacks Black Katrina victims and praises Whites as the Floods hit.

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:40:19 GMT

clipped by: ratilfar
clipper's remarks: His ignorance is outstanding. An encroaching flood is not the same as a devastating hurricane in coastal area followed by flood and fire in a big city. But hey, them negroes don't deserve better. Hope his Lardness never gets trapped in such a situation.

Clip Source: www.crooksandliars.com

Limbaugh: I want to know. I look at Iowa, I look at Illinois—I want to see the murders. I want to see the looting. I want to see all the stuff that happened in New Orleans. I see devastation in Iowa and Illinois that dwarfs what happened in New Orleans. I see people working together. I see people trying to save their property…I don’t see a bunch of people running around waving guns at helicopters, I don’t see a bunch of people running shooting cops. I don’t see a bunch of people raping people on the street. I don’t see a bunch of people doing everything they can…whining and moaning—where’s FEMA, where’s BUSH. I see the heartland of America. When I look at Iowa and when I look at Illinois, I see the backbone of America.

well known disdain for poor blacks in the south who were victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. To hear Limbaugh describe it, Iowa is more American, more honorable … you know … more white than Louisiana.

Download | Play (The audio will work in just a few minutes)

Tags: rushbo, rush limpbaugh, racist, racism, idiots

111 Nations, But Not US, Adopt Cluster Bomb Treaty

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:22:13 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Maybe the arms manufacturers will offer to clean up, in stead of watching kids blow themselves and friends to smitherines.

Clip Source: www.truthout.org

Dublin, Ireland - Chief negotiators of a landmark treaty banning cluster bombs predicted Friday that the United States will never again use the weapons, a critical component of American air and artillery power.

The treaty formally adopted Friday by 111 nations, including many of America's major NATO partners, would outlaw all current designs of cluster munitions and require destruction of stockpiles within eight years.
It also opens the possibility that European allies could order U.S. bases located in their countries to remove cluster bombs from their stocks.

The United States and other leading cluster bomb makers - Russia, China, Israel, India and Pakistan - boycotted the talks, emphasized they would not sign the treaty and publicly shrugged off its value. All defended the overriding military value of cluster bombs, which carpet a battlefield with dozens to hundreds of explosions.

Tags: where, lies, the, conscience - in, greed

Howard accused of war crimes over Iraq troop deployment

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 06:21:30 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: A similar brief has been sent by a group from the United Kingdom regarding former prime minister Tony Blair. The United States is not a signatory to the court.

Clip Source: www.abc.net.au

A legal brief has been sent to the International Criminal Court (ICC) alleging former prime minister John Howard committed a war crime by sending troops to Iraq.

A loose alliance of peace activists, lawyers, academics and politicians is behind the brief, organised by the ICC Action group in Melbourne.

Organiser Glen Floyd says Mr Howard should be held accountable for sending troops to a war not sanctioned by the United Nations.

"We have produced a 52-page brief of evidence which states to the chief prosecutor of the criminal court that we allege John Howard's actions are war crimes under article 8 of the Rome Statute," he said.

Democrats Senator Lyn Allison says the legal brief sent to the ICC is justified.

Senator Allison, who is one of several eminent people supporting the move, says accountability is important.

Tags: murder, bloody

Lost parrot tells veterinarian his address

Wed, 21 May 2008 20:27:03 GMT

clipped by: ratilfar

Clip Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

TOKYO - When Yosuke the parrot flew out of his cage and got lost, he did exactly what he had been taught — recite his name and address to a stranger willing to help.

He kept mum with the cops, but began chatting after a few days with the vet.

"I'm Mr. Yosuke Nakamura," the bird told the veterinarian, according to Uemura. The parrot also provided his full home address, down to the street number, and even entertained the hospital staff by singing songs.

The Nakamura family told police they had been teaching the bird its name and address for about two years.

But Yosuke apparently wasn't keen on opening up to police officials.

"I tried to be friendly and talked to him, but he completely ignored me," Uemura said.

Republican Senate candidate not sure what state he lives in

Thu, 15 May 2008 13:43:15 GMT

clipped by: BobbyRutan
clipper's remarks: Ha ha ha ha....... I already suspect 2 comments I might see in the comment section. Something about 57 states? Ha Ha ha ha.......

