[vuh-SEK-tuh-mee] noun: a 30 minutes of less surgical procedure intended to provide a permanent method of male birth control (see contraceptive)
"When we talk about giving fetuses constitutional rights, the flip side of that is forced birth. We are talking about the government forcing women to carry a pregnancy to term and then give birth. So in the same week we have Republicans tearing their hair out and making a big public show about Obama intruding into people's personal religious lives, we have lawmakers in Virginia passing a state sanctioned rape law. The hypocrisy is mind boggling." ~ Chloe Angyal on MSNBC (2/18/2018)
Is it really 2012? Read More... Republican birth control stance not politically smart? Read More... Original Photos by Peter Rimar
Update: Virginia scraps requiring invasive pre-abortion procedure? Read More...
"The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."
~ Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), in an interview with the National Journal, describing his goal in retaking the Senate. One of the main political talking points of Republicans is that President Obama got everything he wanted his first two years in office:
"A lie told often enough becomes the truth"?
If one individual uses a specific grouping of words to express an idea at a particular time and place, and it's then cited by others (for example the Wall Street Journal), it's called a quote. If one or more individuals employ the same phraseology over and over again to support a specific political agenda, it's called a message. To put it another way, a slogan is a slogan is a slogan. It's how ideological soap is bought and sold in the political marketplace (see Echo Chamber).
Clearly, any video which includes Rachel Maddow must be pure liberal propaganda. So, what is the truth? Instead of accepting this politically partisan video at face value, this blogger went directly to the source: The U.S. Senate. Read More...
Mr. Smith Rewrites the Constitution?
“All provisions which require more than a majority of any body to its resolutions have a direct tendency to embarrass the operations of the government and an indirect one to subject the sense of the majority to that of the minority.” ~ Alexander Hamilton
The public record is the public record. Numbers don't lie. Can you say Grand Obstructionist Party? This blogger has a theory. The partisan goal is simple: stop and/or delay every action of government in order to create a climate of economic uncertainty.
After two strong showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, Ron Paul continues to be the Rodney Dangerfield of the Republican establishment. The Texas Congressman continues to get "No Respect" from the political pundits within his own adopted party. Un·e·lect·a·ble? Perhaps. One thing remains clear after Iowa and the New Hampshire Primary: Narcissistic Newt has made it his K Street mission to be a Bain in Mitt's vulture capitalist butt.
IF you're running for President and your NET FINANCIAL WORTH is OVER $250,000,000s, it's an X-tremely BAD IDEA to joke about being UNEMPLOYED with an audience of out-of-work voters struggling to keep a roof over their heads & food on the table. It's like joking about your sore GOLF knees to a room full of amputee combat veterans.
Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney decides NOT to release his tax returns? Read More...
Campaign Update: Romney paid 14.5% rate on $42.6M over the last 2 yrs? (January 24, 2011) Read More...
Even though the GOP's establishment is carpet bombing Iowa with millions of dollars in anti-Newt campaign ads, once again, the candidate's worst political enemy appears to be the candidate himself. Seriously, Newt's mouth is a "human hand grenade".
Believe it or not, during 2011, at one point or another, SIX different Republicans (to include Sarah Palin) have lead in the polls in Iowa. Since "7" is a lucky number, it just stands to reason that Congressman Ron Paul will narrowly win the Iowa Caucus.
Ron Paul Campaign Update:(12/23/2011) Despite the latest media frenzy over the candidate's questionable affiliation with a series of racially charged comments printed in newsletters bearing his name, it's still possible for Paul to win the upcoming Iowa Caucus. Ironically, the newsletter controversy itself only reinforces a conspiracy theory held by many of his most ardent supporters. Basically, the so-called mainstream media (which includes Faux News) wants to derail his candidacy and silence his Revolutionary ideas.
Honestly, this blogger has never believed that Ron Paul could, would or should be elected President. Also, despite Ron Paul being upset that his integrity is being questioned, in 2011, it's fair game for reporters to ask questions regarding the comments contained within these newsletters. Read More...
Political Quote of the Week: "Trying to negotiate with Speaker Boehner is like trying to nail Jell-O to the wall." ~ Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)
Election 2012 Update: Mitt Romney wins Iowa with exactly six less votes than in 2008:
Despite Newt's well-documented, extremely checkered political record, a growing number of Republicans actually believe he's the best candidate to beat President Obama in 2012.
