No matter how St. Louis Prosecutor Robert McCulloch tries to spin it, it is now a fact that, at least in the state of Missouri, shoplifting has become a capital offense. Why else would he virtually start his defense of the grand jury's decision to not indict Darren Wilson with a reminder of Michael Brown's actions prior to his being shot to death?
Can you say "police state," boys and girls?
Peace,
emaycee
Monday, November 24, 2014
Saturday, November 22, 2014
No, it's actually a shit sandwich
en•no•ble (ɛnˈnoʊ bəl)
v.t. -bled, -bling.
Indiana Governor Mike Pence, another in a line of republicans who will never be President, fed the republican base more salmonella laced raw meat this week when his administration took steps to ensure that 65,000 Hoosiers could lose food stamps next year, and said while touting the 50,000 people joining the workforce in Indiana since 2008 (uh, Gov, that's less than 9000 people a year, hardly a gloat worthy total), "I'm someone that believes there's nothing more ennobling to a person than a job."
Leaving aside the fact that just off the top of my head, both marriage and parenthood strike me as being considerably more ennobling than any job I've ever had, this smacks of a remark Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's made this week in which he said that denying health care coverage to poor people helps them live the American Dream--i.e., one being made by someone who has lived off the gravy train of American taxpayer dollars for far too long.
Because working in America anymore is about uniformity and not autonomy; it's about forced wage stagnation and not merit raises; it's about incompetent leadership and not entrepreneurship; it's about selfishness and not teamwork; it's about hidden agendas and not transparency; it's about unmitigated power and not cooperation; and most of all it's about unadulterated greed and not accountability.
It's not just a job--it's a shit sandwich.
Peace,
emaycee
v.t. -bled, -bling.
1. to elevate in character or respect; make noble; dignify; exalt.
2. to confer a title of nobility on.
Indiana Governor Mike Pence, another in a line of republicans who will never be President, fed the republican base more salmonella laced raw meat this week when his administration took steps to ensure that 65,000 Hoosiers could lose food stamps next year, and said while touting the 50,000 people joining the workforce in Indiana since 2008 (uh, Gov, that's less than 9000 people a year, hardly a gloat worthy total), "I'm someone that believes there's nothing more ennobling to a person than a job."
Leaving aside the fact that just off the top of my head, both marriage and parenthood strike me as being considerably more ennobling than any job I've ever had, this smacks of a remark Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's made this week in which he said that denying health care coverage to poor people helps them live the American Dream--i.e., one being made by someone who has lived off the gravy train of American taxpayer dollars for far too long.
Because working in America anymore is about uniformity and not autonomy; it's about forced wage stagnation and not merit raises; it's about incompetent leadership and not entrepreneurship; it's about selfishness and not teamwork; it's about hidden agendas and not transparency; it's about unmitigated power and not cooperation; and most of all it's about unadulterated greed and not accountability.
It's not just a job--it's a shit sandwich.
Peace,
emaycee
Scary video
Do you:
- Know who won the Civil War?
- Know who our current Vice President is?
- Know what country from which we won our freedom?
If you do, then you're miles ahead of these college students at Texas Tech:
Don't know if this is endemic to the state of Texas or if it's a nationwide problem, but I'll goddamn guarantee you that because of it the Beautiful Boy is going to be getting a host of Social Studies lessons from his dear ol' Dad over the next few years....
Peace,
emaycee
Cool video
Like a good neighbor...
During the pregame festivities before the recent Toronto Maple Leafs game against Nashville, the microphone blew out in the middle of the "Star Spangled Banner"--check out the Toronto fans reaction:
They sang it loud and proud. I'd be willing to bet you couldn't fill an arena in America out of all 300+ million of us with Americans who knew the words to "O Canada" let alone could sing it with vigor.
Probably the National Health Insurance that makes them smarter....
Peace,
emaycee
During the pregame festivities before the recent Toronto Maple Leafs game against Nashville, the microphone blew out in the middle of the "Star Spangled Banner"--check out the Toronto fans reaction:
They sang it loud and proud. I'd be willing to bet you couldn't fill an arena in America out of all 300+ million of us with Americans who knew the words to "O Canada" let alone could sing it with vigor.