Clip Source: www.scholarsandrogues.com

As the Colorado Senate campaign starts to hot up, GOP hopeful Bobblehead Shaffer has launched a new TV ad telling us how he’s the change Colorado needs. It’s a pretty spot, which features this scenic shot of Mt. McKinley towering majestically over … ummm, hold the phone…

The staff at The Onion are probably sitting around right now wondering how they’re going to top this one.

We need a change, all right. Specifically, we need to change to a candidate who can find Colorado on a map. Meanwhile, Alaska, you’re welcome to him.

UPDATE: Anchorage mayor Mark Begich, himself a US Senate candidate, responds here:

“While Alaskans can understand why Bob Schaffer would promote our beautiful mountain, I hope he doesn’t expect Alaska to cede North America’s highest peak to the State of Colorado.”

Tell you what - we’ll trade you Colorado Springs for it.

Tags: alaska, colorado, what's the difference

Pen-pal Advice From Killers

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:22:37 GMT

clipped by: Skipper61

Clip Source: radaronline.com

In the late '90s, pop-culture historian Bill Geerhart had a little too much time on his hands and a surfeit of stamps. So, for his own entertainment, the then-unemployed thirtysomething launched a letter-writing campaign to some of the most powerful and infamous figures in the country, posing as a curious 10-year-old named Billy.

As it turns out, no group hates to disappoint a child more than convicted killers, all of whom responded promptly to Billy's questions about dropping out of school. Their letters, published here for the first time, range from criminally insane to downright sensible, offering snapshots of the personalities behind some of America's most hideous crimes. Recently, Radar asked Billy to follow up with his mentors as a college student. (Click here to skip ahead and read Billy's correspondence with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Larry Flynt, and other non-murderous celebrities)

Read Little Billy’s letters to Richard Ramirez, Charles Manson, and other killer pals >>

Gore Vidal: Obama better than JFK

Tue, 20 May 2008 06:05:18 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Re Clinton: "... this long campaign, this daily search for the grail, has driven her crazy.”
Re McCain: You could beat McCain! ... He went to a private school and came bottom of his class. He smashed up his aeroplane and became a prisoner of war, which he is trying to parlay into ‘war hero’.” “a goddamned fool. He was on television talking about mortgages, and it was quite clear he does not know what a mortgage is. His head rattles as he walks”.

Clip Source: www.commondreams.org

I Knew JFK, Says Gore Vidal, and Believe Me Obama’s the Better Leader
Gore Vidal, the writer and long-time Clinton supporter, tells why Hillary is insane to keep on fighting

So what does he think of Hillary Clinton’s stated intention to fight on to the bitter end for the Democratic presidential nomination? The reply is instant and searing: “I think her strategy is more or less insane.”

As for Obama, Vidal has taken time to warm to him. “I liked the idea of him, but he never managed to get my interest. I was brought around by his overall intelligence - specifically when he did his speech on race and religion.”

His views on the man the Democratic candidate will have to beat are even more brutal than his views on Hillary: ” You could beat McCain! I’ve never met anyone in America who has the slightest respect for him. He went to a private school and came bottom of his class. He smashed up his aeroplane and became a prisoner of war, which he is trying to parlay into ‘war hero’.”

Tags: mccain, vidal, jfk, elections, politics

Mural in a smoking area

Mon, 19 May 2008 09:45:35 GMT

clipped by: valann 47

Clip Source: frostfirezoo.com

Mural in a Smoking Area

Tags: smoking, mural, art

Two men Taser each other in parking dispute

Mon, 19 May 2008 10:53:27 GMT

clipped by: Socratoad
clipper's remarks: Stupid is as stupid does.

Clip Source: www.thestar.com

Two men Taser each other in parking dispute

BOULDER, COLO.–It wasn't exactly pistols at 30 paces, but police say a security company supervisor and a restaurateur shot each other with Tasers in a "bonehead" confrontation over parking.

Officers said neither man needed medical attention after the Saturday confrontation, but Harvey Epstein, co-owner of Mamacitas restaurant, was arrested on suspicion of felony menacing and using a stun gun.

A police report said Epstein and Casey M. Dane, a supervisor for Colorado Security Services Inc., were arguing over a metal boot that one of Dane's guards had clamped on a wheel of a van parked behind Mamacitas.

