SO MUCH TALENT!

Post by FUNKARTIST.

TRUTH!

While I enjoyed this and agree with much of it, it's sad that this intense critique is being made by a fictitious character on HBO rather than our TV news media. So we get infotainment news about Bill Cosby and the truth from entertainment shows like this and Jon Stewart. I is sad. But happy new year!

Post by Aziz Elali.

BERNIE AGAINST THE TPP

ANY OBAMA SUPPORTERS WANT TO TELL ME WHY HE IS FAST-TRACKING A DISASTROUS TRADE DEAL WHICH WILL KILL JOBS FOR AGES? ACTUALLY, YOU CAN'T. BECAUSE OBAMA IS RAMMING THIS TRADE DEAL THROUGH IN SECRET.

Bernie Sanders: "The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a disastrous trade agreement designed to protect the interests of the largest multi-national corporations at the expense of workers, consumers, the environment and the foundations of American democracy. It will also negatively impact some of the poorest people in the world.

The TPP is a treaty that has been written behind closed doors by the corporate world. Incredibly, while Wall Street, the pharmaceutical industry and major media companies have full knowledge as to what is in this treaty, the American people and members of Congress do not. They have been locked out of the process.

Further, all Americans, regardless of political ideology, should be opposed to the “fast track” process which would deny Congress the right to amend the treaty and represent their constituents’ interests.

The TPP follows in the footsteps of other unfettered free trade agreements like NAFTA, CAFTA and the Permanent Normalized Trade Agreement with China (PNTR). These treaties have forced American workers to compete against desperate and low-wage labor around the world. The result has been massive job losses in the United States and the shutting down of tens of thousands of factories. These corporately backed trade agreements have significantly contributed to the race to the bottom, the collapse of the American middle class and increased wealth and income inequality. The TPP is more of the same, but even worse.

During my 23 years in Congress, I helped lead the fight against NAFTA and PNTR with China. During the coming session of Congress, I will be working with organized labor, environmentalists, religious organizations, Democrats, and Republicans against the secretive TPP trade deal. 

Let’s be clear: the TPP is much more than a “free trade” agreement. It is part of a global race to the bottom to boost the profits of large corporations and Wall Street by outsourcing jobs; undercutting worker rights; dismantling labor, environmental, health, food safety and financial laws; and allowing corporations to challenge our laws in international tribunals rather than our own court system. If TPP was such a good deal for America, the administration should have the courage to show the American people exactly what is in this deal, instead of keeping the content of the TPP a secret."

PLEASE SIGN IF YOU AGREE. IF YOU DON'T AGREE, YOU MUST OWN A MULTI-NATIONAL CORPORATION WHICH WOULD BENEFIT FROM SENDING US JOBS TO VIETNAM AND OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE THE MINIMUM WAGE IS LESS THAN $1 PER HOUR. OBAMA IS NOT WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. HE'S TRYING TO KILL JOBS IN SECRET TO BENEFIT HIS CAMPAIGN DONORS. HE'S HANDSOME AND CHARMING WITH A LOVELY FAMILY, BUT NOT A GOOD GUY. THIS DEAL, WHICH THE WHITE HOUSE CO-WROTE WITH CORPORATIONS IS PROOF.

SIGN HERE

TRYING TO KEEP MY HUMOR CLEAN...

WELL-PUT!

NEVER-ENDING WAR

Obama has announced that the longest war in US history--13 years in Afghanistan--has "formally" ended. With 10,000 troops and US weapons still there? Rubbish! Just last month, Obama secretly extended the US's role in Afghanistan. So the man who campaigned on greater transparency and drawing down wars is now secretly expanding the war he's formally leaving. Oh, and he's back at war in Iraq--the war he voted against as a senator and we're now battling Syria and Pakistan as well. Obama didn't start this war, Bush did. And I didn't disagree with the US going to war in Afghanistan to dismantle the Taliban to prevent more 9/11-style attacks. But this hasn't worked and we're afraid to a admit failure. 2014 has been the most violent year in Afghanistan since 2001. Obama supporters--can you justify this mess?

DEMOCRACY NOW: The U.S.-led NATO occupation has formally ended its 13-year combat mission in Afghanistan. The move leaves Afghan forces in charge of security, though more than 17,000 foreign troops will remain. This includes more than 10,000 U.S. troops, who will continue to see a combat role despite the nominal change. Last month, President Obama secretly extended the U.S. role in Afghanistan to ensure American troops will have a direct role in fighting, along with jets, bombers and drones. The transition follows the deadliest year in Afghanistan since 2001.

AMY GOODMAN: But the war is not over. The Obama administration said earlier this month it would leave a residual U.S. force of about 11,000 troops in Afghanistan for at least the first months of 2015 to assist Afghan security forces under the mission known as Resolute Support. And last month President Obama secretly extended the U.S. role in Afghanistan. According to The New York Times, he signed a classified order that ensures American troops will have a direct role in fighting. The order reportedly enables American jets, bombers and drones to bolster Afghan troops on combat missions. Under certain circumstances, it would apparently authorize U.S. airstrikes to support Afghan military operations throughout the country.

Please watch this illuminating segment if you care. I'm not seeing much mention of the war sort of ending on TV news.

???

Post by Video Incredibili.

MAY YOUR 2015 BE FILLED WITH THIS MUCH NONSENSE!

It's my Facebook friend Ahton Cruz clowning in a bizarre drag. That Mad Hatter rabbit jaw mask is giving me a fallen dropped silicone effect.

Post by Ashton Cruz.

VERY WELL DONE

How America Can Be Like A Bad Boyfriend

Post by CollegeHumor.

AN EXCELLENT QUESTION, BERNIE!

To be fair, free college education sounds good but there are drawbacks. For example, if you are educated, you would be less likely to vote for the most of the crooks who are in office in the US whose goal is to cut education to have more money for war, spying, Israel's aggression and tax cuts for the wealthy. So far, the US government and the corporate media do a pretty good job at keeping us stupid. Which is why I support Bernie Sanders, who is addressing the real issues--like why can't US college students afford school when it's free in countries which value education?

IF COPS WANT RESPECT, STOP KILLING PEOPLE

The big headline with the protests against police brutality against black males this weekend was that officers turned their backs on Mayor Diblasio at the funeral of the two slain officers. I guess they felt it was inappropriate for the mayor to have shown sympathy for people like Eric Garner, who police choked to death for selling loose cigarettes. 

