The purchase of Congressional influence by the pay day lenders makes the point for OWS. Before they had to buy Republicans, they bought Democrats. For most politicians, it's all about the money (fund raising) and not ideology. They are equal oopportunists. So, Congress goes to the highest bidder. Is this news? To whom?

Jesus made the comment those without sin cast the first stone. Now this is a big comment, but why did he say that. When we look at it, we see these men wanted to stone a woman to death for some assumed sin that she did. But really who did put her into that situation? Well we all know who did and that was narrow minded men not allowing any woman to be what they could be to their full potential by having a made up concept that does not work. The men themselves were hypocrites and were taught and conditioned to be the way they were and continued down a path of destructive behavior. Jesus knew too well that there were many things that were wrong on what was being done to people and mainly for the purpose of power and control over these people. Jesus supported the woman’s cause as she was put into despair by the very society that dictated these false concepts and he stood against these very men for what they had done to women. Now there is something much greater than us that people refer to as God, but at the same time we need to learn what it is really to be a good Christian and not be led by hypocrites. There are always better solutions and answers as we explore our world, especially with our increased knowledge of good science. And it is always good to really learn what God is really about as God is equally for women as God is for men. And all people regardless of who they are have rights, equality, choices and freedoms that should be allowed them.

Honestly, what in the heck is wrong with Willard, first off don't insult the food set in front of you, and then don't turn to the woman next to you and ask if she baked them. There is so much wrong with this whole little scene it's pitiful. The guy is just such a doofus! Sure Willard of course it's the woman who had or hadn't baked them, because we all know in 2012 no man is ever in the kitchen! Really, someone needs to sit him in front of a t.v. for about a week before he will even have the start of understanding the American people, what we do, how we eat, where we work, what we do for fun, how we raise our children the guy is so clueless.

Still getting over Rachel's appearance on that Bravo show last night. Not sure I like that show, but she handled it with her usual flair.

Congress is furious at the Secret Service for consorting with hookers, which has traditionally been Congress's role.

Unless I missed it, I'm surprised show staff haven't linked to Aljazeera's report on the BP Gulf oil spill effects on seafood. The show spent forever and a day on the spill.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/04/201241682318260912.html

http://gizmodo.com/5903021/bp-oil-spill-aftermath-eyeless-shrimp-clawless-crabs-and-fish-with-oozing-sores

The few images are gruesome.

"You don't mind giving in to temptation as long as no one knows/Your midnight invitation where your madness flows/Fires of passion rage all the night/Angels falling out of the light" - Kansas, "Secret Service"

This Keystone Pipline thing has me puzzled a bit. Perhaps some jobs will be created during construction, but all the oil goes to the gulf so it can be shipped overseas, is it not? More oil company profits, and we will still have to import oil to meet energy needs. Um, I'm confused as to the great benefits this potential environmental nightmare brings us.

Good morning, everyone.

Yesterday, Pennsylvania Republican Governor Tom Corbett, who pushed a State law that all women get an ultra-scan to morally view their baby before seeking an abortion, endorsed Mitt Romney for President.

Democrats need to get the message out to Republican women in Pennsylvania, whom are old enough for this procedure not to apply to them, that Romney and the GOP are, wittingly or unwittingly, endorsing Pennsylvania Republican’s to buy-out their Republican Constituents moral support towards younger women whom the procedure does apply to, with more tax cuts.

I do not know why women in Pennsylvania do not tell religious organizations affiliated with pushing this law to tank their financial support for the poor, and both of our political parties, because we do not need their money if it means we have to put up with this type of influence.

In the meanwhile, the Catholic Church recently put out a statement saying that ‘our government’ is not paying out enough money towards the poor to spend. Apparently, the Catholic Church thinks it does not have enough money to give, and take, from the poor. It looks to me, ladies, like, the Catholic Church might think it ‘needs’ the money from these procedures while possibly pushing a Jesus-will-physically-force-you agenda…yeah…as much as some Catholic ministers ‘need’ a vasectomy from our agenda.

I encourage all women in Pennsylvania, to currently not accept any help or money from any of these affiliated religious organizations, if they can, in protest.

