Stacy`s Soapbox

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Like Minded Fools by Randi Rhodes

CNN has released more of their interview with Donald Sterling. If CNN is looking for something to replace the Malaysian plane story, Donald Sterling is even more lost than that airplane! In the interview, Sterling apologizes - and then continuously slams Magic Johnson. Amazing! For Donald Sterling, it’s like one step forward, two steps back...and then shoot yourself in the foot.

Sterling ridiculed Magic Johnson in an interview with Anderson Cooper, asking "what does he (Johnson) do for the black people?" Well, for starters Donald, he doesn’t call them "the black people." Donald, before you call somebody out, you might want to run a quick Wikipedia search on them. Magic Johnson has been honored numerous times for his philanthropic work in the black community and for people suffering from HIV/AIDS. Attacking him for not helping people is like attacking the Koch brothers for not hurting people. Every time you hear this Sterling jerk, remind yourself that Republican economic policies are all designed to let billionaires like this avoid taxes and get even richer.

Meanwhile, back in the tin foil hat brigade, Limbaugh is saying that the reason Hillary Clinton didn’t label Boko Haram a terrorist organization is that "they look like African Americans." Amazing - Rush has managed to say something about Boko Haram that’s almost as offensive as Boko Haram itself.

How offensive is Boko Haram? Even Al Qaeda has condemned Boko Haram for their kidnappings of schoolgirls. When even Al Qaeda says you've gone too far? That's saying something - and it isn't anything good. If Rush keeps up his trash talk, maybe Al Qaeda will condemn him. Everyone else worthwhile has already has.

Speaking of human garbage piles that should be condemned, Karl Rove opened his mouth again - and unsurprisingly, garbage came out. Rove said this week that Hillary Clinton may have brain damage. Hey Karl - if I want half-assed diagnoses of medical conditions from a Republican ideologue, I’ll stick with Bill Frist. And "brain damage" is not an accusation that Republicans should really be throwing around. I have a quick list of two-word rebuttals: "Louie Gohmert." "Sarah Palin." And don't forget "Rush Limbaugh."

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Since Stephen Colbert annouced he's taking over for Dave Letterman next year? His team has been on fire - and they certainly were on Monday night. If you missed it? Watch it now.

The Colbert Report
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Randi`s Homework May 13th 2014

Audio/Video
	Yep - Still Racist: In New Interview, Donald Sterling Attacks Magic Johnson Limbaugh's Latest Ridiculous Rant: We Can't Call Boko Haram Terrorists Because They Look Like African Americans! Rush: 'My (African American) Producer Snerdly Tells Me Boko Haram Is Black - So We Can't Criticize Them Flashback, Dec. 2012: Allen West Accuses Hillary Clinton Of Faking Concussion To Avoid Benghazi Testimony Flashback, April 2014: President Obama - 'Obamacare Is Working, It's Time To Move Past The Political Fight' The GOP's Bitter Pill On Obamacare: It's Working, No Matter What You Call It Fox's Eric Bolling: Michael Sam Was Only Drafted Because He Is Gay Stephen Colbert: Monica Lewinsky's Conveniently-Timed Tell-All
Photo Credits: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Sterling: Yep - Still A Racist
	In New Interview, Donald Sterling Slams Magic Johnson Again, Citing Johnson's HIV Status Donald Sterling's Interview Disaster: Rich Old Racist Self-Destructs To Anderson Cooper Donald Sterling's Defense Against Racism? More Racism. Donald Sterling's Insane Attempt At Damage Control Fails Miserably
Photo Credits: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

The Brain Damaged Right Wing
	At Speaking Event, Fox's Karl Rove Reportedly Claims Hillary Clinton Has Brain Damage Karl Rove Says Hillary Has Brain Damage; Republicans Should Keep Hammering On Benghazi Fox's Allen West: "Fishy" Focus On Boko Haram Is Meant To Distract Americans From Benghazi Louisiana Republican Congressman Says Obama Is Killing Veterans, Suggests Obamacare Enrollees Will Be Next Iowa Republican Senate Candidate Still Thinks Iraq Had WMDs Ann Coulter's Hashtag Hijacking Of #BringBackOurGirls Backfires Big Time Benghazi Is A Prisoner's Dilemma - And The Republicans Are The Prisoners
Photo Credits: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