Good luck with that one!
Perhaps Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who's NOT known for her intellectual prowess or problem solving skills, put it best. On CBS' Face the Nation, Bachmann stated, "He's the 'King of K Street. For a person who's been influence peddling for over 30 years in Washington, D.C. - to think that Newt Gingrich is somehow an outsider, when he is the consummate establishment insider?"
Hopefully, between now and the Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire Primary, GOP voters will WAKE UP and take another look at Jon Huntsman and Buddy Roemer. Otherwise, Republican voters should be prepared for the GOP to suffer its biggest Presidential defeat in its long, proud history. In terms of Jon Huntsman, he has an extremely strong foreign policy background (which during the Cold War actually meant something with Republican voters). As far as supporting a candidate like Buddy Roemer, well, GOP voters could walk away from a 2012 defeat with dignity and some glimmer of hope for the Party's political future.
Political Quote of the Week: "If a corporation is a person, I can't wait until they get drafted in the next war."
~ Buddy Roemer on MSNBC's Dylan Ratigan Show December 8, 2011
Photo Credit: Peter Rimar's wife in an art gallery located in Beijing's 798 District (May 2008). Reference Links: Lipstick on a Pig Dr. Strangelove
Hollywood insider rumors that CBS is negotiating with Mr. Karl "527" Rove to appear with the host of Celebrity Apprentice on an upcoming season of Survivor: #Occupy Wall Street are untrue? Question of the Week: When did the GOP become
the Grand Obstructionists Party?
...perspective...
"Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh." ~ George Bernard Shaw
Back in June, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann first captured the hearts and minds of the Christian Right. Then, Texas Governor Rick Perry rode onto the national stage only to quickly fall off his unsaddled horse. After drinking a six pack of Lone Star Beer while watching Faux News, hungry GOP voters ordered up a $9.99 pizza from Mr. Herman Cain.
Three political love affairs later (pun intended), the ANYBODY BUT MITT parade continues with former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich taking center stage. Seriously? Newt Gingrich? This blogger has two simple questions: who is answering the telephone when one of more than a dozen pollsters call? Do folks actually believe this man could get elected President?
Even the conservative sage George Will is shaking his political head,"Gingrich’s is an amazingly efficient candidacy, in that it embodies almost everything disagreeable about modern Washington. He’s the classic rental politician." Read More...
At what point will Republican voters sober up, change the channel and take a serious look at Jon Huntsman or Buddy Roemer?
Gingrich Update: November 27, 2011 Evidently, this blogger is completely out-of-touch with the winds of political change. The New Hampshire Union Leader, the only "Live Free or Die" state-wide newspaper, endorsed NEWT for the top of GOP ticket. NEWT? Read More...
I've always found it rather strange that a majority of Democrats & Republicans fail to understand the historical roots of each respective party. The Constitution DID NOT create America's two-party system. While I've witnessed firsthand the corruption & abuse of a one-party system in the People's Republic of China), today's polarized political landscape has "Republicrats" displaying more goose stepping loyalty to "THE PARTY" then "OUR COUNTRY". Former Congressman Weiner is still wondering how men like Thomas Jefferson & Benjamin Franklin would have survived an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
Dateline: 12/22/2011 #Occupy the GOP? "It is not called the Grand Old Party without good reason." Read More...
"Our system is flawed and needs to be fixed." ~ Jack Abramoff 60 Minutes November 6, 2011
According to the Center for Responsive Politics (based on data collected from the Senate Office of Public Records), in 2010, 12,951 lobbyists worked the corridors of power in Washington D.C. on behalf of a long list of corporate clients. Read More...
If you think corporate influence on the democratic process is limited to just the White House and Capital Hill, think again.
The residents of quiet North Dakota, a state rarely mentioned in the national media, got an education on the real workings of crony capitalism. Earlier this year, the former Republican Governor personally lobbied the state's representatives in Bismarck to lower the tax rates for oil companies. As a thank you, one extremely grateful oil company gift wrapped a new job title and 11,945 shares of its own stock (worth over $770,000) to Ed Schafer. Read More... No Higher Honor: A Memoir of My Years in Washington ~ Condoleezza Rice (Hardcover)
Despite six long weeks on the campaign trail, three mediocre debates, early Koch Brothers support along with raising over 17 million dollars in cash donations, at this point in the "GOP Flavor of the Month" lottery, Chaz Bono has a better chance at being elected President than Governor Rick Perry.
