September 18, 2012
So my seventh grade teacher emailed me on FB…

I can’t stop giggling.

She (very politely) emailed asking my opinions regarding Obama, based on what she was told in the movie 2016. Am I not concerned about his reduction of nuclear weapons when nations like Iran are trying to create them? (No.) Am I not concerned he is driving us towards socialism? (Ha, no.)

First of all, socialism is not bad. Many of our Western allies are doing extremely well for themselves with their publicly funded healthcare, education, maternity leave & family programs. These are good for people; being a person, I find things that make people happy and healthy to be good things. And I recognize I have an overdeveloped sense of empathy, and I feel extremely selfish for having a job and paying my bills instead of giving up employment and personal wealth to try to help others full-time. However, I really do believe all people should want their fellow peoples on earth to be healthy and happy.

Secondly, nuclear war is a bad thing. Dropping bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was bad. People died. I understand Iran and South Korea are trying to be dangerous, but I don’t support nuclear weapons or a world where, instead of sitting around a table and talking out our differences, we just keep shooting each other. I’m a veteran. Most of the people I know and love are veterans and current service members. War is bad. Perhaps it is sometimes necessary, but that’s a discussion for another day. I fully support nuclear reduction.

And that said…

I haven’t seen 2016. I don’t believe in paying to be blasted with propoganda, which is what this would seem to be. I do not think Barack Obama is our Savior and Messiah, but I believe the Democratic platform (and the theory of the democratic process) is far superior to the current state of the Republican party. I don’t support classist societies. I don’t support inequality, bigotry, racism, hate, patriarchy, oligarchy, and all other shades of societies that aren’t based on group hugs. (Look, I made a joke!) I know Obama and the Democratic party don’t have a “We <3 kittens” platform, but I believe they are our best choice in this moment.

I want to respond in a mature, respectful, and fact-based manner. I do want to persuade people to look beyond Fox News and the media machine to take our country forward. Tell me what you’d say/want to hear?

1:25pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZX7odwTdc62r
Filed under: politics election 2012 2016 Obama President Obama progressive liberal conservative Republicans tea party socialism nuclear weapons war veterans 
September 6, 2012
Lookie!

Lookie!

6:58pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZX7odwSuxH2I
Filed under: obama virginia virginians for obama election 2012 politics democrats liberal progressive barack obama 
September 5, 2012
“And … when you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.”  

“And … when you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.”
 

10:55am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZX7odwSprg0O
(Notes: 1)
  
Filed under: Michelle Obama dnc 2012 politics democrats progressive liberal FLOTUS opportunity success 
August 29, 2012
Small Businessman Who Hit Obama at GOP Convention Got $850,000 in Government Loans

apsies:

motherjones:

In Tampa, Andy Kroll keeps it real:

“President Obama talks like he supports small businesses, but his actions are destroying us,” Archuleta told the thousands in attendance Tuesday night. “His administration is putting us out of business. It is our turn to put them out of office!”

But Archuleta’s business, like those of several other business owners at the GOP convention, benefited greatly from government help. Through the Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency, Archuleta secured an $850,000 Small Business Administration loan guarantee to build an 11,700-square-foot building for his company.

“We built that.” —the government

11:33am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZX7odwSNLrNV
(Notes: 344)
  
Filed under: GOP GOP Convention Republicans Small business democrats government politics liberal progressive conservative tea party election 2012 
August 23, 2012

brashblacknonbeliever:

khaleesi:

libertarians who say not voting is the same as casting a vote because “none of these options are good enough”

actually ANYONE who says that

are you so blinded by your own self-absorption that you don’t realize the rights of a LOT of people are genuinely at stake, here?

look, if this election were less polarized, I could give a shit less if you wanted to make a meaningless statement by not voting. but by not voting in THIS election, you’re saying to women, people of color, queer people, and everyone who isn’t rich that you care more about your own ideology than you do about the reality of those people losing their rights and living in a world that is much worse for them.

and you can just go fuck yourself.

(Emphasis mine)

So… meant to queue this, accidentally blogged… But this… yeah.

