Friday, January 28, 2011

Support Melissa Montoya for the California State Senate in the 17th District « Enlighten the Vote

EnlightenTheVote supports the write-in candidacy of Melissa Montoya for the California State Senate in the 17th District. (High Desert, Antelope Valley, Castaic, Fillmore, Palmdale, Lancaster, Quartz Hill, Lake Elizabeth, Lake LA, Llano, Little Rock, Three Points, From the Ocean to Hesperia.)

Ms. Montoya is a political Independent and outspoken Atheist.

For more information please click here to send donations to Ms. Montoya and help get her elected to office.

To help us elect more rational candidates like Ms. Montoya please donate to EnlightenTheVote.

Tax The Churches Or Do Without

The Religion News Service is reporting that Mission, Kansas is now being sued by the Catholics and Baptists for imposing a Transportation Untilities Fee on all business including churches. Churches should be paying property taxes like all other privately owned property is required to do. To get around the law in all 50 states and DC that exempt churches from paying property taxes, cash-strapped cities are now looking to invoke fees for services used by churches as well as all other private businesses.

The fun part of the story is watching the conservative lawyers for the churches go into court and argue that the fees are a violation of Church State Separation. You know, that thing they continually keep harping is not in the Constitution. Well it certainly is a live and doing well when a state or locality needs funds from them.

Don't you just love churches that argue there is no separation of Church and State when the issue is them receiving money from governments for faith-based intiatives and they argue they need to discriminate on the basis of religion and sexual preferences, but there sure as hell is a separation of Church and State when the State needs money from them. All of sudden they know all about the Lemon test and US Supreme Court interpretations that are also judge made law and not in the Constitution. Why, cause it is their ox that is getting gored.

SH

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

In God We Trust, But The Bankers Don't

The sign in the picture says Judgment Day on 21 May 2011. I think it really means foreclosure on that day for some houses of worshiop. It seems thousands of churches are in financial trouble. Their congregations are getting laid off and subsisting on unemployment insurance which really drops the tithing and makes paying all those expensive loans a real problem.

I like the part where the Wall Street Journal reporter says the Banks don't really like foreclosing on God, but did you notice it doesn't bother them enough to stop. Gee, and they have no problem foreclosing on the rest of us at all.

Friday, January 21, 2011

We Live In The United Industries of America

Scalia and Thomas May Have Conflict of Interest, Common Cause Says - NYTimes.com

The conservatives are united in ways that progressives will never be organized. There unity is so strong that it is even illegal. The majority of our Supreme Court have upheld the right of Koch Industries to fund the election and elect those politicians who champion the Koch brothers issues of energy and pollution makers in the Citizens' United decision last year that paid for the new majority in the House of Representatives.

You should go to Palm Springs later this month. That is when the Koch brothers will be holding a political retreat on how to get rid of the black guy in the White House. And their guests include the most conservative Supreme Court Associate Justices Scalia and Thomas. Common Cause has filed a complaint with the Justice Department over the obvious conflict of interest demonstrated when two Supreme Court justices who decided a case that presented their hosts with so much additional power for their wealth in the election and running of our country. Welcome to the United Conservatives of America.

SH

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

A CPA Compares a Normal Taxpayer to a Minister

Bet you can't guess who comes out on top? That's right the Minister. Even if the normal taxpayer was the director of a labor organization that helped thousands of workers or some other non-profit organization like the Red Cross that provides real aid to people, see how Ministers unfairly fare better than us.

One note though on the writer's statement about how Ministers can opt out of paying FICA but then can't get benefits. This was raised in a New York Times article a couple of years back that reported that when a large enough number of Ministers from really poor churches reach retirement age and are forced to go without social security benefits, they have successfully lobbied Congress to grant them benefits without ever paying into the plan.

Outer Brightness » Blog Archive » Ministers and Federal Subsidies

SH

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

The Wingnuts and the Two Travelers ~~ A Fractured Aesop Fable

Two men, one who always spoke the truth and the other who told nothing but lies, were traveling together and by chance came to the land of Wingnuts. One of the Wingnuts, who had raised herself to be queen, commanded them to be seized and brought before her, that she might know what was said of her among men.

She ordered at the same time that all the Wingnuts be arranged in a long row on her right hand and on her left, and that a throne be placed for her, as was the custom among men. After these preparations she signified that the two men should be brought before her, and greeted them with this salutation: "What sort of a queen do I seem to you to be, O strangers?" The Lying Traveler replied, "You seem to me a most mighty queen." "And what is your estimate of those you see around me?" "These," he made answer, "are worthy companions of yourself, fit at least to be ambassadors and leaders of armies." The Queen Wingnut and all her court, gratified with the lie, commanded that a handsome present be given to the flatterer.