But another headline is that protesters gathered to protest the out-of-control police's shooting of Akai Gurley. What? Hadn't heard of him yet? A young black guy with a 2 year old daughter was guilty of being in a dark stairway with his girlfriend. A rookie cop shot his gun by accident, he claimed. A cop who then texted his union before any medical services for Gurley as the victim lay dying--because saving the life of the guy he'd just wrongly shot was less important than saving his job after a fatal blunder. Gurley, described by police commissioner Bill Bratton as "a total innocent", was unarmed. 

DAILY NEWS: “That’s showing negligence,” said a law enforcement source of the pair’s decision to text their union rep before making a radio call for help.

“The guy is dying and you still haven’t called it in?”

To make things even worse, the officers were uncertain of the exact address of the building in the Pink Houses they were in, according to their text messages, the sources said.

The officer and his partner weren't even supposed to be patrolling the Pink House at that time. I wonder if this cop will get off too?

Akai Gurley Protest Draws Hundreds In Brooklyn

MORE:   HUFFPO

EXCLUSIVE: Rookie NYPD officer who shot Akai Gurley in Brooklyn stairwell was texting union rep as victim lay dying

In the six and a half minutes after Peter Liang discharged a single bullet that struck Gurley, 28, he and his partner couldn't be reached, sources told the Daily News. And instead of calling for help for the dying man, Liang was texting his union representative. What's more, the sources said, the pair of officers weren't supposed to be patrolling the stairways of the Pink Houses that night.

MORE:   DAILYNEWS

TAKE ACID PRIOR TO WATCHING

HILLARY'S ECONOMIC POLICY

Hillary, with no policies other than say whatever you can to get elected. And a favorite of the Wall Street execs like Goldman Sachs who helped engineer the 2008 crash and housing crisis. Sounds hopeful, doesn't it?

IS THIS ALL YA GOT, HILLARY? HUFFPO: "During the fall elections, Clinton often pointed to the broad prosperity during her husband's administration."

MORE:   HUFFPO

HELLO!

DISRACEFUL

According to this headline, Obama "jilts" his own party by siding with Republicans in pushing for a trade agreement that would destroy American jobs. "Jilting" is a nice way of saying flying in the face of what his party used to represent before he brought it to the middle. In fact, I'm sure he's thrilled to be working with the new Republican majority in both houses on ramming this secret TPP through on a fast-track.--because Democrats are the only ones objecting to it. Again, Obama the Democrat acting like a Republican. We have two parties both pushing the same agenda: screw workers in favor of international businesses. Don't give me your "Blame the black guy who has to clean up Bush's mess" crap on this one. This is a mess which Obama is actively seeking to ram through in secret with the help of Republicans. It's a mess which started under Bush that Obama is doing his best to continue. He serves big business, never the average American. Ask Hillary if she supports the TPP. Corporate Democrats like Obama and Hillary are Republican lites. It's disgraceful that we have to choose between two parties who both want to shaft average Americans.

"President Obama is preparing a major push on a vast free-trade zone that seeks to enlist Republicans as partners and test his premise that Washington can still find common ground on major initiatives.

It also will test his willingness to buck his own party in pursuit of a legacy-burnishing achievement. Already, fellow Democrats are accusing him of abandoning past promises on trade and potentially undermining his domestic priority of reducing income inequality."

MORE:   WASHPO

PLEASE SIGN IF YOU AGREE

I signed this and it may cause Obama to withdraw this one nominee if there's enough of an outcry. But republicans won't object to it. Because Obama's acting like one again with one of his many fox-watching-the-hen-house appointees. And Hillary's clueless strategy for winning is to go further to the middle than Obama. TThankfully, there are a handful of democrats with the balls to try to get the democrats back to where they once (allegedly) were: representing people over big finance.

"Financial reform and consumer protection are too important to fill the job with someone who has spent his life working on behalf of Wall Street banks and big corporations. Please show that you have heard these concerns by not renominating Antonio Weiss as Treasury Undersecretary for Domestic Finance when Congress returns in 2015."

Add your name: Sign the petition ►

You and Senator Elizabeth Warren have sparked a backlash against the nomination of banker Antonio Weiss to a key role at the Treasury Department.

More than a hundred thousand CREDO members have spoken out. And in recent days, more and more Democratic senators have followed your lead – from die-hard progressives like Senator Al Franken to conservatives like Senator Joe Manchin.1 We’ve also forced this nomination into the public eye, resulting in a round of prominent voices criticizing Weiss as unqualified and the wrong fit for the role.2

President Obama has a chance to undo this mistake. Congress is out of session for the holidays. If the president wants to ignore the growing chorus and place Weiss in this role, he’ll have to renominate him when Congress returns. It’s up to us to show the president that renominating Weiss would be the wrong call.

Tell the president: Listen to your base. Don’t renominate an investment banker as a Treasury official. Click here to sign the petition.

MORE:   CREDOACTION

ANOTHER WIN FOR POPE FRANCIS

I do not enjoy agreeing with the Pope since I think he is motivated by "a sense of gift" to his ancient theater of nonsense. But I'll be damned if this one isn't mixing some truths we need to hear about the crisis capitalism and greed have caused.

WRETCH!

'Twas the night after Christmas
And all through my "house"
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even a mouse.
Cuz that mouse smelled dead
But no corpse could I find
I checked on my gerbil
It was in my behind.
I'm not a troll
Who lives under a bridge
But the last mouse I found
Was inside of my fridge.

If you're feeling either bored or waxing poetic, please feel free to help me finish this. This "poem" is based on a real life occurrence and my eyes are tearing up from choking from mouse rot. But I won't let it dampen my holiday spirit one bit. And I'd be ever so thrilled if you should chime in with a rhyme. Chime...rhyme. See--it's easy and fun!

BEST IKEA AD EVER!

LOVE THIS!

YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!

JUST BECAUSE WHAT IS MORE CHRISTMAS-Y AS ASS-EATING

TOSSED MY SALAD LIKE HIS NAME ROMAINE | 5 ASS EATING TECHNIQUES TO MAKE HIM MOAN

MORE:   MYFUNNYNMAE.COM

AMEN!

Post by Slakah the Beatchild.