(via reagan-was-a-horrible-president)

12:04pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZX7odwR_S20B
(Notes: 968)
  
Filed under: voting politics democrats republicans gop tea party progressive liberal libertarians ideology human rights 
August 23, 2012
"

You want off-the-charts status? Check out the curriculum vitae of one Willard M. Romney: $200 million in the bank (and a hell of a lot more if he didn’t give so much away), apex alpha executive, CEO, chairman of the board, governor, bishop, boss of everything he’s ever touched. Son of the same, father of more. It is a curious scientific fact (explained in evolutionary biology by the Trivers-Willard hypothesis — Willard, notice) that high-status animals tend to have more male offspring than female offspring, which holds true across many species, from red deer to mink to Homo sap. The offspring of rich families are statistically biased in favor of sons — the children of the general population are 51 percent male and 49 percent female, but the children of the Forbes billionaire list are 60 percent male. Have a gander at that Romney family picture: five sons, zero daughters. Romney has 18 grandchildren, and they exceed a 2:1 ratio of grandsons to granddaughters (13:5). When they go to church at their summer-vacation home, the Romney clan makes up a third of the congregation. He is basically a tribal chieftain.

Professor Obama? Two daughters. May as well give the guy a cardigan. And fallopian tubes.

"

—

National Review’s Kevin Williamsonmakes the argument that Romney would be a better president than Obama because he sired boys instead of girls.

No. Seriously. This is from the Onion, right?

(via virtualephemera)

I wonder if this guy is a fan of George W. Bush. Because…

(via apsies)

MORE patriarchy?! Sign me up!! (Everyone loves cardigans, btw. Especially ladies… who can vote now.)

(Source: cajunboy, via apsies)

11:12am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZX7odwR_Jed1
(Notes: 57)
  
Filed under: mitt romney willard romney ann romney genetics breeding bain capital republican gop tea party national review kevin williamson boys girls babies mormon barack obama politics democrat progressive liberal 
August 23, 2012

talix18:

ethiopienne:

preach, boo.

I love my boss.

(Source: jamieali, via inothernews)

6:30am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZX7odwRzpXKx
(Notes: 210,477)
  
Filed under: obama barack obama president obama campaign politics democrat liberal progressive republican gop conservative tea party congress 
August 18, 2012
ohmuffins: barackobama: A pause for a hug in Davenport, Iowa yesterday. I vote for hugs. I am also a vote for hugs.

ohmuffins:

barackobama:

A pause for a hug in Davenport, Iowa yesterday.

I vote for hugs.

I am also a vote for hugs.

9:20pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZX7odwRhqFTM
(Notes: 1,293)
  
Filed under: barack obama michelle obama politics election hugs couples love i love this man and his wife so much liberal progressive democrat 
August 18, 2012
"

Over the years I’ve sat very patiently, listening to politicians, watching them dodge questions or distort answers or really just abuse the facts and I never said anything because it wouldn’t be nice, it’s not Iowa nice.

But I’m 63 years old now, I’m retired, and I’ve seen the impact of that silence. I’ve seen who really pays the price for silence and it is the poor and the middle class. I have seen the big picture – how corporate greed erodes democracy and factories take over farms. I’ve seen it all up-close and personal too, every day, for 24 years, teaching middle school in a district that serves low-income families. I have seen kids come to school in the dead of winter with no socks and kept my classroom stocked with food to make sure these kids had a fighting chance to learn when they made it, by themselves, with no one to set the alarm and no one to drive them through the snow, to school against the odds. I’ve seen their parents struggle to get off drugs and wait months, years even, for a spot in a treatment program that would give them a fighting chance to be the parents they truly want to be.

"

— Yes, Mr. Ryan, I’m from Iowa, Cherie Mortice (via livealifethatscompletelyfree)

(Source: clinicallyunamused, via truth-has-a-liberal-bias)

1:08pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZX7odwRgAlfD
(Notes: 60)
  
Filed under: paul ryan teachers medicare social programs socialism gop republicans politics education poverty middle class iowa democrats liberal progressive conservative 
August 7, 2012
A timeline of events

andyandtherobot:

Taken from here (thanks StumbleUpon)

1980: Ronald Reagan runs for president, promising a balanced budget

1981 - 1989: With support from congressional Republicans, Reagan runs enormous deficits, adds $2 trillion to the debt.

1993: Bill Clinton passes economic plan that lowers deficit, gets zero votes from congressional Republicans.

1998: U.S. deficit disappears for the first time in three decades. Debt clock is unplugged.

2000: George W. Bush runs for president, promising to maintain a balanced budget.

2001: CBO shows the United States is on track to pay off the entirety of its national debt within a decade.

2001 - 2009: With support from congressional Republicans, Bush runs enormous deficits, adds nearly $5 trillion to the debt.

2002: Dick Cheney declares, “Deficits don’t matter.” Congressional Republicans agree, approving tax cuts, two wars, and Medicare expansion without even trying to pay for them.

2009: Barack Obama inherits $1.3 trillion deficit from Bush; Republicans immediately condemn Obama’s fiscal irresponsibility.

