The Romney's Epic European Vacation

Mitt Romney certainly "charmed" Europe.

Mitt Romney's Terrible Horrible ... Trip to Europe


Harry Reid on Romeny Taxes

"You Didn't Build That"

How's That Anglo-Saxon Heritage Thingy Working Out?

Not too good, not too good:

Liberty & Justice for All

I've been thinking a lot about the Pledge of Allegiance and the words liberty and justice for all. For too many years, the focus has been on the words under G-d which were not even added until 1954. Somehow, we've forgotten what this country is about. Liberty and justice for all has been made a mockery of by the War on Drugs, the PATRIOT Act, NDAA, and allowing torture, specifically water boarding. We executed Japanese soldiers after World War II for using water boarding on US prisoners of war. Some how it has become about who can get rich the quickest and thereby gain power. By the Supreme Courts ruling on Citizen's United, those with the most wealth will have the most speech. Speech is no longer free. It now costs big bucks. We do not even know who is donating all that money. It could be coming from foreign countries for all we know. People from around the world used to look to the United States. That admiration was so great that France commissioned the Statue of Liberty which has now been standing since 1886. The immortal words of Emma Lazarus' The New Colossus are engraved as hope:

"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

We've long since shut the door on those huddled masses yearning to be free with the quota system that was initiated in the early 1900's. See the thing as I see it, is that there is too many in the United States who want to turn the United States into a vast company town. Too many laws are being passed that grant more and more rights to businesses while curbing the rights of individuals. I'm not talking just about employees, I'm talking about everyone. More and more of public spaces paid for by tax dollars are being given over to businesses. Prisons across the country are being privatized. A lot of these contracts state that the occupancy rate must be kept at around 90% for 20 years. A lot of new laws for felonies will have to written to maintain that rate. Can anyone say "three strikes, you're out"? Our prisons are being filled with people who because of their third charge, even if it is a misdemeanor, are now felons. Can you imagine facing a life sentence for stealing $153.84 worth of video tapes? This is not justice. It is cruel and unusual punishment. It is one of the reasons we declared independence from the British. The state of Tennessee has made it illegal for the word gay to said in schools because it might offend some religious people. Michigan has passed a law that basically states that if you bully some one because of moral or religious beliefs, you can. Kansas has passed a law that says a doctor can lie to woman who is pregnant and the fetus has major issues if there is suspicion she might choose an abortion. oh and the doctor can't be sued if the woman should happen to die after she was lied too. These laws are so un-American, it makes me wonder if we can ever overcome them. The procedures we now have to endure to travel by plane are a fiasco. Benjamin Franklin stated it best:

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

The Occupy Wall Street movement and the protests against laws enacted against women across the country give me a great deal of hope that not all is lost and that we will once again be a beacon of justice. We just have to remember our history and strive to undo all those laws that have that have encroached for too long on our civil liberties.

Supreme!

Today's ruling in upholding the Affordable Healthcare Act restores my confidence in the Supreme Court. I was so aggravated in their ruling on Citizens United which, to me effectively silences the voices of people like me who do not have millions to spend on elections. From my friend Dina on Facebook:

Words of Robert Kennedy "It seems that it is imperative that we reinstill in ourselves the toughness and idealism that guided the nation in the past.The paramount interest in self, in material wealth, in security must be replaced by an actual, not just a vocal, interest in our country, by a spirit of adventure, a will to fight what is evil, and a desire to serve.It is up to us as citizens to take the initiative as it has been taken before in our history, to reach out boldly but with honesty to do the things that need to be done." The Supreme Court answered the call!

Chief Justice Roberts was the determining factor and I feel that he and Justices Kagan, Sotomayor, Ginsburg, & Breyer have done a awesome job of upholding our Constitution. Justices Alito, Scalia, Kennedy, and Thomas seemed, in their dissent, to have put political rhetoric first.

I'm Sure Florida Appreciates Senator Rand Paul: Not

Most of Florida is still reeling from flooding caused the massive amounts of rain from Tropical Storm Debby. Senator Rand Paul has decided that adding a personhood amendment to the flood insurance program bill is the right thing to do: for him. Now is the perfect time for him to get all the attention he wants so he can pout and stamp his little feet like the majority of Republican and TEA party members of Congress are wont to do. I think the Republicans and TEA party should call themselves the cry-baby club. That's all they've managed to do except for trying to pass laws in their ongoing war on women.

GOP Translator: Know Your Doublespeak!

The GOP has used a lot of double-speak(see Orwell's 1984). I found a translator:

Shabbat Shalom!

'Since then, a duet between Udi Davidi Shlomi Shabat. The song talks about the connection between two worlds, seemingly so different. Indeed, all one sees a different picture because ... ', but' when the wave wash away all the fear, then, we remain pure and free from any bias. Words and Music: Udi Davidi words: Winds are blowing on our ship that one attracts, another there, striving without end Let's adjust it right, we will continue together after all, soon was dry from anywhere you can see the horizon but everyone sees because another of the image difference did not bother the beauty if not forgotten, my brother, listen to the soul so let's look at the sky and ask together the answer to my world your world will raise the banner of love as the wave wash away all fear then, we remain pure and free from prejudice, after all this ship Let us together then we will lead it to a correct way so let's look at the sky and ask together the answer after all we hope for the best two, like my world hope your world will raise the banner of love

Yom HaShoah

A picture is worth millions words and tears...




More posters at Yad Vashem.

ALEC: Their Corporate Sponsors are Abandoning Them

.... what about Mississippi state legislatures? Cottonmouth has a list.

The following are from the Coast:

Rep. Henry Zuber (R - Ocean Springs) - Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force

Rep. Jeffrey S. Guice (R - Ocean Springs) - Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force

Rep. Mark S. Formby (R - Picayune) - Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force

Sen. Thomas Gollott (R - Biloxi) - Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force

Sen. Michael Watson (R - Pascagoula) - Health and Human Services Task Force

What is ALEC? The American Legislative Exchange Council is responsible for the reprehensible flurry of legislation going on the states for the notorious "stand your ground" laws. They are also responsible for the slew of anti-immigration laws. Fortunately, Mississippi legislatures had more wisdom than their counter parts in Alabama and did not enact a similar law.

ALEC Exposed shows some of the very corporate friendly legislation that will curtail your rights as a consumer and as an employee. They also support suppression of voter's rights. Voter ID anyone?

The Gates Foundation was the latest financial supporter of ALEC to back away.

The foundation said it would not award another grant to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in the face of criticism of the council's involvement in voting laws and in "stand your ground" gun laws such as one under scrutiny in the Trayvon Martin shooting in Florida.

"At this point, we've decided that it's not the right environment to continue working with them," Gates Foundation spokesman Chris Williams told Reuters on Tuesday.

The "stand your ground" laws are onerous and deserve the attention they are getting now. Hopefully, the voter ID laws will receive the same scrutiny and the legislatures who are members of ALEC deserve our scrutiny as well.