'TIS THE SEASON

Just because I don't subscribe to any organized religion doesn't mean that I can't enjoy a festive holiday season! I love the way everyone's a little friendlier around Christmas--people are more likely than usual to smile and nod at a neighbor or hold open the door for a shopper with their hands full of packages. In that holiday spirit, I was in a coffee shop when a little girl fell down. It was rainy out, so I assume she slipped on some accumulation of water on the floor. But honestly, how could I possibly know what the poor thing slipped on? It's not I like I carry a bottle of oil in my pocket to sprinkle on the shoes of brats who take too long to order or anything. So when she fell, the counter help asked her mom "Is she ok?" and I quickly answered "Yes, I'm just fine. Thank you for asking!" Sensing their confusion and because I'm from the South and was raised right, I curtsied and skipped out the door humming a carol. I had to hurry right home and wrap my epileptic father's gift. He's going to have a fit when he sees that strobe light I got him again this year. Happy holidays to all!

TOO MUCH!

Post by 104.1 The Edge.

SOLO WEDDINGS?

Solo weddings in Japan: All of the glamour, none of the relationship

Cerca Travel President Yukiko Inoue said she created the package "to encourage women to have positive feelings about themselves."

Yeah, positive feelings like "I'm the only person who wants to marry me." Whatever turns you on, I guess.

MORE:   MASHABLE

TRANS SQUARE!

At 11:57 every night in December, Antony Hegarty (of Antony & The Johnsons, is presenting a reprise of his 2004 video collaboration with Charles Atlas called TURNING, in which unconventional beauties like Kembra Pfahler, Connie Fleming,  Honey Redmond, and Johanna Constantine are broadcast on most of the massive video screens of Times Square. I interviewed Antony about this unique, free art happening for HuffPost Gay Voices.

MORE:   HUFFPO

GIFT IDEA?

If you're looking for a last minute gift that's a little out of the ordinary but very pleasing, I have an idea. Yours Spa is In NYC on 255 W 18th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. I've been going there for years because their massages are incredible and cheap--$54 for an hour and it includes your whole body from face to feet. People laughed at me when I posted about them before--asking if there was a happy ending or if I'm being paid by them to promote. Actually no, but small businesses are all closing in favor of giant chains and this little asian emporium of ecstasy is still thriving. But if we don't patronize them, they'll close. As far as the happy ending, this massage is more satisfying. I guess it qi-gong/tui-na style of massage. But they must include some sort of pressure point action as well. I never thought that having someone grind their thumbs into my feet would be pleasurable, but it unlocks something somewhere. Though it's only a few blocks from my home, I have had to take a cab home a few times because I was so relaxed that my eyes were rolling back in my head and my motor skills were so impaired that I could barely cross the street without getting hit. Of course, my work involves stress, girdles and high heels and carrying extra weight doesn't exactly soothe the lower back, so I'm a prime candidate for de-stressing. But we're all subject to stress and even if not, there is some heavenly mystery of the East going on at Yours Spa that I know most people would love a gift certificate to. And perhaps get hooked on them as I have.

The staff speaks very little english but is as responsive as they can be when you indicate that you want vigorous style or softer, or if you want them to concentrate on your neck and shoulders or lower back.

Or if you're in LA, try Euphoria Spa in West Hollywood: thai massage for only $25 an hour.

DISCO SUNDAYS AT THE MONSTER

Lat night at the Monster's Disco Sundays was a hoot. It's only from 6-10 and got off to a very slow start. But that just means that I can go a little more underground with gems like Taste Of Bitter Love by Gladys Knight and Let's Go All The Way by Brenda And The Tabulations. The regulars love that because you can only hear It's Raining Men so many times, and they've been around since the disco era. But then everyone started arriving and they didn't stop. Was wonderful to have Scott Wittman of Hairspray fame, Andy Cohen, Sarah Jessica Parker and her hubby pop in for a dance. Sarah has an intense personal magnetism and seems genuinely sweet, bopping around as a crowd gathered around her to ask for pics. SJP in a room full of gays cause them to ignore the hottest guy in the place getting onstage and masturbating--I had mine out stroking for an hour and no one noticed. Matthew Broderick seems like such a sport and at one point, I noticed him shaking hands with a butch dyke (possibly trans) who he may not know was a woman at all. She comes every week with her cute son! My next spot there is Sunday 1/4 (I'm the first and third Sundays of each month) with Mistress Michael Formika Jones, Greg Scarnici, Scotty Rox and the very funny Bob The Drag Queen performing each around 11PM. I hope you'll stop by--ya never know who'll turn up! But the music always has a joyous vibe and it is free so check it out one Sunday for a boogie.

A LOVELY TRADITION ENDS

CUBA LIBRE

I love how Republicans are lashing out against Obama for opening up relations with Cuba because of Cuba's human rights violations. So we should just keep the relations with Cuba the way they were, limited except for the military prison which Obama campaigned on closing but hasn't, and which has just come under fire for force-feeding prisoners and other torture? From treatment of Guantanamo inmates--many of whom were never even charged--to our drone strikes killing civilians all over the Middle East, the US doesn't have the moral authority to criticize another country's human rights violations. We killed over 100,000 Iraqis and displaced millions more in a war we should have never started, so our foreign policy is one of vicious terrorism. I don't know how on earth the hawks of the GOP now have the nerve to claim moral high ground.

I'm glad we're opening relations with Cuba and hope to visit one day. But I don't see it as "historic", the way MSNBC has been praising Obama as. It's just common sense: make up with your neighbors and have less enemies in the world since the rest of the world hates us due to our non-stop aggression. And there will be some benefits, though I'm baffled by the notion of of new friendship aiding Cuba's trade deficit. I've entertained several gentlemen callers of cuban descent and there is definitely no shortage of trade down there, honey!

HELLARY IS OUT OF HER MIND

Hillary is by far the democratic front-runner for president--with something like 56% of the vote with Elizabeth Warren at 9%. With those numbers, she's running whether she's announced it yet or not. And I won't begrudge her trying to develop a strategy. But to use that same strategy that failed Obama--reaching across the aisle to Republicans in order to get things done--WILL NOT WORK AND WILL BETRAY HER PARTY. Many Republicans hate blacks and have used that against Obama, but they also hate women's rights in general and Hillary in particular. So while her strategy may get things done by reaching across the aisle to Republicans, EXACTLY WHAT will get done? Policies that Republicans like, driving the Democrats further to the center than Obama has and giving us two conservative parties with no progressive voice at the time we need one the most.

When what we need in everything from Wall Street reform, ending police profiling, ending corporate loopholes, taxing the rich, action on climate change, ending wars and rebuilding this country's crumbling infrastructure, fixing our insane student loan system to enacting true insurance reform, requires a deep systemic change. That will never come with an establishment candidate like Hillary.

