Month: October 2014

14

Nondisparagement Clauses and the Path to GOP Corporatist Tyranny

If our elected government is replaced by a board of directors, is it far-fetched to think corporate nondisparagement clauses might trump our freedom of speech?

3

Democrats Hit Alaska Republican Senate Candidate For Stealing Women’s Liberty

In which Alaska Republican Dan Sullivan’s pattern of transferring power over a woman’s private choices to the government becomes a campaign issue.

60

Thanks To the NRA, The US Has No Surgeon General Overseeing the Ebola Threat

The President nominated Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, an extremely qualified candidate to replace ‘acting’ Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin. However, the National Rifle Association blocked Murthy’s confirmation because he does not recognize that the NRA is “fourth and all-powerful branch of the federal government” and called for sane gun restrictions to prevent more Americans from dying unnecessarily from the gun violence epidemic.

12

Ferguson Protesters Take It To The Next Level By Shutting Down Multiple Local Walmarts

Ferguson October, a weekend long series of events held in the St. Louis area to protest against police violence and racial disparity, officially wrapped up Monday with a number of seemingly spontaneous protests across a number of locations in the metropolitan area.

93

Alison Lundergan Grimes Thrashes Obama Obsessed McConnell In Kentucky Senate Debate

Alison Lundergan Grimes stormed past Mitch McConnell in a debate where the Republican sounded idealess, repetitive, and completely clueless on what is going on in Kentucky.

3

Watch the Kentucky Senate Debate Live Here With PoliticusUSA Writers

Watch the Kentucky Senate race live.

16

Sorry Koch Brothers, But Money Can’t Buy You Real People’s Votes

The bad news for Republicans is that money can’t buy you love or votes. Money can buy you a lot of negative TV ads and many lies, some of them rather clever but most of them way too obvious to pass in the age of the internet.

16

Joni Ernst’s Campaign Is Clueless As They Have Two-Time Loser Mitt Romney Stumping For Her

Two-time failed Presidential candidate Mitt Romney hit the campaign trail for GOP Senate candidate Joni Ernst in Iowa Sunday night.

47

Republicans Attack and Mock Disabled Young Man Who Spoke Out For Wendy Davis

Republicans were frothing so hard to get Wendy Davis that they are attacking Lamar White, a law student in his final year at Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School, after he advocated for her at a press conference Monday morning.

8

Freedom Impinged Upon as Libertarian Candidate Is Excluded from Kentucky Debate

A federal judge denied Kentucky Senate candidate David Patterson’s request to be included in the debate between Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D-KY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

5

Cornel West Among Demonstrators Arrested During Protest At Ferguson Police Station

PoliticusUSA’s Justin Baragona was on the scene Monday during a protest at the Ferguson police station that led to the arrest of at least a dozen protesters, including Dr. Cornel West.

23

Democrats Listen to Liberals, Hitting Republicans for Their Dangerous CDC Cuts

Democrats listened to liberals. The DCCC blamed House Republicans for cutting funds to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in online ads starting Monday.

57

Liberals Turn The Tables With Ad Blaming Mitch McConnell and Republicans For Ebola Deaths

Republicans are getting a taste of their own medicine as a liberal group is running an ad in key Senate races blaming Republican budget cuts for Ebola deaths.

18

Fired Up and Ready To Vote: Democrats Crush Republicans With Historic Fundraising Haul

In September, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) made history by raising $16 million, which outraised the Republicans (NRSC) by more than half a million.

71

Scott Walker Joins the Republican Crusade Denigrating Americans’ Work Ethic

During a debate with his Democratic gubernatorial opponent last week, Koch loyalist Scott Walker took the time to insult Wisconsin workers he claimed are responsible for being stuck earning poverty wages.

7

Ferguson October: Young Protesters Reject Message Delivered By Older Religious Leaders

As the gathering wore on, younger activists, who have been on the ground in Ferguson since an unarmed Michael Brown was shot by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson over two months ago, started growing restless.