Requirements: Must be able to stay awake during a grinding debate schedule, speak without a Texas accent, raise lots of corporate campaign cash, enjoy long bus rides, drink tea and somehow connect with mainstream, independent voters without sounding crazy or stupid.
Application Deadline: October 1st, 2011 (or as soon as possible)
GOP Flavor of the Month Update: "Now is not my time." ~ Governor Chris Christie (October 4, 2011) And Sarah Palin? NOT. (October 5, 2011)
The Driving Mrs. Daisy Psycho Talk Express takes another WRONG TURN in Florida?
Vince McMahon is in backroom negotiations with Merck and Koch Industries for a WWE Raw Battle Royal featuring Crony Capitalism vs. Unscientific Rhetoric?
Herman Cain offered Iowans a Free Pizza with every Prostate Exam?
Ron Paul thinks Nuclear Proliferation is just like playing Call of Duty? It's just a video game?
After the recent Florida debate, Rick Santorum asked Jon Huntsman, "Who cut your hair?"
Newt Gringrich sold three more books on e-Bay to the John Birch Society?
Sarah Palin plans to introduce a Mama Grizzly fashion line at Target?
Thaddeus McCotter told Buddy Roemer a knock-knock joke about his dark horse campaign for the White House but forgot the punch line?
When Gary Johnson was queried by reporters about being locked out of the recent TeaPot Debate, the candidate replied "I have the munchies"?
Looking for Ronald Reagan — and Not Finding Him By Patti Davis Time Magazine (Sept. 08, 2011) "The moment that would have broken my father's heart was the moment when applause broke out at the mention of more than 200 executions ordered by Rick Perry in Texas. It was stunning and brought tears to my eyes. This is what we've come to? That we applaud at executions?" Read More...
Since 2007, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has operated under a series of 21 short-term budget extensions. On September 16th, this agency is threatened with yet another shutdown.
Why is organized labor still under attack in this country. Whether or not you are for or against unions, when it comes to the FAA's budget, why has this specific agency become the target of a political agenda? Did you know that in China, Wal-Mart employees are organized? That's right, in a country which does not promote, support or even officially sanction organized labor (beyond membership in the Communist Party), the Chinese workers at 125 plus Wal-Mart stores are unionized. Why? Answer that question and you'll begin to understand how the WTO game is being played.
"We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike." ~ Adolf Hitler (May 2, 1933)
From the moment he announced his run for the White House, for this voter, Jon Huntsman's campaign has felt like a race for the #2 spot on the GOP ticket. Instead of attempting to attract support from the Libertarian Wing of the Republican Party, his campaign is targeting main-stream, independent-minded voters. Why? Basically, with the present field of candidates, the GOP needs someone to politically balance out a potential ticket. One of the more interesting facts about this candidate is his global name recognition. More people know the name Huntsman in China than in the United States:
During the first GOP Presidential Debate in New Hampshire (June 13, 2011), Congresswoman Michele Bachmann questioned President Obama's actions over Libya. Last week on the campaign trail, Bachmann hammered President Obama on his so-called delay in taking action against the Syrian Government.
Can you say political double-speak? Why Libya? It's not complicated. America's NATO allies (who directly supported the U.S. in Iraq and/or Afghanistan) were afraid of a FLOOD of refugees landing on Europe's doorstep (i.e. hundreds of thousands of BOAT people). In the case of Syria, because of its geographic location, Turkey is the main regional player. The Turkish military is protecting the refugees crossing over its southern border. For folks who forget, the invasion of Iraq in 2003 damaged this country's relationship with this important NATO member. This time around, President Obama is working with the Turkish government in formulating actions against the Syrian regime.
NATO's continued military actions in Libya is/was intended to create & maintain safe havens WITHIN Libyan borders. President Obama supported the political leaders of France, Spain, the UK, and Italy to meet this specific military objective. Welcome to the reality of our geopolitical world! Prior to direct US involvement in Bosnia (i.e. with boots on the ground), it's how the Europeans (under a failed United Nations mandate) responded to the fighting (and genocide) in the Balkans. Unlike 1995, this time around, NATO (not the UN) brought enough firepower to the party which PREVENTED a Srebrenica-type massacre in Benghazi.