HUFFPO: "We're told that Hillary Clinton is spurning something her advisors call the "anti-Wall Street" movement and will run instead on a platform of "working across the aisle" with Republicans. Her camp is suggesting, without much evidence and against the lessons of recent history, that she will be more effective at this endeavor than her predecessor. And now they're using that claim to fight against the Democratic Party's rising populist wing.

Is Hillary Clinton about to repeat Barack Obama's biggest mistake?

In the first two years of his presidency Obama spoke of compromise, protected Wall Street, and resisted the populist wing of his own party. Democrats lost the House of Representatives, but Obama kept offering "Grand Bargains." The GOP rejected most of his overtures, even the Social Security benefit cuts they had long championed, and didn't hesitate to use them against Democrats on the campaign trail.

By selling himself as someone who could get things done with Republicans, Obama gave them the power to make him a success or failure. Unsurprisingly, they chose the latter option. Is Hillary Clinton about to make the same mistake -- and will voters buy it if she does?"

Hillary's Choice: 'Anti-Gridlock' or 'Anti-Wall Street'?

MORE:   HUFFPO

LOVE THIS!

KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD!

SCARY!

The San Diego Police Department is being sued by a civil rights organization over the possible use of dragnet-capable ‘Stingray’ cellphone surveillance technology that has given national police observers pause for its widespread tracking capabilities.

San Diego police have long chosen to withhold details about whether it uses an International Mobile Subscriber Identity catcher (IMSI), which emulates the functionality of a cell phone tower in order to interact with a nearby mobile phone. Commonly known as Stingrays, a popular brand name, they can be used to capture and intercept the contents of communications, including calls, text messages, or internet activity. Many IMSI catchers are used in dragnet fashion, scooping up information about every phone in range.

The First Amendment Coalition presented in the lawsuit a heavily-redacted invoice provided by the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) that confirmed $33,000 was spent to acquire or use IMSI-catching technology, yet SDPD will not provide further information to the group or news organizations, according to the Union-Tribune of San Diego.

MORE:   RT.COM

PLEASE SIGN

We wonder how we get cancer. We apply toxins to our skin, nails and hair everyday. Loreal uses carcinogens in it's projects and has the nerve to then pretend to fight cancer.

"It’s hypocrisy in action: L’Oréal, the multinational cosmetic conglomerate, is promoting its contributions to the fight against ovarian cancer at the same time that it sells products containing toxic chemicals linked to cancer.

Across L’Oréal’s many brands, products like eye makeup, nail polish, and hair products (including kids’ shampoo) contain cancer-causing chemicals.1

Reducing our daily exposure to carcinogens is a major way to protect our health and fight cancer. L’Oréal needs to get the message that it’s time to remove carcinogens from its products. Click here to sign the petition.

Our friends at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reviewed the scientific literature and found a host of carcinogens, formaldehyde releasers and contaminants in products sold under the L’Oréal, Maybelline, and Garnier brands - all owned by L’Oréal. They’ve cross-referenced this research with authoritative bodies including the California Proposition 65 list of chemicals linked to cancer, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the National Toxicology Program.2,3

Safer alternatives exist for the carcinogens in L’Oréal’s products, and some companies, including Johnson & Johnson, have agreed to remove some chemicals of concern. If an industry leader like L’Oréal makes the decision to go carcinogen-free, it will help move the rest of the industry, removing a huge source of daily exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.

It's time for L’Oréal to stop putting our health at risk by selling products with cancer-causing chemicals. Click the link below to sign the petition:

http://act.credoaction.com/sign/loreal_cancer?t=5&akid=12484.8155503.EE7dqu

Thanks for helping hold L’Oréal accountable for its customers’ health."

Heidi Hess, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets

SIGN:   CREDO

ELIZABETH WARREN SLAMS THE TPP

I'm glad some Democrat is speaking out against the TPP, a massive trade deal that Obama is trying to secretly fast-track through Congress. What makes him think that he could finally work together with Republicans on this deal as they've sworn to defeat everything he does and are about to take charge of both houses of Congress? Simple--Republicans will work with Obama on this deal because it will hurt American workers and benefit huge corporations. So it's an agreement which Republicans would want. Obama, the Democrat, will finally get something big done when he joins with Republicans to screw US workers. At least some Democrats ae challenging him on his Republican policies.

“We cannot afford a trade deal that undermines the government’s ability to protect the American economy,” Warren said in the letter, also signed by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.).

WHY IS OBAMA SEEKING TO JOIN REPUBLICANS TO UNDERMINE THE AMERICAN ECONOMY?

"In her letter, Warren raises concerns that the deal could include provisions that would allow foreign companies to challenge U.S. policies before a judicial panel outside the domestic legal system, increasing exposure of American taxpayers to potential damages."

SO THE TPP COULD FORCE TAX PAYERS TO BAIL OUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT ENABLES MULTI-NATIONAL COMPANIES TO SUE A GOVERNMENT.

Hillary supports killing the few remaining manufacturing jobs left in the US with the TPP, proving that like Obama, she's a Republican lite.

MORE:   WASHPO

AN ALL-TIME FAVE!

YEP!

AWWW, JUST SIGN BOTH!

We, the undersigned, urge the Senate to repeal the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling with a constitutional amendment that allows local, state, and federal governments to place commonsense limits on campaign contributions. We support political reform that places everyday Americans, not billionaire and corporate donors, at the center of our democracy.

SIGN:   DALSALABS

Overturn Citizens United

In 2014, we saw the influence of big money and corporate dollars on our democracy – sadly big money and corporations won.

The Koch Brothers reportedly spent $290 million dollars in 2014 and, unfortunately, their money was well spent. They protected the House and took over the Senate by buying their way into power.

We can’t have more disastrous results in 2016. Adding a Republican President to the GOP controlled House and Senate would be catastrophic for everyday Americans. 

We must overturn Citizens United before 2016. We can’t let billionaires like the Koch Brothers buy another election. Sign our petition to end Citizen United’s harmful influence.

The Supreme Court destroyed our democracy by giving corporations and the super-rich an avenue to buy elections. We need to overturn the Citizens United and McCutcheon and ensure every American has an equal share in our democracy.