11

For the Love of America, Ignore Republican Fear-Mongering and Vote

Not believing in reality doesn’t make you immune to it. Republicans will just blame the nearest Democrat, but all of us will have to deal with the fall-out

38

Even Fox Defends Wendy Davis Ad About Abbott’s History of War Against Justice For Texans

The focus of Davis’ latest ad is to chronicle Abbott’s history of believing in justice for some while denying it to others.

25

America Must Stay Out of Islam’s Sectarian War

No American should delude themselves that the current violence raging in Iraq and Syria is anything other than an extreme sectarian war between the two major Islamic sects, or that American military intervention is ever going to bring a cessation to the violence.

republicans spend $1 million South Dakota

7

Desperate Republicans Dump $1 Million Into Deep Red South Dakota In Bid To Save Senate Hopes

Republicans are spending a million dollars South Dakota in a desperate attempt to save their chances of flipping a Senate seat that has become a toss up in a deep red state.

30

The Support of Sarah Palin and the Koch Brothers Backfires and Brings Down Joni Ernst

By more than 2-1, the Koch Brothers affiliation hurts Joni Ernst with voters in Iowa. They are equally unimpressed by Sarah Palin’s support for the Republican.

92

Democrats Are On The Rise So CNN Blames Obama For Ebola, ISIS, and Ferguson

The media are working hard to tip the midterm election for Republicans. On CNN’s State Of The Union, Candy Crowley claimed Democrats are stumbling to the finish line and blamed Obama for Ebola, Ferguson, and ISIS.

7

St. Louis Police Hit Protesters With Pepper Spray And Batons During Shaw Shooting Protest

A day of peace, love and solidarity ended violently when St. Louis police dispersed a crowd of protesters gathered at a local gas station by using pepper spray and batons.

61

Bernie Sanders Takes Over Sunday Morning And Shreds John McCain’s ISIS Warmongering

Sen. Bernie Sanders knocked John McCain off of his usual Sunday morning warmongering turf by following a typical McCain appearance on CNN State Of The Union with a fact laced shredding of McCain’s pro-war propaganda.

40

Republicans Say Rainbow Flags Remind them of Nazi Flags – But Actual Nazi Flags Don’t

Mike Huckabee says he’s tired of this. All I’ve got to say is that we’re tired of it too, and that it’s time for America to unfriend the Republican Party

12

The Latest And Not Greatest Candidate News From South Carolina

South Carolina has the lowest percentage of women in its legislature of any state in the union. The supreme irony is that the only elected woman whose voice remotely counts in the state is arguably the worst governor in the nation, and that’s saying something.

18

Who Really Knows How To Address Income Inequality And Save Us From The Grave?

So how exactly can we address income inequality by simply asking everyone to learn new skills and find a better job, avoiding the reality of the need for a re-distribution of social resources? We can’t.

12

People From Around The World Gather In St. Louis For March Against Police Brutality

Activists and protesters from all over the world gathered Saturday morning in downtown St. Louis to participate in a march, part of Ferguson October, and show that they stand united against police brutality and racial disparity.

34

GOP Civil War Gets Ugly John Boehner Begs Big Business To Neutralize Tea Party Crazies

The Republican civil war is getting nasty as Speaker of the House John Boehner is hoping that his friends in big business will help him neutralize the “nuts” in the tea party that have pushed the House to the extreme right.

3

How North Carolina Represents A Microcosm Of Marriage Equality

This monumental victory for North Carolina concluded a historic week nationwide for marriage equality. Ten states in the past week alone have now been added to the list of states where gay marriage is recognized, bringing the total number of states up to 29.

20

President Obama Obliterates Republicans With An Obstruction Annihilating Truth Bomb

President Obama called out the current Congress for being unwilling to move forward legislation that would help average Americans.

17

Report Confirms Fracking is Poisoning California’s Dwindling Aquifers

This week, yet another report reveals that fracking in California has contaminated aquifers during a historical drought.