Probably the National Health Insurance that makes them smarter....
Peace,
emaycee
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Dream weaver
Another republican who won't be our next President, Scott Walker, this week announced that he thinks it's good for low-income Americans to not have healthcare because it will help them live the American Dream.
Pretty sure this qualifies as a "What the fuck?" statement. And frankly, it's one made all too often by those on the right who have spent most of their careers either playing tiddlywinks in the executive suite of some corporation or living off the generosity of the American taxpayers.
Basically, Walker believes that if we can get every able bodied adult into the workforce, companies will just shower them with all kinds of money and benefits and we'll all be singing in the sunshine. But right now, that pesky government safety net is getting in the way.
Sure it is--just ask all those minimum wage workers at Wal-Mart, McDonald's, KMart, Walgreens, et al.
And ignore all those jobs that record corporate profits haven't created, or the record wage stagnation, or the record income inequality, or the record number of Americans living in poverty.
Or the millions of jobs that Scott Walker did not create in Wisconsin.
Because Scott Walker apparently has a magic wand that he hasn't used yet, but when he's President, look out. He'll whip that baby out and all our economic problems are going to be solved.
Book it.
Peace,
emaycee
Pretty sure this qualifies as a "What the fuck?" statement. And frankly, it's one made all too often by those on the right who have spent most of their careers either playing tiddlywinks in the executive suite of some corporation or living off the generosity of the American taxpayers.
Basically, Walker believes that if we can get every able bodied adult into the workforce, companies will just shower them with all kinds of money and benefits and we'll all be singing in the sunshine. But right now, that pesky government safety net is getting in the way.
Sure it is--just ask all those minimum wage workers at Wal-Mart, McDonald's, KMart, Walgreens, et al.
And ignore all those jobs that record corporate profits haven't created, or the record wage stagnation, or the record income inequality, or the record number of Americans living in poverty.
Or the millions of jobs that Scott Walker did not create in Wisconsin.
Because Scott Walker apparently has a magic wand that he hasn't used yet, but when he's President, look out. He'll whip that baby out and all our economic problems are going to be solved.
Book it.
Peace,
emaycee
Every classroom
A recent report from the National Center for the Family and Homelessness shows that 2.5 million American children are homeless, or roughly one in thirty of our kids.
For those of you who have kids, this means that virtually every classroom in your kids school has one homeless child in it.
For those of you who don't have kids, the next time you're walking or driving past any school, take a look at the windows. Virtually every single window has a classroom with at least one homeless child in it.
In America, the richest nation in the history of civilization.
In America.
Peace,
emaycee
For those of you who have kids, this means that virtually every classroom in your kids school has one homeless child in it.
For those of you who don't have kids, the next time you're walking or driving past any school, take a look at the windows. Virtually every single window has a classroom with at least one homeless child in it.
In America, the richest nation in the history of civilization.
In America.
Peace,
emaycee
Sunday, November 16, 2014
The 2016 dumb ass
Sen. Orrin Asshat (R-Utah) was speaking to the Federalist Society recently where he referred to us as "dumb ass Liberals" and said republicans should keep the filibuster reform laws in place to give Democrats "a taste of their own medicine." (And what a surprise that last one was--methinks they protested so much about filibuster reform because they didn't get to do it first.)
On the bright side, Asshat proves once again that my worries of republicans actually learning to govern are overblown--they're going to go on being their ignorant-ass selves and watch once again from the sidelines as we put another Democrat in the White House and republicans once more become the minority party in the Senate.
Because republicans don't give a shit about America--the only thing they love are throwaway sound bites that keep their dim-witted base fired up over nothing.
Peace,
emaycee
On the bright side, Asshat proves once again that my worries of republicans actually learning to govern are overblown--they're going to go on being their ignorant-ass selves and watch once again from the sidelines as we put another Democrat in the White House and republicans once more become the minority party in the Senate.
Because republicans don't give a shit about America--the only thing they love are throwaway sound bites that keep their dim-witted base fired up over nothing.
