Bush administration vs veterans

Bush Administration cuts $1.5 billion from military family housing. The Bush Administration cut $1.5 billion for military family housing, despite Department of Defense statistics showing that in 83,000 barracks and 128,860 family housing units across the country are below standard. ("Nothing But Lip Service," Army Times, June 30, 2003; "House Appropriations Committee Approves $59.2 Million for Ft. Hood," U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards Press Release, June 17, 2003)

Bush Administration underfunded veterans' health care by $2 billion. The Bush Administration's 2004 budget underfunded veterans' health care by nearly $2 billion. ("Vets Health Low on Bush's Priority List," The Hill, September 17, 2003; "Support for Troops Questioned," Washington Post, June 17, 2003; U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs, September 2002)

Bush Administration proposal would end health care benefits for 173,000 veterans. More than 173,000 veterans across the country would be cut off from health care because of Bush Administration proposed budget cuts and its plan requiring enrollment fees and higher out-of-pocket costs. ("Support for Troops Questioned," Washington Post, June 17, 2003)

Bush Administration budget cuts force more than 200,000 veterans to wait for health care. Over 200,000 United States veterans have to wait more than six months for a medical visit because of health care shortages. ("VA Health Care Funding Alert," Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Press Release, January 31, 2003)

Bush Administration opposed plan to give National Guard and Reserve Members access to health insurance. Despite the war efforts of America's National Guard and Reserve Members, the Bush Administration announced in October 2003 its formal opposition to give the 1.2 million Guard and Reserve members the right to buy health care coverage through the Pentagon's health plan. One out of every five Guard members lacks health insurance. ("Bush Opposes Health Plan for National Guard," Gannett News Service, October 23, 2003)

Bush Administration cuts $172 million allotted for educating the children of military personnel. The Bush Administration's 2004 budget cut $172 million of impact aid funding. Impact aid funding assists school districts by making up for lost local tax revenue from tax-exempt property, such as military bases. These education cuts will especially affect school-age children of troops serving in Iraq who reside on military bases. ("Support for Troops Questioned," Washington Post, June 17, 2003)

The Bulk of Federal Welfare Spending Is Not Going to the People Who Need It Most

It seems that the government really can't do anything right. Why is it that those who make more money get more assistance? Hmmmm.

Link to article at Mother Jones

Republicans to raise funds using Benghazi

The republican candidates running for office in 2014 have started to use the latest Benghazi investigation in the House of Representatives to raise funds for their campaigns. This is wrong on so many levels.

You should not be profiting off of dead Americans. The republican party is going to be seen for the vile people they are by using this investigation to make money to get elected.

We have already had several investigations into what happened in Benghazi. The outcome is still the same.

The republican politicians voted against funding for more security at the American embassies. There wasn't good security.
Terrorists attacked the embassy in Benghazi and killed several people. Others were rescued by a CIA team sent in to help.
The military did not have assets that could have done anything to help them.
There was never a stand down order given by the White House or State Department. If anything, they discussed what could be done and the military said they didn't have resources available but the CIA did. So something was done to help those people in Benghazi.
Afterwards there was a lot of information coming in.
The president plainly stated the very next day it was an act of terrorism and an investigation was ongoing.
People were giving the intel they had available at the time to the public, who wanted to know what was going on.
The military and other intelligence agencies are still searching for the people responsible fot the attack.

The republican party and Fox news has made a huge issue out of a tragedy that they themselves contributed to by not funding extra security that the democrats had requested.

So they are trying to blame Obama and Hillary Clinton for some kind of political wrongdoing, but there's no evidence of political wrongdoing at all.

Every investigation they have launched into that has proven the same things. They're wasting our time and taxpayers money going into this yet again.

And then they have the audacity to also try to fundraise on the issue. They're not going to find anything and they know it. That's why they're trying to capitalize on the issue now -- before the entire country realizes how ridiculous their attempts to hurt Obama actually are and turns on them.

Because that's eventually what's going to happen. They have lost on Obamacare. They are going to lose on climate change. They'll eventually lose on gay marriage and marijuana legalization. They're going to lose of Benghazi too.

Their positions on so many things continue to be on the wrong side of history, and people should not forget how this party does. Capitalizing on something like this is deplorable.

Read the article on Politico

A different view on Ukraine

Taking a unique view of the foreign policy of the United States, and the situation in Ukraine. Maybe we are doing things that don't make sense and seem a tad hypocritical. Why do we continue to involve ourselves? Maybe we should stay out of things a little bit more or explain to people why we are doing some of the things we do. Sometimes it's not easy to always trust your government.

This is a very interesting article and argument on how American foreign policy is different now than it used to be.

Link on Salon.com

Rand Paul represents the future of America's politics

Rand Paul represents the future of America's politics.

