July 16, 2015

Trump says Rick Perry did ‘terrible job’ securing border, Perry says Trump offering ‘toxic nonsense'

Donald Trump says Rick Perry did ‘terrible job’ securing border, Perry says Trump offering ‘toxic nonsense’

The Donald Trump/Rick Perry feud is intensifying.

Last night Trump took a hard swing at Perry, telling a television audience that the former Texas governor did a “terrible” job securing the state’s border with Mexico.

“Gov. Perry did a terrible job,” Trump told Sean Hannity on Fox News. “When he was governor of Texas he could have done a lot better in terms of securing the border. He did a terrible job.”

Trump’s attack on Perry begins at the nine-minute mark of the video posted above.

Read more: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/07/donald-trump-says-rick-perry-did-terrible-job-securing-border.html/

July 16, 2015

In response to Planned Parenthood video, anti-abortion activists rally at site of New Orleans clinic

At a rally in response to a video that allegedly shows a Planned Parenthood executive discussing fetal organ donation, local anti-abortion activists said they want to know how the group plans to run a New Orleans clinic that's under construction on South Claiborne Avenue.

More than 20 people gathered Wednesday (July 15) at the site of Planned Parenthood's proposed clinic. The group has said it will offer women's health services, and has applied for a permit to perform abortions.

Over the rumbling of construction equipment, protesters stood with signs that read "Planned Parenthood Sells Baby Body Parts" and "Expose Planned Parenthood."

"This video that was released shows us that we need to investigate what Planned Parenthood is going to be doing here," said Ben Clapper, the executive director of Louisiana Right to Life. "We know that they're going to be selling abortions...here at this place. Will they also be selling the organs of these little babies that have been aborted?"

Read more: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/07/planned_parenthood_video_rally.html#incart_river

July 16, 2015

I almost made a major gaffe...

I was ready to cross-post a thread and say that it was also in the Good Reams forum.

July 16, 2015

War Profiteers Are Behind GOP’s Opposition to Iran Agreement

By Carol Morgan

The reactions to yesterday’s Iran agreement fell into two columns:

1. Those who celebrate the possibility of peace through mediation.

2. Those whose donor-patrons stand to lose money unless America starts new wars in faraway places.

Let’s face it, Dick Cheney and Haliburton didn’t get rich off of peace. They made $39 BILLION from Iraq, a war that was deliberately based upon a lie.

When you’re a defense contractor like Lockheed-Martin and 89 percent of your company profits are from government contracts, peace cuts into your bottom line.

It’s no secret that individuals and PAC’s associated with the defense sector contributed more than $27 million to political candidates and committees in the 2012 campaign cycle, with more going to Republicans than Democrats: $16.4 million versus $11 million.

Their lobbying presence is formidable, having spent $132 million in their efforts to make a tidy profit from fear and war. The defense sector is a lucrative seat of power and it’s one in which you rarely get your hands dirty, although in the beginning, you might lose a little sleep at night. They say you get used to it after awhile...

The Chicken Littles in column number two aren’t remotely concerned with peace or war, just money. That’s it. Money is always the underlying motivation. If you understand that concept, then the actions and rhetoric of the GOP are easy to understand.

It's a GOP self-protection policy.

If they don’t feed the animals, the animals get cranky.

One of the loudest complainers, Arkansas’ Tom Cotton vows that Congress will kill the Iran Deal, but if you look closely, Rotten Cotton was elected with $2.1 million from donors who want to kill the deal as well.

They use unquestioning patriotism as a manipulation. If you bomb and occupy third world Middle Eastern countries you love America, but if you negotiate peace, you hate America. Got that?

It reminds me a little of the crazed Major T.J. “King” Kong, played by Slim Pickens in the sixties cult classic, Dr. Strangelove.

They utilize fear a lot. Americans are very suggestible to fear because it’s been used repeatedly as a corporate strategy to manipulate American’s behavior and their voting habits.

Republicans attempt to portray Iran as a nation of scowling bearded men who still don thobes, Bedouin headdresses and smoke from hookahs. They want Americans to regard Iran through that 1979 prism. It’s cheesier than a B-movie written by an amateur screenwriter.

It’s not like that at all. Here's the real truth: The present cabinet of Iran has more American university graduates than any other government in the world. Really…look it up.

And…coincidentally, the GOP's Scott Walker has no degree at all...

The only individual whose response made sense was Senator Bernie Sanders. He was succinct and positive: "This is a victory for diplomacy over saber-rattling."

Just for once, can we give peace a chance? At least, temporarily?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carol Morgan is a career/college counselor, a freelance writer, and former Democratic candidate for the Texas House. She is the award-winning author of two books: Of Tapestry, Time and Tears and Liberal in Lubbock. Email Carol at [email protected] , follow her on Twitter and on Facebook or visit her writer’s blog at www.carolmorgan.org

http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/carol-morgan/2015-07-15/war-profiteers-are-behind-gop%E2%80%99s-opposition-iran-agreement#.VadBt_kT91M

Permission granted by Ms. Morgan to post her blog in its entirety.