A Real Reason For Concern
	Studies Confirm Large Part Of West Antarctic Ice Sheet Starting Slow, Unstoppable Collapse West Antarctic Ice Sheet's Collapse Triggers Sea Level Warning Tracing The Republican Evolution - Or Devolution - On Climate Change Why Society Is Failing To Stop Global Warming, In One 90-Second Video
Photo Credits: DEA / M. SANTINI/De Agostini/Getty Images

Politics & Policy
	Gallup: Voter Enthusiasm Down Sharply From 2010, For Both Democrats And Republicans Chamber Of Commerce President To GOP: Pass Immigration Reform Now - Or Be Prepared To Sit Out The 2016 Races Budget Deficit On Track For Six-Year Low Under Obama Voters Love Obamacare — As Long As You Give It Another Name Senate Deadlocked On Energy Bill, Ending Chances Of A Vote On Keystone
Photo Credits: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

Michael Sam: The Homophobe Backlash
	On Twitter, Conservatives Apoplectic At Michael Sam's Popularity Conservatives Whining Sam Is Being Treated Better For Being Gay Than Tim Tebow Was For Being A Christian Right-Wing Threats: D.C. Lobbyist Seeking to Ban Gays From League Says NFL Team That Drafts Openly Gay Player Michael Sam Will Face Boycott
Photo Credits: Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Communications Breakdown
	FCC Scraps Proposed Pay-For-Faster-Internet Rules After Weeks Of Backlash How Big Cable Is Organizing Against Net Neutrality AT&T Said in Talks to Buy DirecTV for About $50 Billion Casey Kasem Is Missing; Judge Orders Investigation, Awards Daughter Kerri Conservatorship
Photo Credits: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

Meanwhile...
	Al Qaeda Denounces Boko Haram; Abduction Of Girls An Act Not Even Al Qaeda Can Condone After All-Too-Convienient "Adjustment" In Sales Numbers, Walmart U.S. CEO Gets A $1.5 Million Bonus, While Workers Get Nothing Uruguayan President Lectures U.S. During WH Visit: Learn A Second Language & Stop Smoking Cigarettes Proposed California Bill Moving Rapidly Through State Legislature Would Ban Fundraising Bashes At Lobbyists' Homes Frank Bruni: Read Kids Read!
Photo Credits: STR/AFP/Getty Images

They will Never Change by Randi Rhodes

One last week, people! So buckle in, and prepare for..? More of the same right-wing BS. Because they never really change who they are.

L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling has a new excuse about why he made those racist comments on a phone call to his mistress. It all boils down to a variation on Marion Berry's "bitch set me up." Donald Sterling is aware that Marion Barry is black, right? In a classic moment, Sterling said of his mistress "I don't know why the girl had me say those things." Donald, that doesn't show that you're not a racist - it shows that you're a racist AND a horrible boyfriend. It's not a good idea to make excuses about your comments about minorities by blaming women.

Meanwhile, Senator Marco Rubio said in an interview that he thinks he's ready to be President of the United States - and that there is nothing we can do about climate change. OK, he didn't say he's ready to be a GOOD President of the United States. That's quite a range of sentiments, Marco. "Yes, I am qualified to lead this country. And no, there's no place to really lead it. I would appreciate your vote."

On Sunday, Fox's Brit Hume and George Will mocked the Twitter campaign to bring back the kidnapped girls in Nigeria. Sunday mornings used to be the time that the substantive issues were discussed - on Fox News, Sunday morning is the time that the substantive issues are dismissed. For experts at using media for evil, they don't seem to realize that the media can also be used for good.

In positive news, Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted by an NFL team this weekend, after being picked by the St. Louis Rams. After Sam got picked, he gave his boyfriend a big kiss in front of the cameras. Of course, the draft was being followed by all of the sports networks. Oddly, none of them chose to do a slow motion replay of that historic kiss.

Twitter - specifically, bigots on Twitter - did not have a good first reaction to Michael Sam's NFL kiss. Does Twitter ever have a good first reaction to anything? Twitter literally captures the very first thoughts of people who have nothing better to do than tweet things. Twitter reactions are by definition knee-jerk reactions…with the emphasis on the "jerk."