Peace,
emaycee
The right to arm bears
The anti-gun group Moms Demand Action has been petitioning the Kroger Co. to not allow open carry in its stores. Which caused the man at this link to rage like Joe Pesci in Goodfellas against a bunch of Moms who are trying to make the world a safer place for kids,
You know, I'm willing to begrudgingly admit that even though the Second Amendment doesn't say what the NRA thinks it says, that the idea of the right to bear arms has become so ingrained in the American psyche that it's probably never going to change. But there is absolutely nothing in the Constitution that gives anyone the right to be fucking nuts--and anyone charging around their local Kroger with an assault rifle is fucking nuts.
For fuck's sake--this is America, not downtown Baghdad.
Peace,
emaycee
You know, I'm willing to begrudgingly admit that even though the Second Amendment doesn't say what the NRA thinks it says, that the idea of the right to bear arms has become so ingrained in the American psyche that it's probably never going to change. But there is absolutely nothing in the Constitution that gives anyone the right to be fucking nuts--and anyone charging around their local Kroger with an assault rifle is fucking nuts.
For fuck's sake--this is America, not downtown Baghdad.
Peace,
emaycee
Friday, November 14, 2014
Impeach Obama now!
It's been ten days since the republicans big night, and it took, oh, all of about 10 seconds for President Obama to realize that with two years left in his Presidency he has nothing to lose by tacking left and taking them head on. So we've gotten bold movement from the President on Net Neutrality, a climate deal with China, a pox on Keystone XL, and the President saying he'll take executive action on immigration reform because frankly, he's sick and tired of republicans fiddle-farting around for the past year on immigration.
And it's cause for even the intellectual (so-called) wing of their party to call for President Obama's impeachment for um, I guess, doing his job.
My only thought on this is pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease do.
Because there's nothing American voters like more than wasting American taxpayer dollars impeaching a President over nothing while the country has a host of other problems to tackle.
Just ask the husband of our next President.
Peace,
emaycee
And it's cause for even the intellectual (so-called) wing of their party to call for President Obama's impeachment for um, I guess, doing his job.
My only thought on this is pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease do.
Because there's nothing American voters like more than wasting American taxpayer dollars impeaching a President over nothing while the country has a host of other problems to tackle.
Just ask the husband of our next President.
Peace,
emaycee
There will be blood
For those of you believing some kind of Gandhiesque movement is coming to change the profligate power of corporations in America and return some sort of normalcy to the lives of America's working class, I offer you the following:
Peace,
emaycee
- AT &T this week threatened the internet service of millions of Americans if they didn't get their way in the upcoming decision by the FCC on net neutrality. I would call their bullying Mafia-like, but that would be unfair to the Mafia--the Mafia doesn't run commercials ad nauseum on TV proclaiming how much their customers matter to them.
- Binding arbitration is right up there with net neutrality as being an issue most Americans don't know or understand but really should--as evidenced by this case in Arkansas where a nursing home in all likelihood killed a man and his family can't sue, because unbeknownst to them, they signed away their right to sue for wrongful death and turned it over to an arbitration panel. Which is really a rigged game, since the arbitration panel is usually paid for by the company and is free to completely ignore any and all American law and make decisions based on any reasoning they desire. Unsurprisingly, this anti-consumer tactic has been upheld again and again by the Roberts Court, which is the best court the Chamber of Commerce can buy.
Peace,
emaycee
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
The will of the people, but not in Michigan
The single most disturbing piece I read on what was one of the most disastrous election nights in Democratic Party history is this recap of the elections in Michigan. The lowlights:
On the bright side, republicans can pretty much write off Michigan in the Presidential race for 2016--if that's the best they can do in an election year when everything went their way, they can give it up in a year where the voter profile is not the least favorable to their party. Kansas we aren't (thankfully).
Might also want to start thinking about those 2020 elections....
Peace,
emaycee
- For the U.S. House races, Democrats received 1.51 million votes, republicans 1.46. The result? Nine seats to republicans, five to Democrats.