Cross-posted in the Texas Group.

July 16, 2015

War Profiteers Are Behind GOP’s Opposition to Iran Agreement

By Carol Morgan

The reactions to yesterday’s Iran agreement fell into two columns:

1. Those who celebrate the possibility of peace through mediation.

2. Those whose donor-patrons stand to lose money unless America starts new wars in faraway places.

Let’s face it, Dick Cheney and Haliburton didn’t get rich off of peace. They made $39 BILLION from Iraq, a war that was deliberately based upon a lie.

When you’re a defense contractor like Lockheed-Martin and 89 percent of your company profits are from government contracts, peace cuts into your bottom line.

It’s no secret that individuals and PAC’s associated with the defense sector contributed more than $27 million to political candidates and committees in the 2012 campaign cycle, with more going to Republicans than Democrats: $16.4 million versus $11 million.

Their lobbying presence is formidable, having spent $132 million in their efforts to make a tidy profit from fear and war. The defense sector is a lucrative seat of power and it’s one in which you rarely get your hands dirty, although in the beginning, you might lose a little sleep at night. They say you get used to it after awhile...

The Chicken Littles in column number two aren’t remotely concerned with peace or war, just money. That’s it. Money is always the underlying motivation. If you understand that concept, then the actions and rhetoric of the GOP are easy to understand.

It's a GOP self-protection policy.

If they don’t feed the animals, the animals get cranky.

One of the loudest complainers, Arkansas’ Tom Cotton vows that Congress will kill the Iran Deal, but if you look closely, Rotten Cotton was elected with $2.1 million from donors who want to kill the deal as well.

They use unquestioning patriotism as a manipulation. If you bomb and occupy third world Middle Eastern countries you love America, but if you negotiate peace, you hate America. Got that?

It reminds me a little of the crazed Major T.J. “King” Kong, played by Slim Pickens in the sixties cult classic, Dr. Strangelove.

They utilize fear a lot. Americans are very suggestible to fear because it’s been used repeatedly as a corporate strategy to manipulate American’s behavior and their voting habits.

Republicans attempt to portray Iran as a nation of scowling bearded men who still don thobes, Bedouin headdresses and smoke from hookahs. They want Americans to regard Iran through that 1979 prism. It’s cheesier than a B-movie written by an amateur screenwriter.

It’s not like that at all. Here's the real truth: The present cabinet of Iran has more American university graduates than any other government in the world. Really…look it up.

And…coincidentally, the GOP's Scott Walker has no degree at all...

The only individual whose response made sense was Senator Bernie Sanders. He was succinct and positive: "This is a victory for diplomacy over saber-rattling."

Just for once, can we give peace a chance? At least, temporarily?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carol Morgan is a career/college counselor, a freelance writer, and former Democratic candidate for the Texas House. She is the award-winning author of two books: Of Tapestry, Time and Tears and Liberal in Lubbock. Email Carol at [email protected] , follow her on Twitter and on Facebook or visit her writer’s blog at www.carolmorgan.org

http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/carol-morgan/2015-07-15/war-profiteers-are-behind-gop%E2%80%99s-opposition-iran-agreement#.VadBt_kT91M

Permission granted by Ms. Morgan to post her blog in its entirety.

Cross-posted in the Good Reads forum.

July 16, 2015

Architect of Texas Gold Depository Says it Will Kill Off Fed

Many Texans are not nuts, and don’t have much interaction with the state’s many honorable nuts in day-to-day life. So when the words “Jade Helm” became a buzzword in Texas back in May thanks in part to Gov. Greg Abbott, a lot of people were shocked. It was a moment in which people who don’t pay much attention to politics noticed that there was something a little sickly about the state’s political culture.

But the sensuous interplay between the truly fringe and the actually powerful is a constant in Texas, and it has a real impact on the policies the state implements even if it doesn’t usually burst into the public consciousness. Take the interview state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake) did with radio host Rick Wiles on Friday, in which Capriglione basked in praise for his plan to destroy the Federal Reserve with precious metals, as if he were Auric Goldfinger. It’s the latest installment in a long-running love affair powerful state figures have with marginal economic theories.

Wiles, a Christian talk show host with an apocalypse fetish, runs Trunews, which he unironically describes as an “anti-newscast.” Wiles recently earned recognition for announcing that he was renouncing his American citizenship thanks to the country’s embrace of “lewdness, sorcery, witchcraft and rebellion” against God’s laws. He highlights “ancient prophecies,” cooks them together with an easy-bake oven version of Christian teachings, and cribs from Alex Jones. He foreshadows the imminent end of the world, then begs for donations.