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You may have missed this last Friday, even if you were watching "Real Time With Bill Maher" on HBO, since the video below only happened on "Overtime". Dinesh D'Souza - a perfect example of a selfish right-wing extremist nutjob (who may soon be going to prison) if ever there was one - tried to blast out the self-centered tea party/libertarian line on the minimum wage, how it isn't really a big deal. Sister Simone Campbell, stomped him flat, and hit D'Sousa from both the right AND the left on how the modern Republican Party is all wrong about business and the minimum wage

Randi`s Homweork May 12th 2014

Audio/Video
	Defiant Donald Sterling Unapologetic In First Public Comment Since Scandal, Insists 'I'm NOT A Racist' Donald Sterling tells Anderson Cooper: I was 'baited' into 'a terrible mistake' Donald Sterling’s Pathetic Racism Excuse: I Was Just Trying To Get V. Stiviano Into Bed! No Baiting Here: The Original V. Stiviano Tape Of Donald Sterling's Racist Rants Sister Simone Campbell Takes Dinesh D'Souza To School And Smacks His Knuckles On The Minimum Wage Sen. Elizabeth Warren Laughs At Being Called A Socialist How Sick They Are: Bill Kristol responds with 'Benghazi' after ABC host mocks him for Lewinsky conspiracy theory Sec. Of State John Kerry On Sending Small Team Of U.S. Advisors To Help Rescue 200+ Nigerian Girls From Boko Haram Terrorists: "We Must Do Everything Possible" To Help Rescue Them George W. Bush's Nigerian Ambassador Defends Hillary Clinton Over Boko Haram Criticisms Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) - Who Is Quitting Congress To Start A Right-Wing Radio Show - Says Obama's Foreign Policy Is 'Hashtag Activism' George Will, Brit Hume Mock #BringBackOurGirls Campaign That Actually Got The World To Pay Attnetion To The Kidnapped Nigerian Girls Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) Says He's Ready To Be President - But Thinks Climate Change Is Not Man Made John Oliver Hosts A Truly Fair Climate Debate: Pits Bill Nye and 96 scientists against 3 climate change-deniers
Photo Credits: Screenshot/HBO Studios

Michael Sam and the Fight for Equal Rights
	Picking Michael Sam, Rams Welcome 1st Openly Gay Player To NFL Obama Congratulates Michael Sam, White House Says NFL draft: Reactions heat up after Michael Sam kisses boyfriend on TV Miami Dolphins' player Don Jones fined for anti-gay tweets about Michael Sam Dave Zirin: Michael Sam Gets Drafted, and the NFL Has Issues Related: Arkansas Issues First Marriage License to Same-Sex Couple
Photo Credits: Ida Mae Astute, Disney ABC TV/Getty

A History Of Terrible Mistakes
	Donald Sterling tells Anderson Cooper: I was 'baited' into 'a terrible mistake' A History Of Terrible Mistakes - Elgin Baylor's discrimination lawsuit among Donald Sterling's past racial issues Dave Zirin: Donald Sterling, Slumlord Billionaire Flashback, Nov. 2009: Justice Department Sues Donald Sterling For Racial Discrimination In Housing; Obtains Record $2.725 Million Settlement
Photo Credits:Screenshot/CNN

Manipulating Terror For Politics
	Family Members Of Benghazi Victims To GOP Select Committee - Please Don't DoThis Again Inside Putin's Latest Rigged Set-Up: Russia Rakes In The Vote In astern Ukraine's Fake Election As U.S. Sends 'Advisory Team To Nigeria, Nigerian President Says International Assistance MArks Beginning Of End Of Boko Haram's Terror Spree Extremism In Reality: Boko Haram Steps Up Its War on Kids - Both Girls And Boys
Photo Credits: Fabrice Coffrini, AFP/Getty

Climate Change and the Right
	Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) Says He's Ready To Be President - But Thinks Climate Change Is Not Man Made As the world burns, the GOP fiddles around, and does the climate change dance Paul Krugman: Crazy Climate Economics Is Climate Change Real? The Pentagon Sure Thinks So
Photo Credits: Drew Angerer, Getty Images

War on the Poor
	The Minimum Wage Loophole That's Screwing Over Waiters and Waitresses Fake concern for the poor - Koch brothers’ expensive political epiphany Cliven Bundy is the face of GOP's war on the poor
Photo Credits: George Frey, Getty Images

