Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Iran's Route to the Sea


Mitt Romney, in last night's Presidential Debate:
Syria is Iran's only ally in the Arab world. It's their route to the sea.
Erm, Mitt, they call it the Persian Gulf for a reason!

As you can see from the map above, Iran's 800-long southern border lines on the Persian Gulf, which is part of the Indian Ocean.  And as you can see, Syria and Iran aren't contiguous. Iraq lies between the two countries.

That doesn't phase Mr. Romney, though. He's made the erroneous claim many times. He stands by it.



I love Bob Cesca's Goddamn Awesome Blog. He no longer calls it that, but it certainly is. He's a talented writer and has a devastating wit.

His recent assessment of Mitt Romney is spot-on:
As I’ve been writing for weeks now, Who is this guy? He has no core values, no plan, no opinions that last any longer than two or three minutes, and he’s running the most cynical presidential campaign in modern history, banking on the fact that many voters don’t follow these statements closely enough to track the flip-flops and pandering, while also assuming that all politicians are slippery liars anyway, so why not vote for the one who looks like a Sears mannequin candidate direct from central casting. 
He’s a corporate raider with a record of shady investments and outsourcing overseas and is currently surrounded by neocon war-mongers. Worse, like Bush, he’s an empty suit who will be controlled by his advisers — capable of doing whatever they suggest for the sake of political expedience and re-election. Devoid of personal conviction, he possesses a CEO’s sociopathic ability to separate conscience from business and make decision without the pesky fog of morality. Whatever it takes — right or wrong — to make it through the day and to profit at any cost. Is this a safe bet for the presidency of the United States? Not a chance in hell.
Go Bob Cesca!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

"I Was Too Important to Go to Vietnam"


You gotta love this interchange between Mitt Romney and a Vietnam Veteran:
"Governor Romney, it is true, is it not, that you had four deferments from the Vietnam War… You have said before that you support war and the efforts of US military involvement overseas at all costs, yet you made sure you would never go to war yourself. What makes you think that veterans and those currently serving in the military think that you have their best interests at heart when you yourself weren't even interested in sacrificing your time, energy, or life for your nation at a time when it seemed most crucial?"
Romney responded:
"That’s a good question, young man, and I would be happy to answer it. The Vietnam War came at a time in my life when I had other plans. I knew in my heart of hearts that I would one day serve my nation. That I would one day hold an office that would help not only our nation, but also the world. So I did what I could to make sure that I would be around to serve my nation, as well as serving God by teaching very important religious principles to a broader audience overseas. My father did not want me serving, and he convinced me that yes, I was too important to go to Vietnam. I had a greater purpose in life. I wasn't neglecting my nation, but rather preparing myself for a future of service."
An onlooker that seemingly was a Vietnam veteran shouted, "Fuck you, Romney! You wouldn't know service if it bit you on your well-manicured ass." To which Romney responded, "Please don't be testy, my friend. I did what I did for you, and I thank you for your service as well." That same veteran responded, "You only served yourself, you jackass. You could've served your nation even if your draft number wasn't called… but you didn't… you chose to serve yourself instead. Thanks for revealing your true colors."

-- Janek

Romney's dressing-down occurred at a press event in California in June.

Work Cited

Janek, Anna. (2012, 21 August). Mitt Romney: "I was too important to go to Viet Nam." Project NSearch. Read it here.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Romney: The First 90 Days

Willard Mitt Romney on being elected the 45th President of the United States:
I still can't tell you what I'll do as President-- it's too complicated for you to understand-- but thanks for your trust.
Day 1

Just before his inauguration ceremony, Romney texts in a retroactive signing statement voiding the Affordable Health Care Act ("Obamacare.").

Romney refuses to be sworn in by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John R. Roberts, Jr. Antonin Scalia, claiming to be possessed by the ghost of Joseph Smith, does the honors. When Romney is asked to affirm his support of the Constitution, he replies "Whatever." The Associated Press reports his fingers were crossed behind his back.