MORE:   USACTION

DEMOCRATS SHOWING THEIR TRUE COLORS...AGAIN

This clip explains why I diss the Democratic party. I'd never vote Republican, but that doesn't mean that our only other choice of party makes any sense. Here's a perfect example. Democrats lost both houses of Congress in the recent mid-term election. They have only days to remain in power with a majority in the Senate. But instead of using those last few days of their time in power to confirm some of the 30 nominees Obama has put forward, they decide to break early for Christmas. These nominees may not be able to get confirmed after Christmas, because Republicans will have a majority in both houses. So they fritter away a golden opportunity to get work done and advance their and their party's and their president's agenda. As The Rachel Maddow Show so eloquently points out--IT MAKES NO SENSE! And as she suggests, Democrats should "cancel Christmas" and work every last second that they have a majority in one house.

While Rachel struggles to make sense out of something nonsensical, you're forced to realize: even though I'm pretty sure that most of the people on my page lean democratic, this proves that they're inept. The GOP agenda benefits so few, yet they are rabid in their party unity and ramming through their agenda. One thing on that agenda? Blocking everything Obama wants, including these 30 nominees. So when the Democrats have power, they fritter it away in a way that baffles a newscaster like Maddow who is on their side.

If you'd care to defend the Democrats, can you offer some sort of explanation? Are they lazy and just eager to enjoy time off for the holidays? Are they too stupid to seize this moment? Do they want Obama to fail because he's unpopular, and they can therefore distance themselves from him in their next election? Like Rachel, I'm mystified by this. If this is your party, can you please explain their actions? How can you get behind a party which has an opportunity, in the session of a hated, do-nothing Congress known for shutting down the government rather than passing legislation, and they go on vacation early knowing that confirming these nominees or passing anything else they were working on will be 10 times harder when they resume session. Or maybe they know what a few of us know: there is very little difference between the two parties. Obama is currently trying to appoint a financier who Republicans would love to head the Treasury Dpt., right after both parties have recently passed for the $1 trillion Cromnibus spending bill, which sets the stage for you and I bailing out giant banks with our hard-earned tax dollars as banks' CEOs make record profits. So we have a choice between blatant crooks like the Republicans, and slightly less open crooks like the Democrats.

For those of you who feel that Hillary Clinton was a better choice than Obama because she knows the inner workings of DC, this broken system government is what she knows how to work. And it's working very well for big banks, oil companies, war profiteers and Israel's defense budget. Too bad for average working Americans. We need a real choice and it won't come from the Democrats. I beg you to watch this clip to see what your party is actually up to. They can't even pretend to care when there's turkey with all the trimmings waiting for them at home. I beg you to watch this clip and offer me a defense of the Democrats' early vacation which throws away a golden opportunity for them to actually work for the American people. Until I hear such a defense, I'm as mystified as Rachel on this. I'm a life-long Democrat, but Independent Bernie Sanders is looking really good compared to where Democrats have gone to.

MSNBC:

Clock ticks for Senate Democrats to confirm Obama nominees

Rachel Maddow points out that there are more Obama nominees awaiting confirmation than those scheduled to be addressed before the Senate leaves for the year, and wonders why Senate Democrats wouldn’t stay to get as much done as possible before 2015.

WATCH:   MSNBC

GIFT IDEA?

SPENT 150K TO LOOK LIKE KIM K AND DOESN'T

MORE:   STARCASM

SORRY, PETA!

MADNESS IN THE SENATE

Lawmakers on both sides agreed on a bill which allots funds to help prevent veterans from committing suicide. It passed the house and had almost unanimous support in the Senate, yet Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn attempted to block the bill. Tom belongs to the Republican party, which is the more likely of the two parties to declare war, jump into war, lie about evidence which they claim must launch us into wars. Yet for some reason, Tom Coburn, who is leaving the Senate at the end of this year, wanted to block a popular bill helping veterans as his last "good deed" in office. Rachel Maddow is a great storyteller, and she sets up the clip of Coburn spouting complete gibberish beautifully. She plays it to the hilt when mocking him. And he is a mess, getting choked up and discussing his failure as a doctor who has lost military patients to suicide. While trying to stop a bill that would fund counseling for the veterans who commit suicide roughly 22 times a day. I don't think they commit it before they serve.

Storytellers are great, but what Rachel fails to do is offer any analysis of WHY Coburn made this nonsensical personal stand against veterans before leaving the Senate in shame with even his own party members slam him. He wants to make a statement about big government and not wanting to fund even help for veterans. The Republicans are very rah-rah-rah about military when they're sent off to wars that they've helped authorize. But after they return, not so much. Konda like their protectiveness of unborn children and "screw the kids" attitude if they might need assistance after they're born.

Or maybe Tom's getting a pay-off to pull such a disgraceful stunt. Maybe he has a lucrative new post-senate gig with a conservative think tank which wants no government at all, much less big government which funds soldiers' post-combat suicide counseling.

 Don't think it's only Republicans who disgrace themselves on their way out. Independent/Democrat Joe Lieberman tried to block Obamacare's passage before he left the senate to spend more time with his wife Hadassah, a senior lobbyist for the health care and pharmaceutical industries. Democratic Senator Ben Nelson was the 60th vote needed to pass Obamacare right before he left office. He was offered a sweet $100 million in Medicaid funds for his yes vote, but the offer attracted too much criticism. And they needed $300 million in relief funds for Louisiana for to secure Democrat Mary Landrieu's vote. Republicans called it the "Louisiana Purchase." Ben Nelson's proposed $100 million was named the "Cornhusker Kickback." These legal bribes are so openly known that they have nicknames! Mary's a catholic, so she held out her vote because Obamacare would help fund abortions. She's just left the Senate in disgrace after one of her last acts there  was to champion a bill for big oil which was proposed by the Republican opponent she just lost her seat to after 18 years in office.

This is why we hate Congress. They're often corrupt, unprincipled, have hidden agendas and can really sock it to the American people on the way out if they're paid well enough. This Maddow clips is one particularly crazy example of a GOP Senator in action melting down, but there are many others on both sides of the aisle. It's pretty astounding to watch Coburn in a sympathy rant for veterans while actively trying to screw them out of mental health funds.

WATCH:   MSNBC

OBAMA IS GEORGE W. BUSH

Nobel Peace Prize winner Obama is building up troops near Russia. The Pentagon claims the troops are for "peace and stability." Because you always send fighters and weapons anywhere that you want peace.

RT: "The Pentagon has confirmed the military buildup along Russia’s borders to ensure long-term “peace and stability” in the region. Earlier Moscow accused NATO of a sharp increase in air activity and intelligence flights in the border zone."