On this the truthful Traveler thought to himself, "If so great a reward be given for a lie, with what gift may not I be rewarded, if, according to my custom, I tell the truth?" The Wingnut quickly turned to him. "And pray how do I and these my friends around me seem to you?" "Thou art," he said, "a most excellent Wingnut, and all these thy companions after thy example are excellent Wingnuts too." The Queen of the Wingnuts, enraged at hearing these truths, gave him over to the teeth, claws and Second Amendment remedies of her companions.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Can we give God back his gifts?

Sam Brownback is Kansas' two term Christian Republican 'C Street House' resident Senator and now is their Religious Far Right Zealot Governor. The boy even declared his inauguration day a 'gift from God' and his faith would heal the state's financial  and social problems.

Now I've heard of conceited, and I've heard of monumental egos before, Hell, I've even heard that the kind of pride or vanity expressed by Governor Brownback is a deadly sin, but to openly declare yourself a gift from God? Now that takes a kind of vanity that can only stem from a conceited monumental ego so large even God couldn't imagine it.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Obama Is Funding Religion Versus Science For The Next Two Year

I keep hoping we can find someone somewhere who can smack the President up side his head and knock some common sense into him. First he agrees to go along with the paid representatives of corporate interests and extend tax cuts for the top billionaires. Then, to offset the loss in revenue, he announces as his only spending cut that he will freeze his employees salaries for two years. In addition, he fails to mention that he continues to fund faith-based initiatives. So, while President Obama continues to pay Pat Robertson for prayers to keep hurricanes from striking the East Coast, he is also reducing the pay of the actual scientists hired to forecast and provide lifesaving warnings of all severe weather events that strike our North American Continent.

Like I said, can we please find someone who can knock a little common sense back into our President? Funding religion but not science is just not rational public policy.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Anti-Choice Pharmacist Refused Drugs to Bleeding Woman

Anti-Choice Pharmacist Refused Drugs to Bleeding Woman AlterNet

A woman walks into a pharmacy with a prescription to stop bleeding from doctors at Planned Parenthood. Before filling the script, the pharmacist calls Planned Parenthood and speaks with a nurse. The pharmacist wants the nurse to assure him the script is not for bleeding after termination of a pregnancy.

The nurse is of course barred from giving out patient health records, so the pharmacist refuses to fulfill the script without assurances that an abortion has not taken place. When he is asked to suggest another pharmacy that will fulfill the script, the pharmacist hangs up.



This little melodrama is brought to us by those friendly folks of the religious right wingnut variety. A pharmacist whose conscience not only forbids him from fulfilling aborticides, but also forbids him from fulfilling meds that stop bleeding after the fact.

And these people have nerve to claim they are concerned with an unborn fetus and the woman. They are clearly only misogynist.

SH

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Gingrich Front Group Calls For Punishing Judges By Eliminating Their Court

ThinkProgress » Gingrich Front Group Calls For Punishing Judges By Eliminating Their Court

It's time for the Ninth to go. That is the conclusion of ReAL Action chair Rick Tyler and Newt Gingrich.

Why, you might ask? Well it seems that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the anti-establishment clause of the First Amendment again. It seems that Christian right wing zealots don't think placing Christian symbols all over federal property is an example of establishing religious thought in America. You know, just turn your head away if you see something you don't like.

It appears they can't always take their own advice though. When Don Wildmon in Mississippi heard something on the radio he didn't like, he complained to the FCC. That was a lot more work than just turning the left knob on the radio to another station or turning the right knob that turns the radio off. Then again it isn't nearly as profitable as making a big stink over something you hear on the radio you don't like and then raising lots of money by creating a furor over it.

But back to our idea of eliminating the Ninth Circuit by ReAL Action. Tyler states, "It’s time for this country to ask: 'If they’re so out of touch with the First Amendment, why are we continuing to employ them as judges?'" But are they so out of touch with the First Amendment? Not really, but it does make a really big furor for ReAL Action to raise lots of money off of, doesn't it? And that, after all, is the whole purpose here. Rick Tyler couldn't care less about a cross on a hill near San Diego, CA, or the First Amendment, or the Wingnuts who will send him money over this issue.

Dingell Recites Litany Of Violent Rhetoric

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

New Theory for Tucson Tragedy: Blame the Atheists | Religion Dispatches


Gee, how did I know it would wind up being our fault? I guess because we get the blame for everything bad that happens here. Well, us and the lesbian and gay community who of course killed all those birds in Arkansas. I don't know how but I digress. We atheists are to blame over all the other talk. Oh yea, and we're all liberals. Which will of course come as quite a shock to all those atheit Ayn Rand libertarians.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Need a list of crazy? Attend Awakening 2011

Need an up to date list of crazy wingnuts? Got it for you right here. As they say repeatedly:  Remember, the BIBLE is the government of the people, by the people, for the people.

