The Party of No

from the DNC web site:



At every step, the Republican Party has chosen obstruction over progress. As House Republican Whip Eric Cantor told the Washington Post, the Republican Party’s approach to the Obama agenda is “just saying no.”

On February 26, President Obama proposed a groundbreaking federal budget that will end fiscal gimmickry, restore honesty and accountability to the process, and make critical investments to rebuild and renew America. But Republicans continue to just say no. "No," they will not support the President’s plan. And, more importantly, "no" they will not present an alternative of their own.

... check out the "Nope" clock and run your cursor over the Republican leaders.

The news, as it used to be

... or check the video on YouTube after the click.

An Insider's Look At How Ayn Rand Destroyed The World

by Lee Stranahan on HuffPo

I know my Ayn Rand. In fact, when it comes to Rand and her philosophy of Objectivism I'll put put my Ayn Cred up against almost anyone.

I attended her funeral in 1982. I was one of two students at experimental Objectivist high school back in 1980s. I did the audio taping on a lecture course taught by her 'intellectual heir', Leonard Peikoff. I've attended Objectivist conferences, owned first edition copies of Atlas Shrugged and I was personally kicked off the lawn of the Canadian power trio Rush's drummer by Neil Peart himself asserting his property rights.

Today, I realize that Rand's philosophy isn't just wrong or misguided - it's actually been destructive and dangerous.

... read the rest of the piece after the click.

and it's 1, 2, 3, what are we fightin' for?

Student facing 20 years in hell

The Independent (UK)

Sayed Pervez Kambaksh, the student journalist sentenced to death for blasphemy in Afghanistan, has been told he will spend the next 20 years in jail after the country's highest court ruled against him – without even hearing his defence.

The 23-year-old, brought to worldwide attention after an Independent campaign, was praying that Afghanistan's top judges would quash his conviction for lack of evidence, or because he was tried in secret and convicted without a defence lawyer. Instead, almost 18 months after he was arrested for allegedly circulating an article about women's rights, any hope of justice and due process evaporated amid gross irregularities, allegations of corruption and coercion at the Supreme Court. Justices issued their decision in secret, without letting Mr Kambaksh's lawyer submit so much as a word in his defence.

... read the rest in The Independent after the click.

Less Religious?

quoting from John Cole on Balloon Juice:

When it comes to religion, the USA is now land of the freelancers.

The percentage. of people who call themselves in some way Christian has dropped more than 11% in a generation. The faithful have scattered out of their traditional bases: The Bible Belt is less Baptist. The Rust Belt is less Catholic. And everywhere, more people are exploring spiritual frontiers — or falling off the faith map completely.

... more on Balloon Juice after the click.

My comment: John ends the piece with a stellar observation that I think makes a great reference to Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Reverend Haggard and quite a few other Bible thumpers:

"For an omnipotent and omniscient being, God has made some really lousy earthly staffing decisions."

Thought for the day

from Quotes of the Day

"Absolute faith corrupts as absolutely as absolute power."

-- Eric Hoffer