 MORE:   RT.COM

RELATED:

At least Switzerland cares about arresting Bush. Obama and Eric Holder declared impeachment for their war crimes was "off the table" as soon as they took office. Probably because they wanted to commit some of their own.

George W. Bush cancels visit to Swiss charity gala over fears he could be arrested on torture charges


MORE:   DAILYMAIL.COM

HAPPY HANUKKAH!

REVIEW: CHRISTMAS WITH THE CRAWFORDS

THE GAYEST XMAS SHOW ON EARTH!

Last night, I caught Christmas With The Crawfords, starring Joey Arias Nyc, Sherry Vine, Connie Champagne, Flotilla Debarge and Chris Mirto as Christina since Chris March is out sick. It's a dizzying (and dizzy) spectacle when Joan (Joey Arias) throws a holiday bash. This serves not only as an excuse to have many celebrities from Hollywood's Golden Age to pop by for cameos, but also to recreate the insane Christmas party scene from Mommie Dearest. Joan is drunk and at a low point at her career, which sets the stage for a barrage of ego-bruising zingers. None of the guests really like Joan, but they've stopped by on the way to Gary Cooper's party. Sherry Vine is the maid (Bette Davis in Whatever Happened To Baby Jane) and plays it to the hilt by serving Joan a dead rat, singing I've Written A Letter To Santa (as opposed to Daddy). Sherry nails Baby Jane for some huge laughs and later returns as Hedda Hopper. Now if you don't know who Hedda Hopper, the hat-wearing gossip columnist of the 1940s, is--you may also be too young to recognize other celebs like Gloria Swanson (as a completely demented Norma Desmond), Judy Garland (in a red wig which threw me off), Carmen Miranda, The Andrews Sisters and Ethel Merman. Flotilla Debarge makes a scene-stealing turn as Hattie McDaniel, taunting Joan with her Oscar and belting out a few tunes in mammy drag. This is old school Gay Camp 101--so sorry, but there's no Lady Gaga or Katy Perry references for the twinks.

But the audience at the beautiful (if too warm) Abrons Arts Center screamed at every mention of wire coat hangers or any time Joan whacks her kids. Because what say holiday spirit like child abuse? An interesting twist makes Christina a bitch rather than simply a victim, and the little sourpuss is constantly taking notes in her diary, which would of course go on to expose Joan as the opposite from the happy homemaker she pretends to be for her public. Joey doesn't resemble or sound like Joan Crawford, but he makes it work by melding Joan with his own nutty persona and by the time Joan starts really melting down with rage, the audience is feeling it right along with him. His demonic, threatening version of Silent Night is delirious fun and he also pays homage to that foul rehearsal leotard and wraparound skirt from Joan's film Torch Song. Joey's not only singing, dancing and whipping that wraparound skirt, he's also spryly up and down a steep staircase in a variety gowns. At her age and in 6 inch fetish heels! When the party goes awry, his control freak character flips out and at one point, imagines pre-recorded voices in his head which made me howl! I think that may refer to the Joan's mental breakdown in Straight Jacket. Another funny scene turns Christina into Vida in Mildred Fierce's slap scene. So it's basically a greatest hits of Joan's campest screen moments with plenty of Mommie Dearest thrown in.

Each guest performs a song or two--often a comically worked Christmas song. While zany as hell, you're also treated to some fine performances and San Francisco treasure Connie Cnampagne can really melt a crowd with her rendition Judy's Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. The Gloria Swanson, decked out in one of Chris March's many genius costumes, is not only ready for her close-up but also a lobotomy. It was tough to take my eyes off that actor, who I'd love to credit but I  misplaced my program. This nutty, all-singing, all-dancing holiday romp runs through 12/27 and tickets are $45. It's been 12 years since this San Francisco classic has had an NYC revival so catch it while you can!

MORE INFO/TIX:   CHRISTMASWITHTHECRAWFORDS

MUST SEE TV

I defy you to listen to the words of these young protesters and not be moved to tears. Blacks came to this country in shackled in ships in their own excrement and if they were lucky enough to reach their destination alive, they were enslaved for life. Over centuries, things have improved in many ways. And kids the age of many of these protesters weren't weren't forced to endure the humiliation of entering through the back doors of restaurants or drinking from separate water fountains from whites. Although these humiliating, soul-destroying experiences must be passed down in the collective psyche of the race which experienced them.

Yet in 2014, blacks are still being gunned down by those who we pay to protect us. It is deeply disturbing to have people take to the streets with a slogan of "I can't breathe" because they've seen the footage of cops in our city attacking and suffocating a man for selling loose cigarettes. Then the cop who administered the fatal, illegal chokehold gets off scot-free. Despite the progress that you'd hope having our first mixed race president now would suggest we've made as a country, the latest string of nationwide killer cops are now forcing black and latino youth to wake up that they are still not safe, and still second class citizens whose lives don't matter. We've all got a lot of waking up to do. I like to think of myself as someone who is aware of my white privilege, but physically, I can never be aware of what people of another skin color face on a daily basis. This clip contains some moving words which help to explain their perspective. I've put a few quotes below but my real hope is that you'll watch this clip and share the outrage over a situation that anyone interested in equality must pitch in to stop now. The majority of this country considers itself to be christian. Surely no true christian could teach Thou Shalt Not Kill and feel right about how our law enforcers have too often become murderous lawbreakers.

I've seen some clips in the mainstream media which cast aspersions on this movement--Police Commissioner Bill Bratton whining yesterday about what the protests are costing the city due to increased staffing and one guy selling I Can't Breathe t-shirts being asked where the money from the sales went to. Who cares where it went? If I Can't Breathe is a message that people want to wear emblazoned on their t-shirts, then surely it's nothing but good ole-fashioned American entrepreneurial spirit to create those shirts to meet a demand and earn a living. I prefer to listen to Democracy Now's coverage of what actual protesters have to say.

GARVEY X: I’m eight. I’m here with my mom, because we are trying to fight for our rights. We are trying to fight for our rights, for Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and a lot of people who are dead by bad police.

DARRELL GREENE: "Me, my father, my son. Who’s next?" And what that image means is, at this point, I know I’m a productive citizen, and I don’t feel safe in my own community. I’ve never been in trouble with law enforcement. And from what I’m seeing on the news and what’s been going on, I really wonder: Am I next?

NILAN JOHNSON: I’m here because Americans, period, are being preyed on, right now. African Americans are once again fighting for the right to be human, and I think that’s horrible.