- For the Michigan House races, Democrats received 1.53 million votes, republicans 1.47. The result? 63 seats to republicans, 47 to Democrats.
- In the races for the Michigan Senate, republicans received 1.52 million votes to the Democrats 1.48 (50.2% to 49.6%). The result? A supermajority for republicans at 27 seats to 11 (or 71% of the Senate seats).
On the bright side, republicans can pretty much write off Michigan in the Presidential race for 2016--if that's the best they can do in an election year when everything went their way, they can give it up in a year where the voter profile is not the least favorable to their party. Kansas we aren't (thankfully).
Might also want to start thinking about those 2020 elections....
Peace,
emaycee
Silver spoon in hand
Seems the right wing is aghast--aghast I say--because Bruce Springsteen and a number of other pop stars performed John Fogerty's "Fortunate Son" at the Concert for Valor yesterday in a tribute to America's veterans. Seems the song is an anti-war manifesto and not fit for a tribute to those who served.
Unsurprisingly, the right wing is either a) illiterate, b) deaf, c) stupid, or, more likely d) all three. If you actually read the lyrics, the song is...all about hatin' on the rich folk. And let's face it, the right wing lives for kissing the asses of American's wealthy. The people who are upset don't give two shits about those who served in the Armed Forces--they're pissed because Springsteen was hatin' on the rich folk.
The main purpose of this post is a robust "Fuck you!" to the idiots on the right, and an excellent opportunity to link to one of the all-time great pop songs. Enjoy!
Peace,
emaycee
Unsurprisingly, the right wing is either a) illiterate, b) deaf, c) stupid, or, more likely d) all three. If you actually read the lyrics, the song is...all about hatin' on the rich folk. And let's face it, the right wing lives for kissing the asses of American's wealthy. The people who are upset don't give two shits about those who served in the Armed Forces--they're pissed because Springsteen was hatin' on the rich folk.
The main purpose of this post is a robust "Fuck you!" to the idiots on the right, and an excellent opportunity to link to one of the all-time great pop songs. Enjoy!
Peace,
emaycee
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Chuckles
So...Chuck Todd (perfectly understandable if you're reaction is "Who?") has written a book called The Stranger in which he takes potshots at President Obama.
Leaving aside the fact that the Meet the Press moderator must have only read the Cliff's Notes version of Albert Camus' esteemed novel, why is anyone surprised by this? The only people who read books like this are either a) insiders, or b) old white people (probably the same ones who are the only people to actually watch his show). For insiders, it reinforces their world view of Obama; old white people voted against him overwhelmingly twice and it will only reinforce their hatred of the President.
Todd didn't set out to write a Pulitzer winner--he set out to make money. Hatin' on the Democrats is a (minor) lottery winner.
Just ask Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, ad nauseum.
Peace,
emaycee
Leaving aside the fact that the Meet the Press moderator must have only read the Cliff's Notes version of Albert Camus' esteemed novel, why is anyone surprised by this? The only people who read books like this are either a) insiders, or b) old white people (probably the same ones who are the only people to actually watch his show). For insiders, it reinforces their world view of Obama; old white people voted against him overwhelmingly twice and it will only reinforce their hatred of the President.
Todd didn't set out to write a Pulitzer winner--he set out to make money. Hatin' on the Democrats is a (minor) lottery winner.
Just ask Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, ad nauseum.
Peace,
emaycee
emaycee's believe it or not
So...in the past few days I have gotten e-mails from Mark Pryor, Bruce Braley, and Alison Lundergan Grimes asking me to send money to help Mary Landrieu in her runoff Senate election next month in Louisiana.
Personally, I think Landrieu has as good of a chance at winning this election as I do, and I don't even live in Louisiana (thank God), so it's just pissing good money after bad politics. But even given that, does she really want three people who lost imminently winnable Senate races by running horrid campaigns to have a voice in her campaign? Isn't it sort of like someone with perfectly smooth skin asking three lepers to help her keep it that way?
Swear to God, you cannot make this shit up.