Former Defense Secretary Gates' public frustration with NATO was in response to the organization's continued inability to do the heavy lifting to meet a European specific military/political/economic objective without DIRECT U.S. support.
Anyhow, could somebody PLEASE plug in Bachmann's brain? It's one thing to create some mythical fairy tale about the original intent of this country's founding fathers, it's quite another to create revisionist history from recent current events.
If you're an American against this country's continued membership in NATO, here are two regional issues which continue to have global implications: North Korea and the South China Sea. Confused? The United Nations is a paper tiger. Basically, folks need to remember that NATO's geopolitical influence reaches far beyond Europe's own borders. Read More...
Arab Spring Update October 20, 2011: Moammar Gadhafi killed in Sirte. Read More...
Photo of American Soldier on M-42 Duster, Fort Bliss, Texas (Summer 1982).
Mirror in a tattoo shop, San Antonio, Texas (October 2009)
IF you buy a home, a new car & max out your credit card on clothes & food, at some point, you have to pay your bills. How you pay those bills directly impacts your credit rating. It's not complicated. Debt is debt. As a person, you have several choices. You can attempt get a second job to meet your financial obligations (i.e. raise revenue), cut back on spending (i.e. reduce the size of the government), do a mix of the two methods or just give up & file for bankruptcy (DEFAULT). Your individual credit rating depends on HOW you, as an individual, respond to paying off your bills. Ignoring phone calls from the bank & the credit card companies WILL NOT solve the long term DEBT problem.
When a Presidential candidate (i.e. Michele Bachmann) gets on Face the Nation & tells the reporter that the Treasury Department can just move around money to avoid a crisis, well, that way of thinking is just plain wrong (as well as stupid).
It's NOT 1773, 1776 or 1789.
It's 2011 and ALL of us live in a Global economy. The sooner folks recognize that reality, the sooner this country will start doing what it needs to do to COMPETE in a GLOBAL MARKETPLACE. And oh by the way, the whole Boston Tea Party thing was NOT about paying taxes. It was about "TAXATION Without Representation". Walking away from the table (on EVERY ISSUE) is NOT Representation.
All financial markets (Bond, Stock, Currency & Commodity) are built on the foundation of "confidence". Don't fool yourself. The GOP's goal is the WHITE HOUSE & NOT fixing the budget mess or the overall economy. Guys like Karl Rove & the Koch Brothers know egg-xactly what they're doing.
Once a factory closes, it's closed. Those jobs may or may not ever return. What folks don't understand is that once a manufacturing job leaves our shores, it's only a matter of time before a corporation starts to trim its white collar staff (i.e. folks who were originally hired to support a larger blue collar workforce). This delayed process of corporate contraction causes a negative, slow moving, ripple effect on the entire economy. Simply put, like it or not, in the short term, there is NO quick fix (or voodoo magic) for turning around this economy.
Anyhow, driving the global economy off a cliff to pander to the narrow whims of the Liberatarian Wing of the Republican Party is just plain NUTS! Unless of course, that's the REAL economic & political END GAME. IF that's the case, then maybe it's indeed a good time for all of us to start praying.
A decent reporter knows how to ask questions to formulate a simple news story. A great REPORTER actually researches an issue and knows what questions to ask.
While it's refreshing that a GOP Presidential candidate actually has some REAL WORLD foreign policy experience, a somewhat moderate social philosophy and tested leadership as a former Governor, important QUESTIONS about his connections with various special interest groups married together with his extremely close business dealings w/ the CCP itself need to be asked.
IF you're running for President and your NET FINANCIAL WORTH is OVER $250,000,000s, it's an X-tremely BAD IDEA to joke about being UNEMPLOYED with an audience of out-of-work voters struggling to keep a roof over their heads & food on the table. It's like joking about your sore GOLF knees to a room full of amputee combat veterans.
Former Congressman Weiner is still wondering how men like Thomas Jefferson & Benjamin Franklin would have survived an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
Looking for Ronald Reagan 