Politics and Policy
	President Obama warns Democrats that midterm elections could imperil his agenda - and America; Says midterm elections are the key to U.S. making progress The GOP's Anti-Government Hypocrisy Exposed: When Sen. Elizabeth Warren Schooled GOP Rep. Michael Grimm Ken Vogel: Koch brothers' Americans for Prosperity plans $125 million spending spree this year Chris Cillizza: In midterm elections, Democrats have some hope of retaining control of Senate Rising U.S. economy could help Democrats stave off election loss Pressure to keep Net neutrality mounts both inside & outside FCC Former NYC Mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg defends Hillary Clinton on Benghazi Hillary's Last Campaign - Who Needs This?
Photo Credits: Michael Stewart, Getty/WireImage

Meanwhile...
	Larry Wilmore to take over Stephen Colbert’s time slot with ‘The Minority Report’ on Comedy Central Kiera Butler: I Went to the Nutritionists' Annual Confab. It Was Catered by McDonald's.
Photo Credits: Getty Images

Friday, May 9, 2014

a Week of Insanity via Randi Rhodes

So how'd this never-ending week of insanity finish up? With a scrum, as House Republicans desperately tried to get named to the big Benghazi "select committee." Half of the Republicans in the House asked to be on the committee. The ones who didn't get chosen for the committee will just have to be crazy over Benghazi by themselves. I'm talkin' to you Darrell Issa.

Meanwhile, Ann Coulter has some advice for Monica Lewinsky. That's a great place for Monica to go for advice - from possibly the only person on earth who has made worse life decisions than Monica. Ann says that Monica needs to become a Christian. If Ann Coulter is the example of what being a Christian is, then Monica would be better off worshipping Satan. After all, Satan's ethics are closer to the teachings of Jesus Christ than Ann Coulter's are.

Rep. Michele Bachmann had a new cause this week - defeating a proposed National Women's History Museum. Bachmann said "the legislation lacks the necessary safeguards to ensure the proposed museum will not become an ideological shrine to abortion." Evidently in Michele's mind, the only thing that women have ever accomplished is gaining the right to abortion - and she objects to it. Hello, Michele! Women accomplish amazing things every day. Women even successfully fought for the right to vote in America! Of course, it's not clear whether Bachmann is totally in favor of that either.

Sen. Harry Reid said on the floor of the Senate this week that the Koch brothers are one of the "main causes" of global warming. Be careful, Harry - you don't want them turning the heat up on us even more! Yes, the Koch brothers are making global warming much worse. But they also contribute to the opera and the ballet, which are air-conditioned. So at least they're providing a way for their friends to beat the heat.

Finally, Cliven Bundy made it back into the headlines this week. The racist rancher from Nevada is now offering history lessons via YouTube. Seriously! The only person dumber than Cliven Bundy is anybody who would listen to him. In order to get access to the videos though, you have to sign up for Bundy's email list. Wow! If you're looking for a list of gullible morons? That has to be the most valuable email list in the world! Looks like the GOP will be crawling back to Cliven Bundy after all.

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It's Mother's Day on Sunday - and Jimmy Kimmel had a point this week: Your mother has probably done some pretty shocking things that you don't know anything about...

Randi`s Homework May 9th 2014

Audio/Video
	The GOP's Benghazi Conspiracy Platform For 2014: Will Scaring Voters Work For The GOP? In Other Conspiracy Noise - Ann Coulter Says Monica Should Become A Christian & Bill Clinton Is A Rapist Flashback, March 1999: Monica Lewinsky's Interview With Barbara Walters Fed Chair Janet Yellen won’t tell Bernie Sanders whether U.S. is democracy or oligarchy President Obama: The Rich Are Not Under Attack - But Incolme Inequality In America Is A Very Serious Problem Anxiety Over Economic Inequality Leaves Door Open For Sen. Elizabeth Warren To Challenge Hillary Clinton in 2016 CEOs Are Getting Hip To Income Inequality; Robert Reic & Nick Hanhauer Explain Montage: While The Rich Want To Raise The Minimum Wage, The GOP Still Says 'No Minimum Wage Of Any Kind Is Needed In The U.S.' President Obama and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) Call Out Republicans On Perpetual Obstruction VA scheduler in Texas claims secondary wait list for appointments was covered up/a> Sen. Harry Reid: The Koch Brothers Are One Of The "Main Causes" Of Global Warming Rep. Michele Bachmann rails against a national women's museum Chris Hayes: Kevin Durant's NBA MVP Speech Was "Rejection Of The Cult Of The Individual And Cult Of Success"
Photo Credits: Getty Images

