The Church Of Hate.

If, upon reading that headline, you don’t immediately think of the Westboro Baptist Church, you simply haven’t been paying attention.  For the few who don’t know, the Westboro House of Hate is the group that pickets military funerals with signs that read “God Hates Fags,” “God Hates All Nations,” and “God Hates Fag Enablers.”

One can only ask, how the Hell would they know?  If there is a God, He certainly wouldn’t speak to the Westboro haters – at least not in any civil way.

This is a group that will picket anything they dislike or don’t understand, which means they’re picketing almost all of the time.  Not only do they picket virtually every military funeral because they’re angry that the Pentagon allows gays in the military.  They have picketed Catholic churches, Methodist churches, newspapers, political gatherings…even other Baptist churches.  And, after writing this, they may even picket me.

Even after President Obama signed a bill prohibiting Westboro members from picketing within 300 feet of a military funeral, the group responded by saying “there’s prime real estate at 301 feet.”

Yes, there are a lot of wackos out there.  So what makes the Westboro House of Lunatics unique?  What sets them apart from other asylum escapees is that you help pay for their activities.  That’s right.  As a “church” the Westboro Home for the Mentally Disturbed pays no taxes.  No property taxes.  No income taxes on donations.  No taxes on investments.

Where’s Jim Jones and his vat of Kool-Aid when you need him?

To learn about another wacko group, check out my book The Teapublican Book of Lies available at Amazon.com and other on-line bookstores.

Most Problems With Government Are Local.

It is said that all politics are local.  The same could be said for government interference.  While Teapublicans rage at the federal government for “over-regulation,” the truth is that most federal regulation is necessary.  As with most everything else, the Tea Party’s anger is misguided.

Without the EPA, our rivers would still be on fire, our drinking water would be filled with chemicals, and the simple act of breathing would life-threatening.  Without the FDA, packaged food companies might still be peddling unsafe meats and food additives.   Without the National Transportation and Safety Department, our cars might still be unsafe at any speed.  And without the FAA, airlines might feel free to cut corners on aircraft maintenance.

I think you’d agree that most federal government regulations are necessary, and they don’t really threaten job creation.

Most federal programs are surprisingly efficient.  Medicare is more cost-efficient than private health insurance.  Social Security spends a small percent of its budget for administrative costs.

It’s much different at the local level where red tape and burdensome regulations abound.  Want to build a manufacturing plant?  You need to wade through city, county and state governments to do that.  Want to open a retail store?  Welcome to the licensing and zoning commission.  Want to rent out the basement of your home?  You need to check zoning laws and buy a license for that.

There’s an old saying that you can’t fight City Hall.  There’s a reason it doesn’t mention Washington.

For more, read The Teapublican Book of Lies available at Amazon.com and other on-line bookstores.

GOP Platform Full Of Hate, Fear And Greed.

Under the new GOP platform, every fetus will be protected or avenged, and women’s reproductive systems will be controlled by the people who know best…male politicians and churches.

Under the GOP, our borders will be secure.  Those foolhardy enough to cross will be shot or imprisoned.  And Latinos will never be without papers.

Under the GOP, the military will be made more powerful to protect “American interests.”  So our corporations will be free to extract resources and money from anywhere on the planet.

Under the GOP, billions of dollars for Social Security and Medicare will be liberated from the evil government’s control to earn profits for corporations.  The power to decide who lives and dies will be returned to those who know best – large insurance companies and PhRMA.

Under the GOP, the wealthy will pay fewer taxes.  Corporations will pay no taxes.  And the rest of us will have to work harder and longer to make up for it.

Under the GOP, there will be no Environmental Protection Agency and no Endangered Species Act.  Nothing to interfere with the profiteering of Big Oil.

Under the GOP, the “sanctity” of marriage will be protected from “sinners” such as gays and lesbians.

Under the GOP, people of color will have their right to vote protected.  But only if they have proper ID and are willing to stand in long lines.

Under the GOP, the deficit will be reduced at the expense of the poor.  There will be no Medicaid.  No public education.  No food stamps.  No unemployment insurance.  No welfare.  Charity is only for churches, and today’s evangelicals are only interested in your soul and your fetuses.

If elected to control the White House and Congress, the Guardians Of Privilege vow to “Restore America” – to the 18th century.  And if you think I’m exaggerating, you definitely haven’t been paying attention.

A Few Questions For The NRA.

Following a series of mass shootings, I’d like to know how members of the National “Rifle” Association feel.  Are they satisfied that military-style assault weapons are now readily available to every disturbed lunatic who has the money to buy them?

Do they feel anything when they see bloody corpses of innocent people lying on the floor of high schools and universities, on the cement in grocery parking lots, on the floor of a theater…even lying on the floor of a church?