Thank you, or shall we all say, tank you

Please, let people of both parties join the Occupy Wall Street Movement; there is a common pride in our country.

Romney's Cookiegate. After watching this pitiful excuse of a human being for several months now, it's finally clear what his core difficulty is: he has absolutely no class.

Aren't the employees and especially the Host of the Rachel Maddow Show beginning to feel a little hypocritical for spreading Exxon Oil's propaganda all for the sake of advertising revenue? What's wrong with MSNBC? I used to be able to escape the "oil" message your show spurts out at nearly every commercial by watching clips on the Internet. Now even that is infected with the "clean oil" message. All I can say is I'm seriously disappointed in you Rachel but instead of leaving your show, I'm going to become a royal pain in your oil stained ass. I'm going to show the world what hypocrits MSNBC (which unfortunately includes you Rachel) really are and how you honor the almighty dollar to the exclusion of the truth about the big oil companies and the lies and pollution they are pumping into our stratosphere!

Cry and then get mad! There is no such thing as "ethical oil". Just like "clean coal", ethical oil is a myth, a story or campaign to confuse us and make us feel more comfortable with our fix while the pusher makes his money. This is a sad state of affairs we find ourselves in today. I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore! Only the truth can dispel the myth.

MYTH:

According to Donohue and TransCanada (the company overseeing the KXL project), construction of the pipeline would create 20,000 manufacturing and construction jobs, and 119,000 jobs total (indirect and direct).

FACT:

Cornell University just released a study finding that the pipeline would create no more than 2,500-4,650 temporary direct construction jobs for two years and that “the industry’s claim that KXL will create 119,000 total jobs is based on a flawed and poorly documented study commissioned by TransCanada (The Perryman Group study).”

http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/globallaborinstitute/research/upload/GLI_KeystoneXL_Reportpdf.pdf

Note: The energy security and economic growth that we’re in need of can already be found in clean, renewable energy development—green jobs already employ more people in America than oil or gas jobs combined.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2011/0718/Report-More-Americans-have-green-jobs-than-oil-or-gas-jobs

MYTH:

The Keystone XL pipeline will be good for the American economy.

FACT:

The same Cornell study found that if the pipeline is constructed, oil already being sent to midwest refineries will be diverted to the Gulf for export, and fuel prices in 15 states will increase as a result—thus negating any minor positive economic impacts that “job creation” would bring from the project.

MYTH:

Obtaining tar sands oil from Canada will reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

FACT:

Keystone XL is an export pipeline. Oil Change International reports that, based on information from industry documents, “the Port Arthur, Texas, refiners at the end of its route are focused on expanding exports to Europe, and Latin America. Much of the fuel refined from the pipeline’s heavy crude oil will never reach U.S. drivers’ tanks.

http://priceofoil.org/2011/08/31/report-exporting-energy-security-keystone-xl-exposed/

MYTH:

Keystone XL pipeline technology will meet or exceed world-class safety and environmental standards, and will pose minimal risk to the environment.

FACT:

TransCanada’s first Keystone pipeline, in operation since 2010, has already had 12 spills since last year, with one “six-story geyser” dumping 21,000 gallons of oil in North Dakota.

http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/08/17/297576/oil-spills-transcanada-keystone-xl-pipeline/

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_dae7b66e-e0c5-5677-9acd-0773efb0d8d1.html

http://chamber.350.org/2011/10/truths-about-the-keystone-xl-the-u-s-chamber-does-not-want-you-to-hear/screen-shot-2011-10-05-at-12-07-07-pm/

There is a marked lack of independent, peer-reviewed scientific research demonstrating that transporting the tar sands crude oil using conventional oil pipeline technology is actually safe. The “DilBit” crude oil is more corrosive than regular oil, and it would be thinned with other petroleum condensates and then pumped at high pressure and at a temperature of more than 150 degrees through the pipeline. “A new TransCanada pipeline that began carrying diluted bitumen last year has already had nine spills.” -NY Times Editorial

http://www.boldnebraska.org/pipelineupdate_nytimes#ny%20times

Even if the Keystone XL pipeline never ruptured, the completion of this project will have a devastating and economically disastrous impact on the climate. Dr. James Hansen, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, is vehemently opposed to the Keystone XL pipeline, stating that “exploitation of tar sands would make it implausible to stabilize climate and avoid disastrous global climate impacts.“ Additionally, twenty of the nation’s leading scientists have just released a letter to Obama asking him not authorize the permit for the Keystone XL.