14

GOP Privatization Would Substitute an Un-Electable Board of Directors for Democracy

Privatization is stripping powers from electable government, and handing it to the unelectable public – in other words, for profit – sector

3

Nurse Travels From Oregon To Show Solidarity With Ferguson During Weekend Of Resistance

After a planned Ferguson October event, PoliticusUSA’s Justin Baragona was able to speak to Tamara Cottongim, a nurse out of Ashland, Oregon. Ms. Cottongim had just taken part in a march in Clayton, known as the Justice Now March, which was the first organized event of the Weekend of Resistance.

109

Democrat Mary Burke Dominates Scott Walker In First Wisconsin Governor Debate

Democratic candidate for governor Mary Burke dominated Gov. Scott Walker in the first debate between the two Wisconsin candidates. Walker was on the defensive and was repeated pressed for dodging questions. Walker looked clueless, while Burke seemed ready to be governor.

9

Friday Fox Follies – The Ebola Edition

The Fox “News” Fear-Mongering Industrial Complex launched The War Against The War Against Ebola this week.If there hadn’t been an Ebola crisis, Fox would have had to invent one.

32

GOP Senate Candidate Says He’s Losing Because Lazy Single Women Are Dependent On Government

New Jersey Republican Jeff Bell, who is running against incumbent Democrat Cory Booker in New Jersey’s US Senate race, told a New Jersey newspaper Thursday that he is behind Booker because single women are “wed” to the Democratic Party due to their reliance on government benefits.

20

John Boehner Wigs Out and Calls Obama Lawless For Trying to Close Illegal GITMO Prison

In a statement filled with hypocrisy, Speaker of the House John Boehner called Obama lawless because the president is looking at options for closing GITMO.

101

Chuck Todd Goes Full Blown Republican Hack By Attacking Alison Lundergan Grimes

Chuck Todd attacked Alison Lundergan Grimes on MSNBC by claiming that she disqualified herself from being election to the Senate from Kentucky by saying whether or not she voted for President Obama.

8

Always Evil Walmart Increases Profits While Cutting Employee Benefits

40% of America’s wealth is not enough for the Walton’s or their investors so Walmart took steps to increase their riches by taking more from their horribly underpaid workforce and subsequently American taxpayers; particularly those living in “Blue” states who will have to take up the slack.

6

Shaw Shooting: St. Louis Police Use Pepper Spray And Billy Clubs On Protesters And Media

Protesters and members of the media were hit with pepper spray and rushed by police officers armed with batons and riot shields Thursday night in south St. Louis.

15

A Tireless President Obama Urges His Base To Stay Positive And Get Out the Vote

President Obama warned Democrats about the importance of getting out the vote in the upcoming November 4th midterm elections, in which Democrats are at risk of losing control of the Senate to extremist Republicans.

24

In NC Senate Debate Talking Point Addict Tillis Says Hagan uses Talking Points

Senator Kay Hagan outperformed her Republican opponent Thom Tillis and Libertarian candidate Sean Haugh during North Carolina’s third and final debate for the Senate race, on Thursday night.

11

Victory for Democracy as Wisconsin and Texas Voter ID Laws Come Tumbling Down

Democracy called checkmate against Scott Walker’s attempt to rig Wisconsin’s vote, while a Federal Court slapped down Greg Abbott’s attempt to suppress votes in Texas.

39

America, Our Children Are Being Punished for Excluding God from Pledge of Allegiance

One student was told that failing to stand is disrespectful to members of the U.S. military; another was told the law required him to stand

5

Giving A Voice To Those Seeking Justice — PoliticusUSA Talks To Protesters After Shaw Shooting

PoliticusUSA’s Justin Baragona was on the scene at the Shaw shooting in south St. Louis late Wednesday evening. Late in the evening, with well over a hundred protesters blocking off the intersection of Shaw and Grand, two activists approached Justin and struck up a conversation.

5

North Carolina Could Join the Ranks of States That Recognize Marriage Equality

It’s time for the Supreme Court to officially recognize that marriage equality triumphed over homophobia.

43

Crowd Shouted ‘F**k the Palins!’ At Brawl That Showed The Real Meaning Of Family Values

Cruel, cruel world in which a family goes from imagining moving into the White House to being told “F**ck the Palins!” in their home state.