KAYESHA: My name is Kayesha, and I’m here because what is happening in this country, what has been happening, from Emmett Till 50 years ago to Eric Garner and Akai Gurley now, has shown us that in 50 years it is still a death sentence to be black in America.

RON DAVIS: My name is Ron Davis. I’m the father of George Davis, the young man that was killed in Jacksonville, Florida, for loud music. We want to let you know that we are the families who are suffering, but y’all are suffering along with us. We have all these families. I have families listed on this placard. And every single day, every single night, there’s another young family member being killed in the streets. Every life matters. No more, no more, no more!

SABAAH JORDAN: We had people taking to the streets and demanding justice. And it was people of all colors. It was people of different ages. It was people of different backgrounds. It was people who are ready to evolve as human beings. And I think that when we can finally evolve past racism and we can finally evolve past, you know, something so petty as skin color, that’s going to mean evolution for everybody. That’s going to mean a better world for everybody to live in. I think people recognize that, and I think that that’s what the numbers reflect.

We’re working together. We’re building a movement. We believe that we can live in a better world. And I think it’s also, you know, a sign of the time. We’re in a world where it’s difficult to find a job, it’s difficult to pay off student loans—everything is very difficult. And so, it forces you to ask questions: Why is it like this? And then, when you see people being killed in the street and police officers not being held accountable, that’s just one more thing that tells you that something is really, really wrong and that if we don’t do anything about it, that this is the world that we’re going to inherit as adults. It’s hard to think about having children as a black woman in this world right now. And so, that’s where I’m coming from.

PLEASE WATCH THE CLIP BELOW. There's a companion clip on DemocracyNow.org from Al Sharpton's DC March which features a passionate speech from Amadou Diallo's mom.(Unarmed, Amadou was shot at 41 times and killed by 4 cops in 1999. All four were acquitted.)

NOT ALL BAD NEWS FROM SYDNEY CAFES

"Koreatown, Sydney has a hipster
nitrous gelato bar which serves a
flavour called 2 Girls 1 Cup. It's
sour cream chocolate & corn pieces."

From the twisted newsletter popbitch, which you can sign up for at popbitch.com.

DISGRACEFUL!

ACLU: Do you think homeless shelters should be allowed to refuse shelter to gay people because of their religious beliefs? What about a pharmacist refusing to dispense daily birth control or HIV medication for religious reasons?

This could be the very near future for those who live in Michigan. The State House just passed a new bill that allows people to use their religious beliefs to discriminate and it is being fast-tracked through the Senate.

If this bill passed, Michiganders may be required to follow the religious beliefs of their employers, grocers and pharmacists. There’s not much time, but a national outcry could be just the public pressure needed to stop this harmful bill.

Don’t let this bill advance any further — urge Governor Rick Snyder today calling on him to oppose H.B. 5958.

Religious freedom is one of our country’s fundamental values. That’s why it’s protected in the state and federal constitution. But that freedom does not give any of us the right to harm others.

Many states around the country have already tried to push through these “Religious Freedom and Restoration Act” (RFRA) bills in a misguided attempt to undermine LGBT equality.

Unfortunately, this broadly written bill is a Pandora’s box. It could allow individuals to decide that non-discrimination laws, child abuse laws, and domestic violence laws just don’t apply to them.

If passed, this bill could excuse any person from any state or local law that they claim “burdens” their exercise of religion. And this includes beliefs that do not stem from any established religion!

Act today — send a strong message to the Governor that no one should face discrimination based on someone else’s personal beliefs.

The bill could be used to permit people or businesses to deny employment, housing, or services to LGBT people, military members, or even addicts based on their religious views. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

These aren’t fantasy scenarios either. In Michigan, a school guidance counselor has already refused to help gay students because of her religious faith.

In Utah, a federal judge just held that the federal RFRA prevented the Department of Labor from fully investigating possible child labor law violations because the individual being investigated said that his religious beliefs forbade him from discussing such matters with the government.

One thing is abundantly clear: we need to stop this bill before it becomes law. Will you do your part to help?

Thanks for taking action,
Anthony for the ACLU Action Team

ACLU.ORG

CHILL SOUNDS THAT ARE FREE!

Winter Sounds For Real People by Sumsuch: Just got this laid back "Winter" mix from BBE Music and am loving it. Some silky soul with lovely vocals and even a string section! There is a free download link if you sign if with twitter. I don't exactly know how to do that but you can listen online and figure out if you like it enough to download it or not. There's another free download mix as well if like the first. Kinda sad that talented musicians have to give their work away for free but look at it as a gift!

LISTEN/DOWNLOAD:   BBE.COM

HAPPY BELATED HOILDAYS!

ZAP!

Post by Dj woogie.

PLEASE SIGN IF YOU AGREE!

If you needed more proof that Obama is a shameless crook who has forgotten most of his campaign promises, here ya go!

UPDATE: Your letters are working! Bloomberg reports that in addition to Senator Warren, Senator Dick Durbin is now ALSO opposed to Weiss’s nomination!

"President Obama has nominated yet ANOTHER investment banker to the Treasury Department: Antonio Weiss. But Weiss isn’t just any investment banker. He advised Burger King on their tax-dodging purchase of Canadian chain Tim Horton’s.

Burger King’s proposed purchase of Tim Horton’s would allow them to relocate their corporate headquarters to Canada, thereby dodging American taxes in a move called a “tax inversion.” Obama himself called tax inversions an “unpatriotic tax loophole.”

If President Obama and the Treasury Department were really so serious about fighting the use of unpatriotic loopholes, why would the President appoint the very architect of this sneaky corporate inversion?

Senator Elizabeth Warren has come out AGAINST nominating yet another banker to the Treasury. Join us as we stand with Senator Warren against appointing Antonio Weiss at the Treasury Department.

Tell your Senator to OPPOSE Antonio Weiss’s nomination. We don’t need the advisor to Burger King’s whopper of a tax dodge at the U.S. Treasury."

SIGN:   ACTIONNETWORK

HO-LIDAY CHEER!

Post by New Yorkers.

"FASHION" TRENDS?

Fashion Trend for Women: Armpit Hair Extensions

MOrE:   NEATORAMA

Hot New Holiday Trend: Ornaments for Your Goddamned Beard

MORE:   JEZEBEL.COM

AND THEN THERE'S THIS!

DOESN'T ADD UP TO MUCH SENSE

CEOs are making record profits, yet most of our tax dollars go to subsidizing huge corporations. Some of them pay $0 in taxes and bribe our politicians to keep it that way. It's a disgrace and both parties keep this system in place. And you won't hear it much on the news because these corporations advertise on those channels.