Capriglione, meanwhile, is a rising member of the Republican establishment. He’s also a goldbug whose main accomplishment after two terms is the passage of a bill creating a Texas gold depository, which would allow gold owned by the University of Texas’ endowment fund to be returned from the heathen land, New York City. In 2013, it was one of the most colorfully ludicrous ideas before the Legislature, and Capriglione was reduced to passing out chocolate gold coins on the floor of the House to try to win support.

Read more: http://www.texasobserver.org/architect-of-texas-gold-depository-says-it-will-kill-off-fed/

July 16, 2015

Live Oak County Clerk Puts Off Issuing Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Until She Can Retire

[font color=maroon]Full Disclosure: Karen Irving's husband, Bruce, is a Southern Baptist preacher. Bruce Irving remains the pastor of the church I attended during high school and college. He also made reference to Texas A&M in nearly every service which is why I laugh at nearly every Aggie joke that I hear or read.[/font]


Karen Irving

GEORGE WEST -- One Texas county clerk appears to have conveniently delayed issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples until she could retire.

Live Oak County Clerk Karen Irving (right) is retiring effective today, and she said her departure is due to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of same-sex marriage.

The Texas Observer reports:

“Due to the latest Supreme Court decision which is contrary to my personal beliefs, I cannot uphold the oath which I made when I took office,” Irving wrote in an email to other county clerks across the state on Monday.

Nineteen days after the high court’s ruling, Live Oak County—situated between San Antonio and Corpus Christi and home to 12,000 people—hasn’t issued any marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Irving, whose last day is today, told the Observer her office has been waiting on technical updates but should be prepared to serve same-sex couples later this week.

“We’ll be up and ready to go tomorrow afternoon and for sure on Friday, unless there’s a glitch with the vendor, but I don’t think there will be,” she said.

What a coincidence! The day after Irving retires, the county will finally be prepared to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. It certainly makes you wonder whether there were really “technical” issues, or she was just stalling until she could give her two-weeks notice.

Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2015/07/texas-county-clerk-puts-off-issuing-sex-marriage-licenses-can-retire/

Texas Observer report: http://www.texasobserver.org/second-county-clerk-steps-down-over-gay-marriage-licenses/

July 16, 2015

Dez Bryant signs long-term deal with Cowboys just before Wednesday’s deadline

While discussing Dez Bryant’s contract situation last month, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones acknowledged that deadlines can make deals.

That proved to be the case on Wednesday as the Cowboys signed their All-Pro wide receiver to a long-term contract.

The deal is worth $70 million over five years, with $45 million guaranteed, according to Dallas Morning News sources. The team tweeted out a photo of Bryant signing the contract.

The signing bonus is worth $20 million, according to sources.

Read more: http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2015/07/reports-dez-bryant-agrees-to-long-term-deal-with-cowboys-just-before-wednesdays-headline.html/

July 16, 2015

Police: Cobra missing after man dies of possible snakebite

A cobra snake is missing from the Temple home of a teenage pet shop employee who died in North Austin Tuesday night after possibly being bitten by a snake.

At 9:37 p.m., Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services and Austin police found 18-year-old Grant Thompson in a Lowe’s parking lot on 13000 North Interstate 35 with puncture wounds on his wrist. Thompson was in cardiac arrest and was unresponsive, according to police.

-snip-

Medics found several contained animals in the car, including a snake, tarantulas and a bullfrog.

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/police-cobra-missing-after-man-dies-of-possible-sn/nmzWC/ (subscription required).

July 16, 2015

Two men kicked out of Camp Swift say everything looks normal (Jade Helm 15 related)

Photo: Jay Janner
A convoy of National Guard troops moves Wednesday on Camp Swift, which is also hosting the Operation Jade Helm 15 military exercise in Bastrop. The National Guard’s exercises are separate from the Jade Helm operation, which is not expected to involve tanks.


BASTROP — 1:45 p.m. update: Two men who said they are in Bastrop to document Jade Helm 15 drove through Camp Swift on Wednesday and were escorted out.

The two, Derrick Broze of Houston and Mark Jankins of Round Rock, said they saw nothing that seemed out of the ordinary for a National Guard post. More generally, Jankins said, standing in the parking lot across from a post entrance, “We just thought we would came out and see what’s going on, as opposed to having people tell us what’s going on, and tell us the United Nations is coming in or something like that.”

Broze, who has a blog and a book titled “The Conscious Resistance,” said he does not believe the conspiracy theories about Jade Helm. But he said he thinks civilian documentation is important to quell fears founded in what he considers excess militarization of law enforcement and surveillance of the civilian population.

“There’s a perfectly legitimate reason for people to fear their government will see them as the enemy,” he said.

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/aside-from-a-few-spottings-jade-helm-15-off-to-qui/nmzHd/