People today want someone like him. He's a fiscal conservative and social libertarian.

But the establishment of the GOP will never let him get very far once it comes to light that in addition to not supporting welfare and food stamps he also doesn't support social security, Medicare and wants to cut military spending. They will turn on him in a heartbeat when this comes to light.

He has some great ideas though. And young people will vote for a person who is willing to legalize marijuana and gay marriage and keep the government out of our personal lives. But would a congress let him do any of that if he was elected?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/27/rand-paul-is-politically-divergent-and-so-he-must-be-stopped.html

GOP candidate with white supremacy ties, arrest record forced out

A candidate for the Colorado legislature was forced out by the Colorado GOP only five days after his candidacy was announced because it was discovered that he has ties to white supremacy and an arrest record.

The candidate said he was not media savvy and thought he would have the time to explain his arrest and "clean up" all the things he's said online about minorities and Muslims before it was discovered by the media.

Apparently he's not intelligent enough to be in public office anyway if he didn't realize all those things would come to light. Also the party obviously did not properly vett this guy before handing him the nomination.

Unfortunately this isn't the only one like him who supports the republican party. Fortunately, the party kicked him to the curb once those things came to light. I am certainly glad to see that. Maybe that shows something good for the GOP in that state.

Personally I am surprised that one like this was trying to run in Colorado - if he'd been from the South it would have seemed more normal all things considered. But I would have thought people in Colorado were more progressive. However if he had been from the South, they may not have kicked him out of the running because those kinds of people are their base in the South.

The sad part is there are thousands more just like him and those people are not always shunned by the GOP. It seems lately more of the Republican party is embracing those who support discrimination bills against women and minorities based on religious grounds. How they can support that I don't know. Whatever happened to the GOP of the old days, back when being conservative didn't mean being a douchebag.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5049149?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000013

the gop screwed Ukraine out of global aid just to hurt Obama

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/26/the-gop-just-screwed-ukraine-out-of-billions-to-hurt-obama.html

It's funny how the same people who claim that Obama needs to be tougher towards Putin in Russia for his treatment of the Ukraine are the exact same people who voted against and aid package to help the Ukraine. Just because they don't like Obama. It is not just American money they are limiting - it was a global aid package.

They claim Obama looks weak to the world because of the was he is basically not declaring war on Russia but they are doing everything they can to make him look weak to the world. It is not Obama who is weak. It is the republican party in the congress who are weak and who are jealous and scared of Obama's popularity. People naturally like Obama. And people do not like the old white men of the GOP.

People do not like those old white men in the republican party because of the way they treat women, minorities, and the poor. They align themselves with the richest people and alienate the intelligent people in the lower classes who see what they are doing. They align themselves with these religious zealots who misconstrued the bible to mean Christians are able to openly discriminate against women, minorities, gays, and anyone else they want. They are trying to make these Talibangelical Christians happy by putting these religious beliefs into the laws of the country.

The GOP constantly talks about wanting to send messages to get women and minorities to.vote for them but they shoot themselves in the foot by the way they say disparaging remarks about those same people to whom they are trying to appeal.

They do not like Obama and they do not want him to succeed in his presidency at all. They don't care if they hurt everyone else in the process as long as they hurt Obama too. It is ridiculous to play politics in urgent situations. It is stupid to try to make the president fail because what he's doing is leading our country. They don't care if the United States fails and suffers from what they are doing. It is absolutely essential to them to do this to win elections next year.

But if they continue doing this they are not likely to win anyway. The media is reporting the things they are doing. I don't know if people are listening but I am hoping that they certainly will. If the GOP ends up running this country we are in for a terrible time. They want more war that we can't afford and if we got into.we wouldn't win. They want to force everyone out of their freedom. They want people to have limited access to information. They want to spin the truth.

The GOP of today is not the GOP of the days past. These people are not honorable. They have no dignity. They have no pride in America. They have no concern for this country. They care only about themselves and money and being in power. They don't care about anything else and it is extremely obvious.

Flip a District - Bill Maher targets Michael Grimm, Blake Farenthold

Bill Maher targets Michael Grimm, Blake Farenthold



Bill Maher has started a campaign called Flip A District, where he's looking for the worst members of Congress - as nominated by the people - which will be narrowed to one who he will target to lose reelection in 2014. He will then perform stand up tailored to this member. The first two of the Tweet Sixteen are Michael Grimm and Blake Farenthold.



Regardless of your political views, this is going to make excellent television. I am a huge fan of comedy. Though I don't always agree with him, I do know he's often quite amusing.

France honors women

France honors women. Great article in The Daily Beast.

I realize I share articles from that site quite often but it is truly a great news site. The stories are for the most part, very fair. They equally call out politicians for mistakes, hypocrisy, and double talk from all political parties. They don't really play favorites.