The Republican Party Is Falling Apart As Conservatives Threaten to Stay Home and Not Vote

Just as in 2012 when the media sold you the narrative that the Obama voters were going to stay home, the media is wrong again. It turns out that it is actually the Republican Party that may be suffering from enthusiasm gap.

21

NBC Tried To Hire Jon Stewart To Replace David Gregory As Host Of Meet The Press

It looks like NBC never wanted Chuck Todd to replace David Gregory as the host of Meet The Press. It is being reported that the real host that NBC wanted was Jon Stewart.

20

Conflict Of Interest: Iowa Democrats Hammer Joni Ernst Over Contracts Awarded To Her Father

Republican Senate Candidate Joni Ernst could be in some hot water over county public contracts awarded to her father’s company when she served as the county’s auditor. Ernst is running against Democrat Bruce Braley for Iowa’s open US Senate seat.

21

The Supreme Court Allows North Carolina Vote Suppression Law To Stand

Since North Carolina passed its version of a vote suppression law, it has been one long battle in the courts.

60

A Wave Of Biased Fox News Polls Is a Sure Sign Republicans Are Losing Senate Races

The wave of extremely biased Fox News polls is a sign that Republicans are losing battleground Senate races across the country.

20

Protests Erupt In St. Louis After White Police Officer Shoots And Kills Black Teenager

A large number of demonstrators descended on south St. Louis Wednesday evening after word spread that a black teenager was fatally shot by a white police officer.

Republicans Are Unhinged and Terrified of Good Economic Reports

Despite their Herculean efforts to bankrupt America though, another report this week revealed the economy is on the mend despite the GOP plot to obstruct the new President’s attempt to turn around the economic disaster eight years of Republicans’ drunken spending spree on the nation’s credit card.

5

All Politics Is Local: Recent Situation With Colorado Board Of Education Proves Old Saying

I think this may be a good time to reflect on a rather potent phrase that the late, great House Speaker Tip O’Neill used to say: “All politics is local.”

22

Gov. Scott Walker Says $7.25 Per Hour is a Living Wage

According to the Department of Workforce Development, “there is no reasonable cause to believe that the wages paid to the complainants are not a living wage”

14

Justice Scalia Could Destroy All Women’s Reproductive Rights in Texas Abortion Case

The legal battle over reproductive rights is back at the Supreme Court.

16

Propaganda Demonizing Islam Is Starting to Infect Public Schools

Of course the Americans putting Goebbels’s propaganda tactics into practice are Fox News, neo-conservatives, Republicans, and their religious right sycophants, and their big lie is that the greatest threat to this nation is every person who adheres to the Muslim faith.

60

Mitch McConnell Humiliates Himself Then Flees When Asked Why He Won’t Debate Grimes

Mitch McConnell’s trainwreck of a reelection campaign got even worse today as the Kentucky senator embarrassed himself on the largest radio show in the state, then abruptly ended the interview when he was asked why he won’t debate Alison Lundergan Grimes.

22

Police Kick Ferguson Protesters Out Of Council Meeting To Protect Darren Wilson Supporter

Demonstrators were escorted by police out of an open St. Louis County Council meeting on Tuesday night after a woman verbally expressed support for Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown on August 9th.

states with worst quality of life republican

33

Study Finds the Majority Of The Worst States To Live In Are Controlled By Republicans

According to a new study, seven of the ten worst states to live in are completely controlled by Republicans.

19

Kay Hagan Wins Debate Amid Her Republican Opponent’s Multiple Blunders

Kay Hagan solidified her small lead when she won last night’s debate.

14

Republicans Get Busted for Using ISIL to Cover Up Their Record of Failure

Desperate Republicans have turned to their old standby, the Bush safety net — terror. But they keep getting busted because they are resorting to lies in order to scare you into voting for them.

49

Bernie Sanders Exposes The Republican Fraud Behind Voter ID Laws Via New GAO Report

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) initiated the request with the GAO that led to the newly released report on voter ID laws. The report found that voter ID laws have nothing to do with voter fraud and everything to do with lowering election turnout.