Peace,
emaycee
Personally, I think Landrieu has as good of a chance at winning this election as I do, and I don't even live in Louisiana (thank God), so it's just pissing good money after bad politics. But even given that, does she really want three people who lost imminently winnable Senate races by running horrid campaigns to have a voice in her campaign? Isn't it sort of like someone with perfectly smooth skin asking three lepers to help her keep it that way?
Swear to God, you cannot make this shit up.
Peace,
emaycee
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
For posterity
In November of 2016, Hillary Clinton will win the Presidency with the same electoral votes as President Obama in 2008, less Indiana (and who cares--the only difference between Indiana and the shithole states in the South is that fewer people in Indiana have southern accents).
In November of 2016, the Democratic Party will take back the Senate by a comfortable margin (55 seats plus).
In November 2016, Democrats will pick up numerous seats in the House (10 plus).
And for all those republicans giddy today over how they're going to turn America into a corporate fellating, survival of the fittest, and third world utopia, two little words:
Fuck you.
The race for 2016 starts today, fuckers.
Peace,
emaycee
In November of 2016, the Democratic Party will take back the Senate by a comfortable margin (55 seats plus).
In November 2016, Democrats will pick up numerous seats in the House (10 plus).
And for all those republicans giddy today over how they're going to turn America into a corporate fellating, survival of the fittest, and third world utopia, two little words:
Fuck you.
The race for 2016 starts today, fuckers.
Peace,
emaycee
Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing
A few thoughts on yesterday's horrible, terrible, no good, very bad election results:
On to 2016.
Peace,
emaycee
- For all the hoopla about republicans taking back the Senate last night, the only blue state loss last night was to incumbent Susan Collins in Maine, and not the slightest surprise. While the three swing state losses (Iowa, Colorado, and a heartbreaker in North Carolina) were disappointing, republicans won every other seat in rock solid red states. Their "victory"? Much ado about nada.
- While the gubenatorial races were a bit more disconcerting, the only real losses were in Massachusetts, Maryland, and Illinois. All the others were in, again, rock solid red states or to incumbents who win 90% of the time in U.S. elections.
- The average loss of House seats in the sixth year of a President's tenure is 26--we only lost 14 last night.
- Martha Coakley shouldn't be allowed anywhere near an election as a Democrat for the rest of her life. She has now lost two statewide elections (Governor and U.S. Senate) in the bluest of blue states (Massachusetts) and Democrats should have a clove of garlic hanging from their necks and flash a crucifix anytime she comes near.
- Speaking of...Alison Lundegan Grimes (running against very unpopular Mitch McConnell) and Bruce Braley (running against Michelle Bachmann wannabe and intellectual peer Joni Ernst) should both spend the rest of their lives hiding under rocks for losing very winnable races. Or, more likely, go into the private sector and leave Democratic politics forever.
- Hagan, Pryor, and soon to be Landrieu--meh, conservadems. See ya, wouldn't want to be ya.
- Minimum wage increases passed in red states Arkansas, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Alaska.
- Washington state passed strict background checks, a nice, long overdue, "fuck you" to the NRA.
On to 2016.
Peace,
emaycee
Rand Paul, mega fucking idiot
My biggest concern with the republicans big night last evening was that they would actually decide to govern and give the Democrats a real run for their money in 2016.
And along came mega fucking idiot Rand Paul to calm my fears.
Posting on his Facebook page, Paul decided to put up pictures of defeated Senatorial candidates and beneath each put "#Hillaryslosers."
Because nothing is more Presidential than pulling a stunt that would be lame even for your average high school freshman.
Peace,
emaycee
And along came mega fucking idiot Rand Paul to calm my fears.
Posting on his Facebook page, Paul decided to put up pictures of defeated Senatorial candidates and beneath each put "#Hillaryslosers."
Because nothing is more Presidential than pulling a stunt that would be lame even for your average high school freshman.
Peace,
emaycee
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Our day will come
For all the Donnie and Darlene Downers out there tonight--and with good reason as it's looking mighty ugly for the blue team--keep in mind a couple of points.
For one, I'm not sure I ever remember a more depressing election night than that of 2004, when Bush the Lesser won re-election and republicans had control of both the House and the Senate. And all night long the pundits were telling us that the country was turning rightward and that republicans might be in power for a generation.