Romney orders the removal of the Rose Garden; it will be replaced by horse stables.

Day 2

Romney flies to North Dakota, where he tells citizens the state has been seized in a hostile takeover by the U.S. Government and leased to the Canadian province of Saskatchewan  for 99 years. A condition of the lease is that residents go with the state. Romney tells them they won't be allowed to leave, and by the way, as Canadians they will no longer be receiving Medicare and Social Security payments.

Day 3

A Republican-dominated Congress passes a bill removing Federal funding for family planning and birth control agencies and PBS. Romney signs it.

Day 5

The Department of Homeland Security announces that henceforth all Americans must wear magic underwear to "protect them from weapons of mass destruction. In a televised address, Romney says, "In keeping with my on-again, off-again promise to cut spending, production of this non-Mormon magic underwear will be offshored." The New York Times reports on Romney's ties to underwear sweatshops in China.

Day 8

Congress passes a bill that will dissolve the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Bureau of Mines, and the Department of Education. In his hurry to sign it, President Romney breaks a finger.

Day 10

In his first State of the Union address, Romney tells Americans he can't tell them the state of the union.

Day 13

After the mysterious deaths of Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Romney announces his intention to fill the vacancies with Rick Santorum, Todd "Legitimate Rape" Akin, and Fred Phelps.

Day 21

Romney signs The Republicans are Looking After You Water Conservation Bill, which repeals the Clean Water Act and allows natural gas companies to frack anywhere they want with no regulations whatsoever.

Day 23

Congress repeals the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Romney signs it.

Day 24

Major credit companies raise their interest rate to 43%.


Day 29

Romney announces a special address, in which he tells America:
In keeping with my plan to reduce spending and keep America safe, national security functions of the Federal government have been privatized. Henceforth the U.S. Army will be called The People's Republic of China Security Agency. The U.S. Air Force will be known as AirTran Skywatch. The U.S. Navy will be renamed The Carnival Cruise Line Safe Seas Expeditionary Force. The U.S. Marines will be headed by Sylvester Stallone and called The Rambo Expendables. The U.S. Coast Guard will keep its name, but will be run by the Catalina Island Yacht Club. The National Guard-- well, we really don't need reserves, now do we?
1,500,000 active military personnel and 1,5000 reserve military personnel get pink slips.


Day 31

Congress passes a bill prohibiting the teaching of evolution. Romney signs it, but adds a signing statement proclaiming February National Brigham Young Day.


Day 32

Romney flies to Salt Lake City for special instruction from Latter Day Saints President Thomas S. Momson.


Day 32

At Romney's urging, Congress reintroduces the draft. Since the armed services have been outsourced, all male Americans who reach age 18 must spend a year doing missionary work overseas.


Day 34

Romney tells America truth is highly overrated.

Day 35

Congress lowers the tax rate for the top 1% of Americans. With his tax savings, Romney buys a Lear jet.


Day 42

After a week at Camp David, Romney returns to Washington and announces the U.S. will go on the gold standard.


Day 43

After stock markets around the world collapse, Romney announces he will defer the issue of the gold standard until his 4th term.


Day 44

Congress passes a bill making English-with-a-Harvard-accent the national language and doubling Federal subsidies to the petroleum industry.


Day 45

Romney narrowly escapes an assassination attempt by Big Bird. Paul Ryan is not so lucky.


Day 46

Congress repeals the home interest deduction from the income tax. Romney signs the bill.


Day 47

Romney announces that Bain Capital has acquired the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the state of Rhode Island and will merge them into a single state to be known as Seamus.


Day 48

Keeping a promise made to the National Rifle Association Romney announces his intent to make full-automatic machine guns rocket-propelled grenades and cruise missiles.

Day 49

Romney announces the offshoring of Idaho, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.