30

Facing Defeat, GOP Wonders If They Should’ve Ignored McConnell And Worked With Democrats

Conservatives are calling for new leadership if Republicans don’t take back the Senate and Republicans are wondering if they should have tried harder to work with Democrats.

3

Unbelievable! Ferguson Protesters Given Nazi Salute While Demonstrating At Baseball Game

Ferguson protesters were greeted with taunts and insults from St. Louis Cardinals fans while demonstrating at Busch Stadium Tuesday. In one instance, a fan gave the demonstrators a Nazi salute.

31

Republicans Convinced ISIL and Ebola Working Together to Kill White Folks

For Republicans it’s that siren-call of fear, not only of a government run by a black man, but of a disease that kills only white people

14

The Congressional Budget Office Vs. Paul Ryan: Will the Nonpartisan Entity Stand Its Ground?

There are very few nonpartisan, unbiased institutions left to us. But we always have the Congressional Budget Office. Or do we?

20

Possible Voter Fraud Gets Arkansas AG Candidate Kicked Off Voter Rolls

It is a different story, though, when a white Republican is kicked of voter rolls in Arkansas that not only incited the state party’s outrage against their own vote suppression law, it drove the candidate for state attorney general who lost the right to vote into a rage.

7

The 7th Circuit Relies On Fox Logic and Lies To Uphold Wisconsin’s Vote Suppression Law

On Monday, the Seventh Circuit handed Wisconsin’s vote suppressors a victory with a ruling that is to law, what Fox is to news.

31

Georgia GOP Senate Candidate Destroys His Campaign By Claiming He’s Proud He Outsourced Jobs

In a meeting with reporters on Monday, Republican Senate candidate David Perdue claimed that he is “proud of” his career in outsourcing jobs and blamed Washington policies for his own business decisions.

17

The Media Finally Catches On That Democrats Are Running The Better Senate Campaigns

Don’t look now, but even the mainstream corporate controlled media are catching on that Democrats are running more effective Senate campaigns than Republicans.

1

More Bad News for the GOP: Hillary Clinton Could Turn Georgia Into a Swing State in 2016

If Hillary Clinton runs for President in 2016, she is not only going to crush the Republican hopefuls nationally, but she might turn red state Georgia into a swing state

26

The Republican Party Is On the Run and Abandoning the Michigan Senate Race

The national Republican Party is pulling out of the Michigan Senate race, and trying to spin their retreat as a “move of strength.” But anyone who lives in Michigan has been privy to Terri Lynn Land’s (R) rather spectacular fail.

32

Star of Family Values Hit 7th Heaven Accused of Child Molestation

Conservatives always held up the Aaron Spelling’s WB drama 7th Heaven as a beacon of family values, but star Stephen Collins is under investigation for child molestation of girls as young as 11, 12, and 13 years of age.

11

Republicans Fading As Democrat Al Franken Doubles His Lead In Minnesota Senate Race

Sen. Al Franken looks to be peaking at the right time in Minnesota, as a new poll reveals that he has doubled his lead in from nine to eighteen points over the last month.

10

Federal Judge Rules Police Violated First Amendment Rights Of Ferguson Protesters

In response to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Missouri, a federal judge ruled Monday that police in Ferguson cannot enforce a so-called ‘five-second rule’ requiring protesters to keep moving or face arrest.

13

Six House Democrats Call on DOJ to Investigate Texas AG- Greg Abbott’s Dirty Dealings with TEF

So far, Greg Abbott has used his power as Attorney-General of Texas to obstruct the release of documents that would shed light on Governor Rick Perry’s oversight of Texas Enterprise Fund and its mishandling of millions of Texas taxpayer dollars. However, the demand for answers increases from a variety of sources, including Wendy Davis and…

25

In Response to GOP Fear Mongering, the White House Details its Response to the Ebola Outbreak

The White House gives us facts; the GOP gives us fear-mongering. Which would you prefer as a response to the most deadly disease of modern times?