THIS WEDNESDAY AT !!PM AT INDUSTRY!

INSANE IN THE MCCAIN

When are we going to stop elevating the poisonous dunce that is John McCain? I just saw him referred to by the democratic-leaning pundit on CNN as someone who would know a few things about torture since the AZ senator himself was once tortured. So yes, it stands to reason that since he was subjected to torture, he may have some personal insights into being on the receiving end--just like his closeted pal Lindsey Graham is quite familiar with being on the receiving end of a penis. But that doesn't qualify McCain to give him any insight into what degree of torture is appropriate for the US government decades after his captivity with an array of new torture techniques developed since then.

Furthermore, while McCain is "going maverick" and disagreeing with his own party, his party is the most hawkish and he always recommends a stronger position on defense--attack everyone at every opportunity. And besides Miley Cyrus concerts, war is what leads to most of the situations in which the US would resort to torture, right? So Democrats may agree with him on torture, but they are polluting the democratic party by lauding him as an expert. If torture is wrong, don't side with a fool because he's agreeing with you today. I get it--it's a democratic talking point which is supposed to make it look like politicians on both sides have issues with enhanced interrogation. But McCain isn't an ally anyone should want. Please remember that he was the presidential candidate whose platform was so pitiful that he claimed during the height of the recession that he'd need to read a book on the economy to get us out of our hard times. Which led to such little confidence in McCain's ability to lead that Sarah Palin was added to his ticket as VP. Sarah, who is now widely regarded as an extremist nut job, was needed to add appeal to McCain's floundering platform. What does needing her help say about McCain's abilities and vision on anything?

Sadly, CNN's right-leaning candidate made a point it's tough to disagree with. He asked why Bush/Cheney's torture worse than Obama's many drone killings which include the murder of many innocents? Of course, the GOP would also order as many if not more drone strikes if they were in power, but since they aren't they can effectively criticize Obama on this. Obama seems to hit more innocents than terrorists with his "precision" drone attacks--one recent report by human rights organization Reprieve claimed 28 civilians were killed by our drones for every terrorist. The Guardian on this: “Even when operators target specific individuals — the most focused effort of what U.S. President Barack Obama calls “targeted killing” — they kill vastly more people than their targets, often needing to strike multiple times.” Some precision. But you don't hear much about Obama's secret drone war on MSNBC because they are too busy licking his butt to actually function as liberal media and blast Obama as a hawk. Infuriatingly, you're likely to hear more about this from Fox News. When Fox News is right and has a legitimate beef with Obama on his messy and often secret drone campaigns, something is very wrong.

Both parties want war so this is all a shell game, and yet further proof of how both parties ignore the Americans they supposedly represent: the majority of us don't want war as made clear in the last presidential election. For anyone who green lights war or drone attacks to debate the morality of torture is a off. What's a little torture compared to active murder of innocents under both Bush and Obama? At least torture victims don't die.

I AM: LAUREN HARRIES

O.T. GENASIS" I LOVE THE COCO

I heard a snippet of this on iTunes and the rapper, lyrics and music sounded so pitiful that I had to check out the video. I actually wondered if he might be slow, as in a touch of the Downs. Wow. A new low. Sample lyric: "I got baking soda, baking soda!" This makes Turn Down For What look like a masterpiece. But what do I know? He has a hit!

FARTGATE?

I find it find it very amusing that Whoopi Goldberg's fake fart on The View has attracted so much outrage and attention that they're calling it Fartgate. What's the big deal over one fart when the whole show is shit?

Whoopi Goldberg's Loud Fart Interrupts The View's Flu Discussion

MORE:   JEZEBEL

MIND-BLOWING STATISTICS IF ACCURATE!

CEOs are making record profits, yet most of our tax dollars go to subsidizing huge corporations. Defense gets the second pay-out, then medicare. Some of these corporations pay $0 in taxes and bribe our politicians to keep it that way. It's a disgrace and both parties keep this system in place. And you won't hear it much on the news because these corporations advertise on those channels.

SOMETHING TO MARVEL AT!

Just got this email from Antony of Antony And The Johnsons regarding a huge new exhibit of her exhibit TURNING. It sounds incredible!

"I am writing to invite you to a very exciting event in my life.

At 11:55 pm every night in December they are showing TURNING for 3 minutes on almost every single screen in Times Square. Portraits from TURNING the size of football fields, like butterflies taking over the insane corporate overload of Times Square.

It is shocking see all those giant advertising screens suddenly synchronize and reveal gorgeous TURNING portraits on New York City's underground beauties such as Johanna Constantine, Kembra Pfahler, Joie Iacono, Joey Gabriel, Honey Dijon, Connie Girl, Lola Naise, Julia Yasuda, Eliza Douglas... the list goes on. 

PLEASE MEET ME THERE!!! I WILL PERSONALLY BE THERE EVERY NIGHT STARTING TOMORROW. 

Come and spend 5 minutes with us tomorrow or in the days that follow. We meet at the red staircase at 7th avenue between 46th and 47th street at 11:50pm. The projections span boards from 47th to 43rd street. It starts at 11:57 and its over by midnight.

I know it is late at night but this is the secret history of New York! If you want to see something that you will never ever see again, and you care about the New York that we have all loved in our time, come and see it live again for a moment in TIMES SQUARE 11:55 pm!!!!!!!!!!!!! The scale of it has to be seen to be believed. This is really once in a lifetime."

SHEER MADNESS

Remember the leadership provided by our nation's Surgeon General during the terrifying Ebola crisis? No, you couldn't have. Because we don't have a surgeon general at the moment. We haven't had one for quite a while. Legislators have blocked Obama's nominees for this position, and this fascinating article shows how even Democrats are now blocking Obama's latest nominee because they represent red states. And this nominee once tweeted about how guns are a health issue, and red states need their guns. So Republicans are trying to make a big deal out of the nominee's anti-NRA position and now Democrats wanting to lick NRA butt will now squash the president with their own party affiliation's nominee because of 1 anti-NRA tweet by him. But hey, at least Democrats and Republicans are working together--to prevent us from having a surgeon general.

I have not supported many of Obama's nominees. I don't even know that this Vivek Murthy is right for the job. But it is astonishing to see how poorly those who we elect and pay to represent us represent the NRA and other big businesses. This article is a perfect example.

SLATE.COM: How killing the filibuster has actually made it harder for red-state Democrats to vote for their own.

MORE:   SLATE.COM