But in 2006, Democrats won back both the House and the Senate--and in 2008 Barack Obama took back the White House in a rout. It was one mighty short generation.
In 2010 we were told the republican wave bode ill for Barack Obama and the Democrats...but in 2012 Obama won in another rout, we gained seats in the Senate, and got more votes for the House seats (only gerrmandering keep the republicans in power).
In a nutshell, tonight means the republicans have the House and Senate for two years, and nothing else.
And if all else fails, keep whispering "Hillary in 2016, Hillary in 2016..."
It's working for me.
Peace,
emaycee
For one, I'm not sure I ever remember a more depressing election night than that of 2004, when Bush the Lesser won re-election and republicans had control of both the House and the Senate. And all night long the pundits were telling us that the country was turning rightward and that republicans might be in power for a generation.
But in 2006, Democrats won back both the House and the Senate--and in 2008 Barack Obama took back the White House in a rout. It was one mighty short generation.
In 2010 we were told the republican wave bode ill for Barack Obama and the Democrats...but in 2012 Obama won in another rout, we gained seats in the Senate, and got more votes for the House seats (only gerrmandering keep the republicans in power).
In a nutshell, tonight means the republicans have the House and Senate for two years, and nothing else.
And if all else fails, keep whispering "Hillary in 2016, Hillary in 2016..."
It's working for me.
Peace,
emaycee
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Grass roots
In my community, every two years we elect members to our local school board. While I consider myself to be considerably informed on most of the other contested electoral races, to be honest I never have the slightest idea who to vote for in these elections. So I usually vote for the women candidates because, well, women are smarter than men, and especially when it comes to kids.
So I was thrilled this past Friday when our son brought home a newsletter from school that highlighted the five candidates who would be running for the three open spots (six year terms) on our school board, and what they stood for. This year I'd know who to vote for for these three spots.
Until I actually started reading the synopses of the candidates.
Of the five candidates, four of them were members of the Chamber of Commerce. Anyone out there gullible enough to believe the Chamber of Commerce gives two shits about our kids?
So if you're wondering why our schools are underfunded, why our classrooms are getting larger, why charter schools and for profit schools are getting a larger and larger share of the pie (for failing miserably) that should be going to your kids, you might just take a good look at the folks who are running for your local school boards.
Because they're being put in there by the likes of the Chamber of Commerce who, in a nutshell, is probably only second to the republican party in its disdain for the needs of America's working class.
Peace,
emaycee
So I was thrilled this past Friday when our son brought home a newsletter from school that highlighted the five candidates who would be running for the three open spots (six year terms) on our school board, and what they stood for. This year I'd know who to vote for for these three spots.
Until I actually started reading the synopses of the candidates.
Of the five candidates, four of them were members of the Chamber of Commerce. Anyone out there gullible enough to believe the Chamber of Commerce gives two shits about our kids?
So if you're wondering why our schools are underfunded, why our classrooms are getting larger, why charter schools and for profit schools are getting a larger and larger share of the pie (for failing miserably) that should be going to your kids, you might just take a good look at the folks who are running for your local school boards.
Because they're being put in there by the likes of the Chamber of Commerce who, in a nutshell, is probably only second to the republican party in its disdain for the needs of America's working class.
Peace,
emaycee
Suckitude
Labor Secretary Tom Perez noted last week that when it comes to the minimum wage, "we suck."
And when an American worker can work forty hours a week and still live below the poverty level, in a way, yes we do.
But a more truthful statement when it comes to the minimum wage would be "republicans suck."
Because it's not the rest of America's fault that republicans are more content to suck up to the chamber of commerce and big business rather than see that the kids of our workers have food in their bellies.
Peace,
emaycee
And when an American worker can work forty hours a week and still live below the poverty level, in a way, yes we do.
But a more truthful statement when it comes to the minimum wage would be "republicans suck."
Because it's not the rest of America's fault that republicans are more content to suck up to the chamber of commerce and big business rather than see that the kids of our workers have food in their bellies.
Peace,
emaycee
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