2009: Congressional Democrats unveil several domestic policy initiatives — including health care reform, cap and trade, DREAM Act — which would lower the deficit. GOP opposes all of them, while continuing to push for deficit reduction.

September 2010: In Obama’s first fiscal year, the deficit shrinks by $122 billion. Republicans again condemn Obama’s fiscal irresponsibility.

October 2010: S&P endorses the nation’s AAA rating with a stable outlook, saying the United States looks to be in solid fiscal shape for the foreseeable future.

November 2010: Republicans win a U.S. House majority, citing the need for fiscal responsibility.

December 2010: Congressional Republicans demand extension of Bush tax cuts, relying entirely on deficit financing. GOP continues to accuse Obama of fiscal irresponsibility.

March 2011: Congressional Republicans declare intention to hold full faith and credit of the United States hostage — a move without precedent in American history — until massive debt-reduction plan is approved.

July 2011: Obama offers Republicans a $4 trillion debt-reduction deal. GOP refuses, pushes debt-ceiling standoff until the last possible day, rattling international markets.

August 2011: S&P downgrades U.S. debt, citing GOP refusal to consider new revenues. Republicans rejoice and blame Obama for fiscal irresponsibility.

(via astrorice)

12:24pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZX7odwQxQCAE
(Notes: 2,272)
  
Filed under: fiscal responsibility federal deficit barack obama ronald reagan bill clinton george w. bush gop conservative democrat liberal progressive republicans 
July 20, 2012
Advocating Progress: A "short" list of some of the bills the House GOP has blocked:

stfuconservatives:

nealzonwheelz:

  • HR 12 – Paycheck Fa­­irness Act
  • H.R. 320 — CJ’sHome Pr­­otection A­c­t
  • H.R. 448 — Elder Abuse­­ Victims Ac­t
  • H.R. 466 – Wounded Vet­­eran Job Se­c­urity Act
  • H.R. 515 – Radioactiv­­­e Import D­e­terrence ­Ac­t
  • H.R. 577 – Vision Care for Kids…

6:13pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZX7odwPmLt2L
(Notes: 882)
  
Filed under: filibuster congress politics conservative tea party liberal progressive 
July 19, 2012
Morgan Freeman donates $1 million to pro-Obama 'super PAC' - latimes.com

I disagree with buying elections and Super PACs, BUT, yay. :)

(Source: sarahlee310)

1:55pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZX7odwPh0Tff
(Notes: 22)
  
Filed under: super pac citizens united morgan freeman obama elections politics liberal progressive happy news! 
July 18, 2012
tankflynn: …again, more news that will only be a surprise to the Rush/Glenn/Fox crowd. #tfly

tankflynn:

…again, more news that will only be a surprise to the Rush/Glenn/Fox crowd. #tfly

(via sarahlee310)

8:13pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZX7odwPeC8DX
(Notes: 23)
  
Filed under: President Obama small business taxes politics liberal progressive 
July 16, 2012
"If Sarah Palin were black, her daughter’s out of wedlock, “baby daddy drama” would have been presented as an example of both pathological behavior and a dysfunctional family that is symbolic of the social problems in that community. If Sarah Palin were black, never would the poor decision making by the Palin family be marked off as challenges overcome, or deeds to be valorized. If Sarah Palin were black, her neo-secessionist husband would have been the death knell for her political career, because as we all know you can’t trust “those people.” If Sarah Palin were black, her lack of intellectual curiosity, willful and cultivated ignorance, and lack of grace both written and spoken, would not be taken as “folksy.” Instead, Palin would be viewed as unqualified for any public office. If Sarah Palin were black she would be tarred and feathered as an “affirmative action baby."

—

If Sarah Palin Were Black (via azspot)

Just goes to show how far Palin’s whiteness can take her. Zero intellect, two high school drop-outs, an unwed teen mother, a quitter of the one major job she had. Master of hateful coded language targeting opponents as not “real Americans”. Belongs to a church outside of the mainstream. Still a top GOP candidate.  (via liberalsarecool)

Meanwhile, Michelle Obama, a Princeton and Harvard Law School graduate, lawyer, and university dean who made over $200K/year, gets called “ghetto” and a “welfare queen”. (via squee-gee)

(via sarahlee310)

9:47am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZX7odwPS-luW
(Notes: 12,372)
  
Filed under: sarah palin michelle obama racism white privilege politics GOP conservative tea party liberal progressive Democrat 
July 12, 2012

Bless their hearts…

(via truth-has-a-liberal-bias)

1:18pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZX7odwPCsOjB
(Notes: 26,572)
  
Filed under: Republicans Democrats politics liberal progressive conservative 
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