The mentally disturbed have never been this outspoken in America. Our survival as a nation and a democratic republic is in serious jeapardy. We really need to learn as much as we can about these activists. So see you at the Awakening 2011.


Awakening 2011: Another Chance for GOP Political Leaders To Bond With Religious Right Activists Right Wing Watch

Monday, January 10, 2011

I Fired Pelosi, Guess Who Is Next Tee Shirt By The GOP

The GOP is hawking its message on its internet site. Among the products with their choice of values expressed is one that is extremely inappropriate. I Fired Pelosi Tee Guess Who's Next tee shirts, mugs, and tote bags.

Well, we don't have to guess who was next. We found out in Tucson Arizona on June 9th.

I can't believe they didn't take down this horrible product with its disgusting message.

SH

The Really Silly Constitution of the United States

David Cole might call this the Conservative Constitution, but it isn't conservative. It is down right damn silly and would definitely be enacted by the Silly Party of America.

Where is the Rational Party of America? Why are there so few actually rational politicians in America? You really have to look very hard to find any.

SH

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Why hasn't Guiliani, Ridge, Mukasey, and Townsend been executed for treason?

"When you commit treason against the United States of America, particularly at a time when the U.S. is in peril of attack and further attack, I believe the death penalty is the appropriate remedy to consider."  Rudy Guiliani

On December 22, 2010, Rudy Guiliani, Tom Ridge (Bush's Secretary of Fatherland Security), Michael Mukasey (Bush's Attorney General) and Frances Fragos Townsend (Bush's National Security Advisor) were in Paris giving aid and assistance to a 13 year listed foreign terrorist organization. All four were in foreign country critizing their own country's policies and advocating aid for the Mujaheddin-e Khalq (MEK). the MEK is not only a communist terrorist organization, but one that has murdered American military servicemen and citizens. Finally, the US Supreme Court just recently held that the activities engaged in were illegal.

According to the Federation of American Scientists, "The MEK philosophy mixes Marxism and Islam. Formed in the 1960s, the organization was expelled from Iran after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, and its primary support came from the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein since the late 1980s. The MEK’s history is filled with anti-Western attacks as well as terrorist attacks on the interests of the clerical regime in Iran and abroad. The MEK now advocates the overthrow of the Iranian regime and its replacement with the group’s own leadership. Activities:  The group’s worldwide campaign against the Iranian Government stresses propaganda and occasionally uses terrorism. During the 1970s, the MEK killed US military personnel and US civilians working on defense projects in Tehran and supported the takeover in 1979 of the US Embassy in Tehran."



So why hasn't current Attorney General Holder not arrested these four traitors?

Friday, January 7, 2011

2nd Arizona Patient Dies After State Budget Cuts Deny Transplant

2nd Arizona Patient Dies After State Budget Cuts Deny Transplant

Arizona is killing its citizens by denying them health care. The Republicans in charge state they can't afford Medicaid for their residents and cut funding for it. Funny, they don't mention cutting the number of prisoners in the state. This little state is 13th in the country in number of state and Federal prisoners with 32,515. They can afford to lock up 32 and a half thousand people year after year, but they have to create Arizona Death Panels for those on Medicaid. Republican Party, the one that advocates FAMILY Values, you know, like Death Panels for the poor.

Defending Christians Means Rejecting Ethics and Advocating Hate


Defend Christians Organization top ten government anti-Christian acts for 2010 includes a private organization that informs the public of hate organizations throughout the United States has included Wingnut Christian organizations like Defend Christians for its homophobic positions. Other anti-Christian acts include appointing a Jewish lawyer to the US Supreme Court, the death of two black men by a third on the mean streets of Florida, two women who couldn't keep their personal likes and dislikes to themselves and follow their chosen educational field's stated ethical code, and my personal favorite, anti-employment discrimination is anti-Christian cause everyone knows there is no such thing as TOLERANCE in the right-wing world of Christianity.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

When will we have had enough?

18 Anti-Gay Groups and Their Propaganda Southern Poverty Law Center

Friends of ours like Tony Perkins is identified in this report as heading a hate organization dedicated to fighting Gay and Lesbians in the United States. The Christians spreading love where ever they go in this world and people dying from it all over the world. Catholics spread their special love in Africa and millions die from HIV from not being able to wear condoms. Christians spread their love around the world and millions of women die each year from the Mexico City Protocols stopping them from receiving life-saving reproductive health care. Christians spread their love here and hate crimes are commited all over the nation against people just because of some homophobic Christians. When will we have had enough?