Conspiracy Week Roundup
	Republicans Are Finally Backing Down On Obamacare. Here's Proof. Meet Right-Wing Media's New Benghazi Hoax Champion: Select Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy Playing politics, seven Democrats vote to create Benghazi panel The Center Ring at the Republican Circus - Benghazi, From Now Through November Michael Tomasky: Ronald Reagan's Benghazi Debunk: Fact Checking The Right's Bogus Claims Of A 'Stand Down' Order In Bengahzi Steve Benen: House GOP isn't investigating a scandal; it's causing one Ed Kilgore: Letting the Impeachment Genie Out of the Bottle — Carefully! Michael Daly: The Day Monica Lewinsky Refused To Snitch, And Beat the Feds' Shakedown Tina Brown: How Monica Lewinsky Changed the Media
Photo Credits: Getty Images

The Worst Of Times, The Best Of Times
	Look at the stats: America resembles a poor country Six Ways America Is Like a Third-World Country America Is Declining at the Same Warp Speed That's Minting Billionaires and Destroying the Middle Class Annie Lowrey: The Changed Life of the Poor - They're Better Off Then They Once Were, But Are Still Far, Far Behind CNBC survey shows millionaires want higher taxes to help fix inequality Of the People, by the People: New poll finds Americans finally looking to each other to lead the country forward
Photo Credits:Alex Wong/Getty Images

Everyone Wants To Raise The Minimum Wage
	How Seattle Agreed to a $15 Minimum Wage Without a Fight States with the lowest minimum wages CEO Of Biggest Fast Food Chain Comes Out In Favor Of A Minimum Wage Increase Even Mitt Romney says: Raise the minimum wage Nick Hanauer: The Capitalist’s Case for a $15 Minimum Wage
Photo Credits: Getty Images

Politics and Policy
	Obama to announce new slate of energy actions to generate jobs and fight climate change today, in California House Committee Subpoenas Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki Amid Phoenix VA Wait List Scandal The Secret V.A. Wait Lists That Are Killing Vets CBO reports U.S. April budget surplus $114 billion Bill ending NSA bulk data collection moving quickly in U.S. House Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) Rails Against Proposed National Women's History Museum
Photo Credits: Getty Images

Progress in Sports?
	2014 NFL draft: Michael Sam signs - with Visa? 'Relentless' Boycott Planned By Evangelical "Christian" Group Against Any Team That Drafts Michael Sam Nate Silver: The Odds Michael Sam Will Be Picked in the NFL Draft If Michael Sam goes undrafted, NFL might have a public-relations problem on its hands In another new recording said to be of Clippers' Sterling, racist claim denied Clarence Page: Now that NBA has banned Sterling, it's the NFL's turn to ban the Redskins owner
Photo Credits: Getty Images

Meanwhile...
	Thank Your Mother: Americans Mothers' Thankless Work Building an Economy for the Rest of Us Ken Vogel: Koch brothers’ Americans for Prosperity plans $125 million spending spree Cecily McMillan jurors tell judge Occupy activist should not go to jail \| World news \| theguardian.com
Photo Credits: Getty Images

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Go with what you got - via Randi Rhodes

Republicans are vowing not to use Benghazi for fundraising purposes - which is your first clue that Republicans are using Benghazi for fundraising purposes. The RNC has a donation page asking people to contribute in order to "demand the truth about Benghazi." Not to worry - all of the bill for these endless investigations have been picked up by the unwilling taxpayers.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is fundraising off this Benghazi stuff. Seriously. Their main web page says "You're now a Benghazi Watchdog. Let's go after Obama & Hillary Clinton. Help us fight them now." I think that these "Benghazi Watchdogs" are being severely mistreated—somebody tell the ASPCA. We need to get Sarah McLachlan to do a heart-rending commercial to stop the abuse of the Benghazi Watchdogs.

Meanwhile, Fox is using Donald Rumsfeld to attack Hillary Clinton over Benghazi. Weren't they afraid that Rumsfeld was going to attack without being properly prepared? After all, you go into the talking heads circuit with the talking points you have, not the talking points you want to have.

That's something Laura Ingraham clearly hasn't learned. Ingraham has now brought Benghazi into the discussion of the horrific kidnappings of girls in Nigeria. There is literally nowhere that Laura Ingraham won't bring up Benghazi. I hope she doesn't go to any funerals in the near future.