22

Right-Wing Evangelicals Violate the Law and Campaign From the Pulpit

The organizers behind Pulpit Freedom Sunday do not even contend they are prohibited from preaching religion, they complain they cannot preach Republican politics and are seeking redress through the courts to use taxpayer dollars to campaign for Republicans.

bill clinton campaigns in arkansas for pryor

82

Bill Clinton Terrifies Republicans by Busting and Exposing Their Obama Scam

Former President Bill Clinton told voters what Republicans don’t want them to know while campaigning with Sen. Mark Pryor in Arkansas. Clinton explained that Republicans are trying use Obama to scam voters into supporting them.

11

Convicted Felon Dinesh D’Souza Fails Miserably With Attempted Ebola Joke At Obama’s Expense

Professional right-wing conspiracy theorist and convicted felon Dinesh D’Souza took to Twitter on Monday and tried to push an Ebola joke at President Obama’s expense.

Nancy Pelosi Celebrates The Latest Victory For Marriage Equality

Today marks an important day for marriage equality in the United States as the Supreme Court refused to review several circuit court rulings that strike down state bans on same sex marriage.

32

Joe Scarborough Throws Temper Tantrum After Being Called Out On Ebola Fear-Mongering

During Monday’s episode of Morning Joe, host Joe Scarborough got into a shoutfest with former White House adviser David Axelrod over Scarborough’s attempts to create a panicked state surrounding the spread of the Ebola virus in the United State.

41

Democrats Shock the Media By Pulling Ahead in Several Key Senate Races

Monday morning’s headlines were full of good news for Democrats. Local polls are showing Democrats leading in several Senate races. This news shocks no one but the mainstream media, who can’t quit their addiction to bad polling methods even after the shame of 2012.

GRIMES LEADS MCCONNELL NEW KENTUCKY POLL

27

Alison Lundergan Grimes Surges Ahead In Kentucky As She Leads McConnell in New Poll

The new Bluegrass Poll has been released in Kentucky, and it contains more bad news for stumbling Sen. Mitch McConnell. Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes has erased a four point deficit and leads McConnell 46%-44%.

16

Survivor Slams Tom Cotton for His Cowardly Votes That Put Women In Jeopardy

Stacy Malcum was being repeatedly abused by her husband. She turned to her local women’s shelter in Arkansas for help, and she believes the shelter saved her life. She is calling out Rep Tom Cotton for voting no on protecting women.

4

Bubba Power: Bill Clinton Is The Only Politician That Angry Voters Still Love In 2014

According to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News/Annenberg survey, former president Bill Clinton is the only politician, Democratic or Republican that can swing voters towards a candidate in the midterm elections. The survey found, Former President Bill Clinton scored the best among eight prominent figures when registered voters were asked if a campaign endorsement would…

20

Fox News Host Complains That The War On ISIS Doesn’t Have A Catchy Branding Name

During a segment on Monday’s episode of Fox & Friends, host Brian Kilmeade criticized the White House for not coming up with a cool, snazzy name for the operation against ISIS.

36

Colorado Republican’s Claim that America Ended Slavery Voluntarily Steals Our History

Pamela Mazanec asks, “Shouldn’t our students be provided that viewpoint? This is part of the argument that America is exceptional.”

10

Backhanded Way To End War…By A Republican

Former President George W. Bush and his crime family’s legacy cost us trillions and our economy is going to Hell in a hand basket, but a traitorous Republican (redundant) may have figured out how to end all wars by telling generals to retire.

1

Editorial Cartoon: Not the Marryin’ Kind

This ad, done by the Young Republicans for Rick Scott, is also being used by other Republican candidate in different states. They are so blind to their sexism that they have no clue about what it is.

43

Right-Wing Justice Scalia is Crusading to Establish Religion by Constitutional Fiat

Koch and Vatican surrogate Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia delivered a judicial sermon at Colorado Christian University and informed 400 faithful Christians that the separation of church and state “doesn’t mean the government cannot favor religion over non-religion.”

38