Day 50

Romney says Department of Homeland Security functions have been leased to the government of Libya for 99 years. DHS personnel find pink slips in their email in-boxes.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Sometimes It's Just Too Damn Weird to Blog About


I've laid off this blog for the past month or so because well it's just been too damn weird to blog about all the too-damn-weird things. I mean "legitimate rape" , racial ridicule in Massachusetts, "47% of Americans are lazy moochers" nonsense-- all of course from Republicans-- just leaves me shaking my head in disbelief and feeling too tired to write.

I  know it's hard to believe, but Republicans are getting even weirder. Just within the past week there have been not one, but two reports of the defense of slavery from the GOP, and the revelation that GOP hopeful Charlie Fuqua endorsed the death penalty for rebellious children in his 2012 book God's Law:
The maintenance of civil order in society rests on the foundation of family discipline. Therefore, a child who disrespects his parents must be permanently removed from society in a way that gives an example to all other children of the importance of respect for parents.
 -- Fuqua, 2012

And of course we had Mitt Romney walking back every position he's ever taken in the first Presidential debate.

While this circus is going on Republican legislators in the various states and U.S. congress are disenfranchising millions of American voters, passing laws that attack women's rights of reproductive choice and rights to fair wages and waging war on American Muslims, immigrants, and the poor.

Voters should kick these curs to the curb. It's a shame they allow themselves to be blind to Republican prejudice, nonsense, and hatred.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Mitt Romney: Hundreds of Lies


The man lies. He lies ineptly; only those in denial could listen to him speak in public and not know he's lying. His lies are obvious. Often he contradicts himself on the same day.. He lies because it's expedient. He lies because it's in his nature. He lies without remorse because that's what sociopaths do.

Sociopaths have no empathy. They have no conscience. They have no pity. They have no human kindness.

That's the kind of man Mitt Romney is, and he wants to be President of the United States!

Please do your part to make sure he never is. Vote on November 6.

Click here for Steve Benen's chronicle of 533 of Mitt's lies.

(Photo borrowed from Democrats for Progress)

Monday, August 20, 2012

The Real ID Act: A Catastrophe in the Making


© 2012 by Dallas Denny

I felt compelled to write this essay because of the effect of the Real ID Act upon a friend. She has had a driver's license here in Georgia since the 1970s. When she went to the DMV last week she was turned away because she could not produce a birth certificate. Unless she can locate a copy and copies of two divorce decrees she no longer has to show changes to her name, she will most likely lose the right to drive a motor vehicle.

Millions of Americans don't have birth certificates -- some because they were not in general use when they were born; some because they were born in rural locations without registration; some because the hospitals or courthouses that held their records burned or were swept away in floods; and some because they just haven't kept up with them.

Except when applying for a passport the driver's licenses of the 50 states have served as the primary means of identification in our society. The Real ID act changes that. It retroactively turns native-born American citizens into enemy aliens until and unless they can produce the array of documents necessary to establish their validity in the eyes of the government of the United States. Those who cannot get certified will not be able to drive, enter Federal buildings, or fly as airline passengers.

The Obama Administration opposes the Real ID act. So do I. And I hope you do, too.

The Real ID Act

A Catastrophe in the Making

In 2005, after minimal debate, the U.S. Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed into law the Real ID Act of 2005. This law changes Federal law in regard to state driver’s license and identification cards, requiring the various states to comply with rigorous new standards. Those wishing to drive or carry a state-issued identification card will be required to produce a birth certificate, proof of citizenship or resident alien status, social security number, address, and an ID that includes full legal name and birth date. Every driver in the United States -- all 250 million of us -- will be required to make an in-person visit to their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Super Trooper