Fox News once again cut away from a news conference because there wasn't enough discussion of Benghazi. Fox News's obsession with Benghazi makes the CNN fixation on the missing airplane look like a passing fancy. CNN has actually stopped talking about the plane. But you know that Fox isn't going to let go of Benghazi until after the 2016 election… at least. They'll probably keep it up right through Hillary's second term.

Finally, there's a new global warming report that names Florida as one of the places most vulnerable to climate change. Unfortunately, Florida is also one of the places most vulnerable to having a crazy Republican governor. Florida is just vulnerable, period. Look at where it is - hanging out there in the ocean, all exposed to anything from hurricanes to a good kick. If the United States was the body of an athlete, he would be wearing a cup over his Florida.

Call the show today at 866-87-RANDI (866-877-2634)
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Rep. Trey Goudy (R-SC) hasn't exactly had the best start for the head of new investigation committee. Still, Randi's staff noticed something odd about Rep. Gowdy in his media appearances this week. Then it hit us: Gary Oldman, in The Fifth Element. You're looking at the future of the GOP, people.

Randi`s Homework May 8th 2014

Audio/Video
	Fox Brings On War Criminal Donald Rumsfeld To Attack Hillary Clinton Over Benghazi CNN's Jake Tapper Pushes Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC): Why Doesn't GOP Care About Faulty Iraq Intel as Much as Benghazi? Fox's Laura Ingraham Invokes Benghazi In Discussion Of Kidnapped Nigerian Girls Fox Cuts Away From GOP Jobs Press Conference Until "More Interesting" Benghazi Questions Occur 2014 NBA MVP Winner Kevin Durant To His Mother: "You're The Real MVP" Jon Stewart's Totally Thrilled We May Get To Relive Clinton Vs Bush In 2016
Photo Credits: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images

Conspiracyland Continued
	Republican-Led House Set To Approve New Benghazi Investigation House Democrats Leaning Toward Boycott Of New Special Benghazi Committee The Already Asked-And-Answered Questions Fox Wants To Know From The Benghazi Select Committee New Benghazi Committee Chairman Goudy Wants Hillary To Speak Hillary Clinton: No Reason For New Benghazi Committee, But GOP 'Calls The Shots' In The House Brian Beutler: The Right's Benghazi Obsession Is Pure Politics - Here's How You Can Tell It's Not All Politics - It's Also Graft: Right-Wing Media Cash In On Their Own Benghazi Obsession Rebecca Traister: Monica Lewinsky Is The Perfect Person To Kick Off The Conversation About Hillary Clinton's Presidency Insurance Execs Shut Down GOP's Latest Search For Bad Obamacare News Vox.Com: Sorry, Republicans, Obamacare Enrollees Are Paying Their Bills Republican-Led House Votes To Hold Ex_Irs Official Lois Lerner In Contempt Conspiracy-Palooza: House Vote On Former I.R.S. Official Signals 2014 G.O.P. Election Strategy
Photo Credits: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

America - The Rotting Empire
	America's Rotting Empire: Billionaires Galore And A Crumbling Infrastructure Money Buys Everything These Days: Tea Party Republican Trying To Buy His Way Into Massachusetts Governor's Race Sen. Bernie Sanders Asks Fed Chair Yellen Whether The U.S. Is An Oligarchy Annie Lowrey: The Changed Life Of Americas Poor - They're Better Off Then They Once Were, But Are Still Far, Far Behind Missouri Protesters Arrested After Demanding Their Lawmakers Pass Medicaid Expansions Missouri's Democratic Governor Jay Nixon Is Desperately Trying To Do Something; Missouri's Republican Legislature Keeps Blocking Him
Photo Credits:Alex Wong/Getty Images

Politics and Policy
	President Obama: The GOP Says No To Everything, Notes They've Blocked 500 Bills In His Presidency Surprise! Republican "Pro-Business" Policies Actually Hurt State Economic Growth The Country's Most Republican Company? The Makers Of Wonder Bread House Committee Votes Unanimously To Rein In The NSA Open Internet Backers Stage 'Occupy FCC' FEC Chairman Warns Conservatives That His Agency's Desire To Regulate Media 'Alive And Well'
Photo Credits: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Mother's Day
	Meet The Amazing Mom NBA MVP Kevin Durant Was Talking About In His MVP Speech Study Says A Single Mom's Job Loss May Haunt Children For Years Rise of the "Glocker Moms": The NRA's Aggressive New Push For Women
Photo Credits: David McNew/Getty Images