Dane told police he was afraid Epstein was going to hit him with a 2-foot-long pair of bolt cutters. Epstein told police he had only tried to remove the boot with the bolt cutters and hadn't threatened anyone with them.

Both men drew Tasers.

"They shot each other," Police Sgt. Pat Wyton told the Camera newspaper. "It was just kind of a bonehead deal."

School Board to Pay in Jesus Prayer Suit

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:18:40 GMT

clipped by: schreibe
clipper's remarks: I live in a small town in North Florida, and I can't believe the "holding hands", and prayer meetings that are conducted on public school grounds and in public meetings. I think it is an infringement on the rights of people of other faiths to have to endure this kind of over-the-line challenge to the Founding Fathers insistance on the separation of church and state. My God!, ....what is more important than for a kid to be able to go to school without feeling like he is not a part of the community because he is of a different faith! Or, maybe even, ...heaven forbid.....not of any faith at all! It's time for a change!,....and a return to the faith of our Fathers in our inherent God given right to be who we are! I'm fed up with it all!

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

School Board to Pay in Jesus Prayer Suit

A Delaware school district has agreed to revise its policies on religion as part of a settlement with two Jewish families who had sued over the pervasiveness of Christian prayer and other religious activities in the schools.

One family said it was forced to leave its home in Georgetown because of an anti-Semitic backlash.

As news of the request spread, many local Christians saw it as an effort to limit the free exercise of religion, residents said. Anger spilled onto talk radio, in letters to the editor and at school board meetings attended by hundreds of people carrying signs praising Jesus.

Her son, Alex, then 11, had written a short statement that said in part: “I feel bad when kids in my class call me ‘Jew boy.’ I do not want to move away from the house I have lived in forever.”

“Alex was in the yard, and some kids came up and said, ‘There’s that boy who’s suing Jesus.’ ”

Tags: religion, school, separationchurchstate, politics, religiousfreedom, freedomfromreligion, foundingfathers

Why Liberals Love McCain

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:43:18 GMT

clipped by: schreibe
clipper's remarks: A Great Article by Michael Kinsley. This is exactly what I've been thinking lately. If us Democrats don't get our act together soon....and in full force we are going to have the "Straight Talk Express" running right down our throats! The proverbial shit is soon going to hit the fan", and we will be fighting with each other while the train rumbles on! Ala, 1968, 1972, and 1980.

Clip Source: www.time.com

Why Liberals Love McCain

By Michael Kinsley

Republicans have pulled some dirty tricks before: Swift Boats, Watergate, you name it. But this time they have gone too far. In its desperate hunger for victory at any cost, the Republican Party is on the verge of choosing a presidential candidate, John McCain, who is widely regarded (everywhere except inside the Republican Party itself) as honest, courageous, likable and intelligent.

Have they no shame?

There is a word for it when a political party chooses a presidential candidate with more appeal in the opposition party than in his own. That word is cheating. For heaven's sake, if the Republicans want to keep the White House that badly, why don't they just nominate Hillary Clinton and be done with it?

Tags: politics, mccain, obama, clinton, kinsley

Clipmarks | thinkingblue's Pops

AP: Food industry bitten by its lobbying success

AP: Food industry bitten by its lobbying success

FACT: US economy does better under Democrats

Proof: Democrats Are Better For the Economy

Inequality Widens in the USA

Rush Limbaugh Attacks Katrina Victims

Rush Limbaugh Attacks Black Katrina victims and praises Whites as the Floods hit.

111 Nations, But Not US, Adopt Cluster Bomb Treaty

Howard accused of war crimes over Iraq troop deployment

Lost parrot tells veterinarian his address

Republican Senate candidate not sure what state he lives in

Pen-pal Advice From Killers

Gore Vidal: Obama better than JFK

I Knew JFK, Says Gore Vidal, and Believe Me Obama’s the Better LeaderGore Vidal, the writer and long-time Clinton supporter, tells why Hillary is insane to keep on fighting

Mural in a smoking area

Mural in a Smoking Area

Two men Taser each other in parking dispute

School Board to Pay in Jesus Prayer Suit

School Board to Pay in Jesus Prayer Suit

Why Liberals Love McCain

Why Liberals Love McCain

I Knew JFK, Says Gore Vidal, and Believe Me Obama’s the Better Leader
Gore Vidal, the writer and long-time Clinton supporter, tells why Hillary is insane to keep on fighting