Back in June The National Memo published this report of witnesses who say that during his college days at Stanford University Mitt Romney had a Michigan state trooper's uniform in his dorm. His dorm mates say he told them he would dress up in it and pull over drivers.
So recalls Robin Madden, who had also just arrived as a freshman, the startling incident began when Romney called him and two or three other residents into his room, saying, “Come up, I want to show you something.” When they entered Romney’s room, “and laid out on his bed was a Michigan State Trooper’s uniform.” 
Madden, a native Texan who graduated from Stanford in 1970 and went on to become a successful television producer and writer, has never forgotten that strange moment, which he has recounted to friends over the years as he observed his former classmate’s political ascent. The National Memo learned of the incident from a longtime Madden friend to whom he had mentioned it years ago.
Said Madden in a recent interview, “He told us that he had gotten the uniform from his father,” George Romney, then the Governor of Michigan, whose security detail was staffed by uniformed troopers. “He told us that he was using it to pull over drivers on the road. He also had a red flashing light that he would attach to the top of his white Rambler.”
If true-- and it very possibly is true-- it's but one more example of a life characterized by bullying.
More on bullying in the next post.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Obama Doesn't Fool Around with Al Queda


A lot of days I read about another NATO or U.S. drone strike that has killed Al-Qu-ida operatives.

I've not yet found a complete list, but some names follow.

Some of the killings were done by U.S. forces and some by NATO, but the NATO strikes were U.S. led, so I've attributed them to U.S. forces.

This is a VERY PARTIAL List of Terrorists Killed or Apprehended by U.S. and Joint U.S./Other National Forces During the Administration of President Barack Obama.

Yes, a lot of innocents have been killed by drone strikes. That's horrible, but war has always been horrible. I'm just sayin' that contrary to claims by certain Republicans that he is not protecting America, Obama is on the job.

June, 2009

Baitullah Mahsud
Leader, Tehrik e-Taliban Pakistan
Killed by U.S. Forces

September, 2009

Operational Planner, Jemayah Islamiya
Killed by U.S. Forces

Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan
Planner, Al-Qa-ida in East Africa
Killed by U.S. Forces

December, 2009

Saleh al-Somali
Operational Commander, Al-Qa'ida
Killed by U.S. Forces
Abdallah Sa’id
Operational Commander, AL-Qa'ida
Killed by U.S. Forces

February, 2010

Abdul Ghani Beradar
Deputy and Military Commander, Taliban
Apprehended

Muhammad Haqqani
Haqqani Network Commander
Killed by U.S. Forces

Qari Zafar
Leader, Lashkar-e Jhangvi
Killed by U.S. Forces

March, 2010

Hussein al-Yemeni
Operative, Al-Qa-ida
Killed by U.S. Forces

Dulmatin
Senior Operative, Jamahay Islamiya
(Believed to be the mastermind behind the 2002 Bali bombings)
Killed by U.S. Forces

April, 2010

Abu Ayyub al-Masri 
Leader, Al-Qu'ida in Iraq
Killed by U.S. Forces

Leader, Al-Qu'ida in Iraq
Killed by U.S. Forces

May, 2010

Sheik Saeed al-Masri 
Al-Qu-ida No. 3

June, 2010

Hamza al-Jawfi
Commander, Al-Qu-ida
Killed

May, 2011

Osama Bin Laden
Founder of Al-Qa'ida
Killed by U.S. Forces

June, 2011

Ilyas Kashmiri
Commander, Al-Qa'ida
Killed by U.S. Forces

Senior Operative, Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula
Killed by U.S. Forces

Senior Operative, Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula
Killed by U.S. Forces

Senior Operative, Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula
Killed by U.S. Forces

Senior Leader, Al-Qa'ida in East Africa
Killed by U.S. Forces

August, 2011

Atihay Abd al-Rahman
Al-Qa'ida No. 2
Killed by U.S. Forces

September 2011

Anwar al Awlaki,
Leader, Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula
Killed by U.S. Forces

Younis al-Mauritani
Senior Leader, Al-Qa'ida
Apprehended by U.S. and Pakistani Forces
Abu Hafs-al-Shahra
Chief of Pakistani Operations, Al-Qa'ida
Killed by U.S. Forces

May, 2012

Sakhr al-Taifi, also known as Mushtaq and Nasim
No. 2 Al-Qu-ida in Afghanistan
Killed by U.S. Forces

Thursday, May 17, 2012

You Can't Make This Stuff Up!