Anti-Gay Paranoia
	HGTV Pulls New Series After Report IDs Its Stars As Anti-Gay Activists Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Christians Shouldn't Be Required To Do Business With Gay People 'Real Housewife' Porsha Williams Apologizes For Her Anti-Gay Speech
Photo Credits: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Meanwhile...
	Pew Research Poll: Despite Concerns About Governance, Ukrainians Want to Remain One Country Incompetence, Adding Up: While MSNBC Focuses on Inequality, CNN Mentioned Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Once Every 6 Minutes Another Senseless Shooting: In Youth's Death, Some See a Montana Law Gone Wrong
Photo Credits: ALEX INOY/AFP/Getty Images

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Back to the Future via Randi Rhodes

Some things never change. Conservatives are, once again, trying to debunk the science on climate change. And as usual, their debunking consists entirely of bunk. Charles Krauthammer said about climate change this week "I'm not impressed by numbers. I'm not impressed by consensus." Then what are you impressed by, Chuck? My guess is oil company money. Numbers? Consensus? Those don't impress him much. In all honesty, the only things that really impress Charles Krauthammer are his own pre-existing opinions - even if they don't always come from his brain.

Climate change denial isn't the only subject from the crazy way-back machine the Republicans have resurrected.

Right-wing media is also now in a tizzy over Monica Lewinsky, once again. Now they're floating the theory that the Clintons are behind Monica Lewinsky's new essay in Vanity Fair. Hello? If the Clintons had any control over what Monica did or didn't do, wouldn't they have had her burn the damned dress? Right-wing media thinks that the Clintons were behind the Monica article to generate sympathy for Hillary, because the Clintons want people talking about this - AT THE SAME TIME, the right-wing media is insisting the Clintons DON'T want people talking about this. Brilliant. #headdesk

Lynne Cheney said the article about Monica is a "strategy or tactic" so people will say "it is old news." Ummmm, it IS old news, Lynne. It happened in the 90's - nobody needs a "strategy" to label something "old news" when it actually happened in the previous millennium! How old is the Monica story? It's older than Benghazi — and that's the oldest story this side of the Epic of Gilgamesh!

Speaking of old ideas, Republican Thom Tillis - who won last night's GOP Senate primary in North Carolina - seems to want to bring back the idea of throwing the old & frail out on the curb - which we stopped doing during the Depression, thanks to FDR and the Democrats. Tillis says that we need to "divide and conquer the people who are on assistance." Thom, we're supposed to conquer poverty, not conquer the poor. I gotta give it to the Republicans on this: at least they pick fights they can win. Democrats try to conquer things like poverty, injustice, or climate change. Republicans just want to kick the ass of poor people. Hey, it's achievable for them, right?

It's all really simple: Republicans are old, angry, and tired. If you give them the levers of power, they'll do what angry old people do. If you stand up to them, however? If you go VOTE - EVERY TIME - you'll set them back. They'll have to re-start their propaganda, they'll have to regroup, and they'll have to re-think - and they're not good at any of those.

But you MUST remain positive. You've gotta VOTE. And you MUST stay engaged. It's going to take time. But things still CAN change for the better. But it's up to you.

Call the show today at 866-87-RANDI (866-877-2634)
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Yes - Team Randi knows. We posted a video of Jon Stewart last night. So why again tonight? Because he was right - again. And spot on. And if you missed this story? You shouldn't have.

The Daily Show
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Randi`s Homework May 7th 2014

Audio/Video
	North Carolina State Level House Speaker Thom Tillis (R-NC): We Must 'Divide And Conquer' People On Public Assistance Hardball: Media Is Now Calling Tillis The 'Establishment' Candidate? If 'Establishment' Means Extremist, Then Yes. GOP Candidate Tillis: Talking About Raising The Minimum Wage Just Shows A 'Defeatist Mentality' Bill Nye Smacks Down S.E. Cupp & Heritage Foundation's Nicolas Loris On Climate Change Fox's Krauthammer On Climate Change: "I'm Not Impressed By Numbers. I'm Not Impressed By Consensus" (Or Obviously, Facts.) Lynne Cheney Suggests Hillary Approved Monica Piece To 'Get It Out Of The Way' Fox's 'The Five' Dives Headfirst Into Hillary And Monica Conspiracy Theory Jon Stewart: And Justice For Some - Wall Street Versus Occupy Wall Street; The Scales Are Balanced Now!
Photo Credits: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images