http://www.tarsandsaction.org/scientists-keystone-xl-obama/

MYTH:

The Keystone XL is needed to meet a growing demand for oil in the U.S.*

FACT:

In a shrinking U.S. market, Keystone XL is not needed./ Since the project was announced, the oil industry acknowledges that higher fuel economy standards and slow economic growth mean declining U.S. oil demand, even as domestic production is booming (Oil Change International).

MYTH:

President Obama should find that the Keystone XL pipeline serves the best interests of the nation and approve the project.

FACT:

The Keystone XL will only serve the interests of a handful of tar sands producers and exporters, and the corporate and oil industry lobbying groups that support them, like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The impacts that average Americans will feel will be higher gas prices, economic downturn as a result of environmental destruction and water contamination, and a ruined, unstable climate.

Note: I'll talk about the Boreal forest loss and it's effects on climate warming in another post but this link will get you started!

http://www.borealbirds.org/resources/factsheet-IBCC-globalwarming.pdf

Please wake up and stop being so short sighted and greedy. What do you want to leave behind for the next generation?

Rachel would you cover this human rights issue if all of the Palestinians were gay?

Israeli Illegal actions the norm. Will anyone respond? Will the Up program?
A Palestinian mayor issues desperate appeal to the world to restore his village’s lifeline

http://mondoweiss.net/2012/04/a-palestinian-mayor-issues-desperate-appeal-to-the-world-to-restore-his-villages-lifeline.html

Found this story, thought I'd share. Scary is the operative word.

http://jezebel.com/5887627/the-ten-scariest-places-in-america-to-have-ladyparts

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/vatican-says-leadership-group-for-us-nuns-doesnt-adhere-to-church-teaching-orders-reform/2012/04/18/gIQAXir0QT_story.html

Taking a cue from the Republican War on Women, the Catholic Church gets in on the act, blaming and shaming their nuns for not following the directions of teh mens, those stalwart defenders of morality and good judgment and wisdom and whatnot.

450 Suffolk County Union NY workers are about to be laid off by Democrats. The County Executive states he will freeze his salary and take a pay cut but that does not mean anything (he hired his wife to run the parks department) - because he will still have a slalary.

Something is wrong!

NYS is outsourcing government jobs (medicaid), laying 100's off people and really, when someone calls themselves a Democrate while they are running for office and they say stuff - Do more with less, Less government because government does not create jobs and then less government means cutting 450 jobs from working class people - you are NOT a Democrate at least the ones I know. Feels more like we have been played!

They can raise the sales tax....government employees are tax payers too. They can raise the cap on property tax too but instead many people will lose their homes, will not be able to afford health ins, (private or public) pay their bills and so much more. This is awful - laying off the people who serve the people!

And to make it worse he wants to break down the unions too...except the police because they backed him during the elections.

Buckle up, kids! Here we go again. The Feds are now changing course, and essentially turning a blind eye while Wall Street bellies back up to the casino tables.

According to yesterday's New York Times article, "As federal regulators put the finishing touches on an overhaul of the $700 trillion derivatives market, a major provision has been tempered in the face of industry pressure. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission are expected to approve a rule that would exempt broad swaths of energy companies, hedge funds and banks from oversight."

Remember the Commodity Futures Trading Commission? No? Do a search on the Interwebs for "Brooksley Born." When she was head of the CFTC, Born valiantly lobbied for oversight of the rapidly expanding derivatives market (think: CDOs, credit default swaps, securitized mortgages). But Congress, the White House, and especially, Alan Greenspan's FED, would hear nothing of it. Had they listened, we might not have ever experienced "The Great Recession." Full story at:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/47084924

"$700 Trillion"!? To paraphrase a quote mistakenly attributed to Everett Dirksen, "A trillion here, a trillion there, pretty soon, you're talking real money".