"I stand by what I said, whatever it was."

I absolutely cannot believe Mitt Romney actually said that!


Romney said those immortal words while criticizing planned attack ads linking President Barack Obama with controversial preacher Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

SuperPACs are not under the control of political candidates-- and in fact under threat of law there can be no linkage (wink, wink).

I'd like to think Romney did the right thing (as did Senator John McCain in 2008 when he wouldn't play up Obama's past link with Wright, but a more likely motivation was the realization that it would put his own religious views on the table. Romney is a Mormon, and a high muck-a-muck Mormon at that.

Sources

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Beast of Cranbrook

Forty years on, when afar and asunderParted are those who are singing today,When you look back, and forgetfully wonderWhat you were like in your work and your play,Then, it may be, there will often come o’er you,Glimpses of notes like the catch of a song –Visions of boyhood shall float them before you,Echoes of dreamland shall bear them along
 -- Cranbrook school song

In my last post I talked about Mitt Romney's lack of character-- of backbone, if you will.

Now we know he's a bully of the worst sort-- and showing his usual lack of character by calling the horrible things he did "pranks" and claiming to not remember them.

Today's Washington Post carries an article by Jason Horowitz that visits Romney's days at Michigan's prestigious Cranbook prep school. The picture isn't pretty.

Multiple classmates remember Romney leading a gang of classmates to assault fellow student John Lauber. When they found him, the classmates held Lauber down while Romney cut off his blond hair with a pair of scissors.
John Lauber, a soft-spoken new student one year behind Romney, was perpetually teased for his nonconformity and presumed homosexuality. Now he was walking around the all-boys school with bleached-blond hair that draped over one eye, and Romney wasn’t having it.
“He can’t look like that. That’s wrong. Just look at him!” an incensed Romney told Matthew Friedemann, his close friend in the Stevens Hall dorm, according to Friedemann’s recollection. Mitt, the teenaged son of Michigan Gov. George Romney, kept complaining about Lauber’s look, Friedemann recalled.
In another equally mean incident, Romney deliberately led his blind professor into a glass door.

Pranks? Hardly. Let's call it what it is: brutish.

Romney is denying he knew John Lauber was gay-- which clearly isn't true. 
The idea that this is something that was known by me ... is obviously absurd. I had no idea that this person might have been gay.
Romney claimed he didn't remember the hair-cutting incident and made a half-assed, insincere apology:
I participated in a lot of hijinks and pranks during high school and some might have gone too far and for that, I apologize.
The fact is Romney was a mean little ass in high school. He still is a mean little ass, he's just learned to channel it into doing things like firing people and making up absurd lies about President Obama.

Ask yourself. Did you ever hold someone down and forcibly cut their hair? Did you ever deliberately walk your blind professor into a plate-glass door? Of course you didn't. Romney did. He was a sociopathic fuck when he was at Cranbrook, and he's a sociopathic fuck now.

Sources

Horowitz, Jason. (2012, 10 May). Mitt Romney's prep school classmates recall pranks, but also troubling incidents. Washington Post.

Stein, Sam. (2012, 10 May). Romney apologizes for bulling in prep school, says he didn't know the victim was gay. Huffington Post.

p.s. Love this comment from Yellerkitty on the Washington Post site:
You bet I remember things I did over 60 years ago! I remember swiping two little packages of plastic lacing (pink and blue) from the F.W. Woolworths when I was about 5 years old. People with a conscience DO remember. Only those who are so amoral that they do not view their actions as egregious or those who repeat them so often they begin to blend into each other do not remember. TerpfanMA is right ... that's pretty much the definition of, if not an out-and-out sociopath, then certainly someone with ethics issues.