Do they feel pride that gun sales peak after each mass shooting?

Do they still want to allow the unrestricted sale of silencers and night vision scopes?  Do they still want even higher-capacity magazines?

Truth is, all NRA members have the blood of innocents on their hands.  Lots of it.  Without NRA-sponsored laws in all 50 states, few people would be packing.  Assault weapons and high capacity magazines would be prohibited.  There would be thorough background checks and mandatory training for gun buyers, even at gun shows.

Without NRA-sponsored laws, fewer people would feel the need to carry guns, fewer lunatics and criminals would own them, and fewer people would live in fear.

For more, read The Teapublican Book of Lies available at Amazon and other on-line bookstores.

“Rampant” Voter Fraud?

Teapublicans claim to be concerned about vote integrity.  So, in order to assure everyone that there is not massive voter fraud, they have passed strict voter ID laws in a number of states – primarily so-called “battleground” states.  In doing so, they are forcing tens of thousands of voters to seek new photo IDs.

A lesser known Teapublican tactic is to restrict voting hours and the number of days for early voting.  In Ohio, Teapublicans have eliminated Sunday voting, which has been highly popular amongst African-American voters.  In response to the predictable outcry, the Ohio Secretary of State said there should be no special accommodation of any group of voters (especially those who are most likely to vote for President Obama).

In summation, Teapublicans are so concerned about the sanctity of our right to vote that they are willing to keep tens of thousands from exercising that right.

To explain their actions, Teapublicans have cited voter fraud.  They use anecdotal evidence that felons, dead people and non-citizens have voted.  That prompted investigative reporters to examine the facts.  News21, a Carnegie-Knight investigative reporting project, found just 10 cases of alleged in-person voter impersonation since 2000.  10 cases out of 146 million registered voters!

Those numbers tend to be supported by an investigation by the Bush administration which found only 86 cases of alleged fraud out of 300 million votes cast.  (Of course, the administration did not report on the voter suppression and voter fraud in 2000 that gave Bush the presidency in Florida.)

Teapublicans say they aren’t trying to suppress the vote.  They say one incident of voter fraud is too many because it could affect the outcome of an election.  Who do they think they’re kidding?

For more, read The Teapublican Book of Lies available at Amazon.com and other on-line bookstores.

“Legitimate” Rape.

In 2011, Teapublicans introduced a bill that would ban federal funding for abortions through Medicaid except in cases of “forcible” rape, incest, or to save a mother’s life.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri and Rep. Paul Ryan (Yes, that Paul Ryan) with the intent of redefining rape.  You see, Teapublicans believe that “forcible” rape is the only legitimate rape.  Apparently they believe rapes which are the result of threats, physical intimidation, or “date rape” drugs don’t really count. Therefore, in Teapublicans’ feeble minds, those victims should not be allowed to seek an abortion.

The bill was eventually withdrawn after a huge backlash from women voters.

But Akin, Ryan and company haven’t given up on their attempts to redefine rape.  In fact, they want to take their anti-woman, anti-abortion agenda even farther by passing a Constitutional amendment outlawing all abortions.  They also want to redefine “personhood” by passing legislation that says human life begins at conception.  This would give a fetus all the rights of a person, meaning that all abortions would be treated as murder regardless of the circumstances.

The Teapublican plans hadn’t received a lot of attention.  But that changed over the past weekend.

In case you were lounging on another planet, Rep. Akin was asked during a TV interview if he supported abortion in the case of pregnancies caused by rape. He responded, “From what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare.  If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume maybe that didn’t work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist, and not attacking the child.”

Here’s an idea:

Let’s put Akin, Ryan and all the other Teapublicans who believe in this nonsense in the general population of a maximum security prison.  I’m betting that, within days, these guys will understand the real meaning of rape in all of its many forms.

The only thing lacking would be the joy of them carrying “Bubba’s” baby for the next 9 months and caring for it the rest of their lives.

Why You Should Hate Teapublicans. Let Me Count The Reasons.

1 – Richard Nixon’s Watergate break-in intended to literally steal an election. 

2 – The “Southern strategy” in which the GOP embraced racists. 

3 – The “Moral Majority” in which the Party embraced “social” issues. 

4 – Reagan’s union-busting. 

5 – Elimination of loan interest deductions resulting in huge tax increases for the middle class.

6 – Cuts to capital gains taxes and estate taxes on the wealthy. 

7 – Reagan’s Iran-Contra plan which financed Central American death squads.

8 – Deregulation of Savings and Loan institutions resulting in the loss of billions.  

9 – Gun laws putting military-style weapons in the hands of millions. 

10 – $60 million witch hunt and impeachment of President Clinton. 

11 – Massive voter suppression giving the 2000 election to George W. Bush. 

12 – Bush’s failure to act on warnings of a 2001 terrorist attack. 