GOP Civil War, Primary Edition
	Tom Tillis Wins North Carolina GOP Senate Primary Next Up For Tom Tillis? A Political Conundrum John Nichols: Voters Say "Yes" To Walter Jones, The Republican Who Said "No" To Wall Street Boehner Wins Primary In Ohio, Despite National Unpopularity Among GOP Base Tea Party Takes Hit In Primary Test Ed Kilgore: Challenging The Republican Establishment Narrative The Republican Party Is Reining In Its Primary Debates To Take Control Of The Crazy Charlie Crist Says He Became A Democrat Because Of GOP Racism Michael Tomasky: What Happens If The GOP Takes The Senate? A Nightmare.
Photo Credits: Win McNamee/Getty Images

America's War On The Poor
	Republicans Block Hearing On Long-Term Jobless Benefits Greg Sargent: For Republicans, 47 Percenter-Ism Is Back! And So Is Shaming Poor People! Flashback, April 2014: Rep. Dennis Ross (R-FL) To Fast Food Worker: "Raising The Minimum Wage Wouldn't Be Right" Flashback, March 2014: Governor Mary Fallon (R-OK) Bans Raising Minimum Wage And Sick Day Expansion Flashback, January 2014: 10 States Premptively Ban Minimum Wage Increase/Sick Leave Matthew Yglesias: Teachers Get An Appreciation Week, Lawyers Take Home $70,000 More Per Year Related: We've Made Huge Progress On The Long-Term Debt. Can We Work On Jobs Now? Peter Van Buren: The American Empire Is Crumbling Before Our Eyes Right Here At Home Robert Reich: The Six Principles Of The New Populism - And The Establishment's Potential Nightmare This Fall
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America vs. Nigeria: Privilege vs Terror
	The New Republican Hero - A White Male Princeton Freshman: "Why I'll Never Apologize For My White Male Privilege" Dear Privileged-At-Princeton: You. Are. Privileged. And Meritocracy Is A Myth. Katie McDonough: "I'll Never Apologize For My White Privilege" Guy? Is Basically Most Of White America Mary Elizabeth Williams: Hey Kid - Who Asked You For An Apology Anyway? Privilege Deniers & The Pending Implosion Of The 'Check Your Privilege' Movement A Classic Essay (1990) - Peggy McIntosh: White Privilege - Unpacking The Invisible Knapsack Meanwhile, More Girls Kidnapped, While White House Sends Specialist To Help Recover Kidnapped Girls Who Is Boko Haram? Questions Raised, Even As U.S. Joins The Hunt For Missing Girls Why Can't They Find The Girls? Here's Why. Kidnapped Girls Highlight Nigeria's Many Security Challenges, Even As The World Economic Forum Spends Three Days In African Nation
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Conspiracyland: The Monica Truthers
	Monica Lewinsky's Hard-Won Perspective, 16 Years Later Ruth Marcus: Monica Lewinsky Did Hillary Clinton A Big Favor This Week Fox News Has An Exciting New Vanity Fair/Hillary Clinton/Monica Lewinsky Conspiracy Theory! Is Hillary Behind Monica Lewinsky Story?
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Our Illegitimate Supreme Court
	New Poll: Americans Think The Supreme Court Is Political, Closed Off, And Got Citizens United Wrong Study: Justices More Likely To Support Free Speech They Agree With Paul Waldman: The Difference Between Liberal Justices And Conservative Justices Thanks To Roberts' Court, Nebraska Town's Anti-Immigration Rule Stands, But Furor Persists
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Meanwhile...
	Injustice In America: Occupy Protestor Cecily McMillian Gets 7 Years In Jail Study: On Climate, Republicans And Democrats Are From Different Continents - And Tea Partiers Are On Par With Climate Change Deniers In Pakistan And The Middle East Three-Drug Cocktail Used In U.S. Executions Is Banned From Use On Animals, Says Report Study Shows Liberals Eat At P.F. Chang's, Conservatives At Cracker Barrel; And Other Fun Food Facts
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