The information is sound and reliable. It is well researched and it is easy to want to share their articles. They have a page for politics, world news, entertainment, fashion, - and one for women. Devoted to women, women's rights and women's health. It is fantastic of them to.do this. Although I personally read the news and politics first, I also read the articles for world news, entertainment and for women. I enjoy every one I read.

This one is good as well.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/22/france-honors-women-finally.html

Jesus carries an AR-15? Constitution came from Jesus?

Not all Christians are stupid but some people make it difficult to defend them (and I do defend them when necessary), but this dude..... :(
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William “Jerry” Boykin, the deputy undersecretary of Defense for intelligence for much of the Bush/Cheney era, and who was  in charge of the hunt for Osama bin Laden in 2003, said THIS week:

“The Lord is a warrior and in Revelation 19 is says when he comes back, he’s coming back as what? A warrior. A mighty warrior leading a mighty army, riding a white horse with a blood-stained white robe…. I believe that blood on that robe is the blood of his enemies ‘cause he’s coming back as a warrior carrying a sword. And I believe now – I’ve checked this out – I believe that sword he’ll be carrying when he comes back is an AR-15…. The sword today is an AR-15, so if you don’t have one, go get one. You’re supposed to have one. It’s biblical.”

Boykin added that “the whole concept” of the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment “came from Jesus.”
----
He CHECKED IT OUT???? With who?? JESUS carries a friggin GUN? (NOT just any gun either, no, an AR-15 - awfully specific. Does this guy work for a gun manufacturer or something??)

There's a lot of violence in Heaven, you say, where Jesus needs to carry an assault rifle? Does Moses have one too? :( How do they get guns in the after life anyway? I thought worldly possessions were left behind?

(Aside: Perfect marketing strategy for a manufacturer -- 'We make the gun Jesus carries!')

And the writers of the Constitution, who were not even Christian, wrote the 2nd Amendment because it came from Jesus? They weren't even Christians!! Yo, they weren't even Christian - and they argued Separation of church and state so why would they put Jesus..... yeah, NO. It didn't come from Jesus.

Things like this are absolutely ridiculous.

Heritage and Hate at Ole Miss

Wonderful article from The Daily Beast about hate and racism at Ole Miss (The University of Mississippi). It is sad that the schools in Mississippi are still as racist as they are. Actually it's sad that people are as racist as they are.

Will the day ever come when one person looks as another and does not see a black, white, gay, straight, Christian, Muslim, atheist, transgender, Hispanic, Asian (etc) person but sees simply a HUMAN BEING? Must we classify everything and then align stereotypes to those things? Must we be scared to walk down the same street as a black kid without automatically thinking they're up to no good and deserve to be shot?

The entire state of Mississippi has a racism problem and as someone who lives there I see it everyday. I'm simply lucky to have been born Caucasian in this state rather than of some other race. My hope is that someday people will not be so full of hatred for things different than they are but will appreciate the differences we have. And celebrate them. But it's hard to think that day will come when every February I have to hear how we should not have a Black History Month and every time a black is on television I have to hear "fucking niggers should all die" - and yes that actually happens. Even though people in other places don't see how it is I can tell you for sure iy is certainly very real.

Why must we spend so much energy hating people?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/21/heritage-and-hate-at-ole-miss.html

Standing Ovation For Rand Paul?

Rand Paul actually has a good chance of making a legitimate bid for president, and on alot of stuff he is right. (Not everything, but alot.) He'd be a decent choice but he probably won't run in '16, more likely in 2020 (depending on who wins in 2016).

"Rand Paul is right, and all Republicans would do well to follow his example. One can be conservative without being indecent. Paul is the former, Nugent is the latter, and Cruz cannot make up his mind, which is why someday Paul may be a serious candidate for president while Cruz merely speaks for the freak show wing of the lunatic far right."

Article below

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/lawmaker-news/198935-standing-ovation-for-rand-paul-ted-nugent-should-apologize

New Space Neighborhood Watch Program by Air Force

Not a bad idea at all. But what struck me was this: " The Air Force currently tracks about 23,000 pieces of orbiting debris bigger than about 4 inches. These range from old rocket bodies to the remains of an exploded Chinese satellite."

23,000 pieces? Nice... It is not enough to litter on Earth, people just throw junk in space and leave it there too. Someday, someone will have to clean it up. You can't keep throwing stuff out there forever. (Not that I'm going to do it *myself* or anything, but logically, that day will come.)
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4838839

Will he make gay marriage legal?

An article from The Daily Beast on Supreme Court Justice Kennedy. Does he have the power to make gay marriage legal? Shouldn't we?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/22/will-this-man-make-gay-marriage-legal-everywhere.html