13 – The Bush tax cuts.

14 – The unnecessary and completely unfunded war in Iraq. 

15 – “Swift-boating” of Vietnam War Hero, Sen. John Kerry. 

16 – Richard “The Dick” Cheney. 

17 – The outsourcing of our military to corporations. 

18 – Awarding government contracts to corporations with offshore “headquarters.” 

19 – Deregulation of banks resulting in mortgage fraud.

20 – The Great Recession.

21 – Subsidies and tax breaks for corporations that send jobs offshore.

22 – Fox News Channel and right-wing hate radio. 

23 – Unsubstantiated claims about President Obama’s birthplace and religion. 

24 – The Tea Party.

25 – Sarah Palin, Michele Bachman, Steve King and Paul Ryan. 

26 – Attacks on women’s rights. 

27 – Attacks on the LGBT community. 

28 – Plans to repeal The Affordable Care Act. 

29 – Assaults on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. 

30 – Obstruction of hundreds of President Obama’s appointments. 

31 – Filibusters. 

32 – Buckley v. Valeo resulting in a ruling that money is free speech.

33 – Citizen’s United which gave corporations the same rights as people.  

34 – Voter ID laws intended to steal the coming election.

35 – Attacks on Public Broadcasting, education and the environment.

36 – Blaming the poor and the unemployed for our deficit.

37 – Blaming teachers and first responders for our deficit.

38 – Trying to balance the budget on the backs of the poor.

39 – Vilifying immigrants to get votes.

40 – The debt ceiling debate.

41 – Embrace of Ayn Rand’s self-centered philosophy.

42 – Lies, lies and more lies.

Learn more in The Teapublican Book of Lies available from Amazon.com and other on-line bookstores

Everything Wrong With Politics All Wrapped Up In One Super PAC.

If you watch television news, you’ve probably seen the despicable “birther” ads paid for by the super PAC, Conservative Majority Fund.  The anonymous group is also running a commercial “to stop the UN gun grab.”  This little gem claims that President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton are set to sign an agreement with the UN that will take away your guns.

Oh my, the Black Shirts are coming!  The Black Shirts are coming!

Before you grab your assault weapons and head for your hideout, you should know that the commercials are just more Teapublican lies, albeit some of the most disgusting yet.  You already know that President Obama was born in the US.  And, in reality, the UN Arms Trade Treaty is designed to control arms trade between nations to prevent weapons from being sold to rogue groups such as al Qaeda.  It will do nothing to interfere with Second Amendment rights.

Of course, the Conservative Majority Fund offers many other reasons you should be afraid – very afraid.  It wants you to be afraid of voter fraud so you’ll accept highly restrictive new voter laws.

No group better exemplifies the toxic state of political discourse in the US.  No group better exposes the Teapublican tactics of fear and voter suppression.  And no group better illustrates the problem with the “money equals free speech” ruling by the Supreme Court which allows anonymous billionaires the opportunity to buy an election.

To learn more about Teapublican tactics and lies, read The Teapublican Book of Lies, available at Amazon and other on-line bookstores.

“The Betrayal of the American Dream.”

That’s the title of a new book by Donald L. Bartlett and James B. Steele, which I highly recommend.  If you’d like to learn more, check out this story from NPR.  You’ll also find a link to a podcast of their interview on NPR’s Morning Edition.

These are not exact quotes, but here are a few tidbits I remember from their interview.  If you fired all federal employees, you’d only cut the annual deficit in half.  From a budget standpoint, the US is a military with health benefits.

I believe the book illustrates the true problems facing our nation.  As you’ll see, these problems go well beyond the usual stupifying rhetoric about tax rates and the size of government.

Of course, I also recommend my own book: The Teapublican Book of Lies available at Amazon and other on-line bookstores.

Romney’s International Policy Experience.

For months, Democrats have touted the foreign policy expertise of President Obama.  Sure, he ended the war in Iraq and ordered the capture or killing of Osama bin Laden.  But that pales compared to Mitt Romney’s international experience.

True, Mitt hasn’t dealt with any foreign leaders, but he “saved” the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and he has years of experience dealing with foreign banks.  He not only had a Swiss bank account.  He owned several shell corporations in the Bahamas, bank accounts in Luxembourg and more bank accounts in Grand Cayman.

Of course, as a multi-millionaire, Romney is a highly-experienced international traveler.  There’s hardly a resort in the world that he hasn’t visited.  Moreover, while heading Bain Capital, Romney outsourced American jobs to China.

We’ve also learned that Mitt founded Bain Capital with funds from powerful families in Central America; the same families who controlled death squads in El Salvador and Nicaragua.

So take that, Democrats.  When it comes to experience with foreign currency, Romney is practically another Henry Kissinger.