The body of Christ contaminated with Hepatitis at Our Lady of Lourdes

Hepatitis Scare Hits Nassau Church After Wafers' Exposure at Christmas Masses - NYTimes.com

1,300 parishioners were exposed when someone with Hepatitis A handled the communion wafers fed to attendees of two Christmas Masses. Those wafers, as I understand it, are considered the body of Christ.

So Christ is guilty of forcing 1,300 worshirpers of having to get vacinated. Next time you go to the home of some god watch out for Hepatitis. You've been warned.

Monday, January 3, 2011

IHOP Drops Suits Against IHOP | Right Wing Watch

IHOP Drops Suits Against IHOP Right Wing Watch

Too cool. Pancakes versus Prayer.

IHOP (International House of Pancakes) is in mediation with IHOP (International House of Prayer) and decides to drop suit filed in September to get IHOP to stop using its acronym. Actually, I always see way more cars parked at the pancake shops than the prayer places around town.

Lou Engle's War on the Supreme Court | Right Wing Watch

Lou Engle's War on the Supreme Court Right Wing Watch

I was wondering why anyone would appoint an out and out dirty liar like John Roberts to the US Supreme Court. Now I know. Crazy Christian Wingnuts like this Lou Engle prayed for a really low-down pants-on-fire liar to be nominated and confirmed.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

ThinkProgress » 2010 Closes With Yet More Killer Climate Disasters

ThinkProgress » 2010 Closes With Yet More Killer Climate Disasters

The following groups say the danger of human-caused climate change is a ... FACT:

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration National Institute of Standards and Technology United States Department of Defense United States Department of Energy National Institutes of Health United States Department of State United States Department of Transportation U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Environmental Protection Agency University Corporation for Atmospheric Research National Center for Atmospheric Research National Aeronautics & Space Administration National Science Foundation Smithsonian Institution International Arctic Science Committee Arctic Council U.S. Agency for International Development United States Department of Agriculture African Academy of Sciences Australian Academy of Sciences Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Sciences and the Arts Academia Brasileira de Ciéncias Cameroon Academy of Sciences Royal Society of Canada Caribbean Academy of Sciences Chinese Academy of Sciences Académie des Sciences, France Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina of Germany Indonesian Academy of Sciences Royal Irish Academy Accademia nazionale delle scienze of Italy Indian National Science Academy Science Council of Japan Kenya National Academy of Sciences Madagascar’s National Academy of Arts, Letters and Sciences Academy of Sciences Malaysia Academia Mexicana de Ciencias Nigerian Academy of Sciences Royal Society of New Zealand Polish Academy of Sciences Russian Academy of Sciences l’Académie des Sciences et Techniques du Sénégal Academy of Science of South Africa Sudan Academy of Sciences Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Tanzania Academy of Sciences Turkish Academy of Sciences Uganda National Academy of Sciences The Royal Society of the United Kingdom National Academy of Sciences, United States Zambia Academy of Sciences Zimbabwe Academy of Science American Academy of Pediatrics American Association for the Advancement of Science American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians American Astronomical Society American Chemical Society American College of Preventive Medicine American Geophysical Union American Institute of Physics American Medical Association American Meteorological Society American Physical Society American Public Health Association American Quaternary Association American Institute of Biological Sciences American Society of Agronomy American Society for Microbiology American Society of Plant Biologists American Statistical Association Association of Ecosystem Research Centers Botanical Society of America Crop Science Society of America Ecological Society of America Federation of American Scientists Geological Society of America National Association of Geoscience Teachers Natural Science Collections Alliance Organization of Biological Field Stations Society of American Foresters Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Society of Systematic Biologists Soil Science Society of America Australian Coral Reef Society Australian Medical Association Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society Engineers Australia Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies Geological Society of Australia British Antarctic Survey Institute of Biology, UK Royal Meteorological Society, UK Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society European Federation of Geologists European Geosciences Union European Physical Society European Science Foundation International Association for Great Lakes Research International Union for Quaternary Research International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change World Federation of Public Health Associations World Health Organization World Meteorological Organization

The following groups profess doubts or say the danger of human-caused climate change is a ... FRAUD:

American Petroleum Institute US Chamber of Commerce National Association of Manufacturers Competitive Enterprise Institute Industrial Minerals Association National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Great Northern Project Development Rosebud Mining Massey Energy Alpha Natural Resources Southeastern Legal Foundation Georgia Agribusiness Council Georgia Motor Trucking Association Corn Refiners Association National Association of Home Builders National Oilseed Processors Association National Petrochemical and Refiners Association Western States Petroleum Association


SH

ThinkProgress » REPORT: Henry Kissinger’s Long History Of Complicity In Human Rights Abuses

ThinkProgress: Henry Kissinger’s Long History Of Complicity In Human Rights Abuses