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Archive for March, 2012

TP reports:

[Police arrested 17 women and 14 men at a march outside of the Virginia Capitol while officers in riot gear held the hundreds of demonstrators back with shields. The crowd was protesting the Virginia General Assembly’s approval of a controversial bill on Thursday to require women to receive ultrasounds before abortions. The 31 people arrested […]/p

via Virginia Police Arrest 31 At Women’s Rights Demonstration. ]

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Yesterday ThinkProgress’s Adam Peck reported that enough uproar had been created by Rush Limbaughs remarks over Sandra Fluke, that as many as 4 sponsors of Limbaugh’s show had canceled. It’s a good read.

Rush Limbaugh’s Advertisers Facing Social Media Firestorm

By Adam Peck on Mar 2, 2012 at 3:40

…So far, Sleep Number, The Sleep Train, Quicken Loans, Legal Zoom and Citrix have pulled ads from the program, and several others are considering following their lead…..

http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/03/02/436852/rush-limbaugh-advertisers/

I especially think people who sell beds WOULD want to stay away from insulting half the US population.

Over at the CS Monitor Peter Grier asks:

Is Rush Limbaugh damaging the Republican Party?

Before Rush Limbaugh spoke up, the Republicans thought they had a winning issue on contraception in health-care plans. Now, everyone is on the same side: against Rush Limbaugh.

By Peter GrierStaff writer / March 2, 2012

…Limbaugh himself remains unapologetic for his comments. On his radio show Friday he said, “This isn’t about contraception anyway. This is about expanding the reach and power of government into your womb, if you’re a woman.”…

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/Vox-News/2012/0302/Is-Rush-Limbaugh-damaging-the-Republican-Party

Good question Peter- except I think that question was answered in 2008, when Clear Channel signed that 400 million dollar contract for Limbaugh, during the last election. You can’t undo the anger of women then, by generating more outrage.

Erick Erickson decided a flank attack to defend Limbaugh was a good idea (Think Sun Tzu) and went after Carly Fiorina.

Does Carly Fiorina Just Not Get It?

Posted by Erick Erickson (Diary)

Friday, March 2nd at 10:12AM EST

[Carly Fiorina is offended by Rush Limbaugh’s comments on Georgetown Law School student Sandra Fluke, who testified before Congress that she wants the American taxpayers to subsidize her sexual proclivities.

We should be insulted with Fluke, but Fiorina is insulted by Limbaugh.

“That language is insulting, in my opinion. It’s incendiary and most of all, it’s a distraction. It’s a distraction from what are very real and important issues,” said Fiorina on CBS’s “This Morning.”

…So of course Rush Limbaugh was being insulting. He was using it as a tool to highlight just how absurd the Democrats’ position is on this. It’s what he does and does quite well. And in the process he’s exposing a lot of media bias on the issue as people rush out (no pun intended) to make Sandra Fluke a victim of his insults and dance around precisely what is really insulting — her testimony before congress that American taxpayers should subsidize the sexual habits of Georgetown Law School students because, God forbid, they should stop having sex if they cannot afford the pills themselves.

Suddenly, an act Democrats have said for years was private and consensual, must despite that be paid for by the American taxpayers.

BONUS POINT: Why is a person who lost a U.S. Senate campaign after sucking up vast resources from Republicans donors that could have gone elsewhere somehow made the Vice Chairman of the GOP’s Senate Campaign Committee?..]

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2012/03/02/does-carly-fiorina-just-not-get-it/

Erickson is referring to her failed California Senate race for Barbara Boxer’s seat. If you read her interesting bio link attached to her name above, you’ll know I’m not near her political pasture. There is no doubt, however, she is qualified to be Vice Chairman of the GOP’s Senate Campaign Committee.

Money drives elections; Carly couldn’t have made the CA run if supporters weren’t willing to pay the money for her to do it. Money drives elections, yet Erickson would rather spread the misogyny and insult an important republican woman overseeing the Party’s finances, to support the Limbaugh  Hate Speech Club. Erickson’s stated opinion above that that Limbaugh WAS being deliberately insulting probably doesn’t help Limbaugh.

Carly gets it, Erick.

I’ll point out again, the Blunt bill was stupid and would have allowed unnamed and anonymous exclusions from the Affordable Care Act for any sort of “conscience” claim.

Birth control was not specifically identified  in the bill.

Contraception is for two.

If a woman wants sex with him the man has got to want it too.

Limbaugh’s hate speech is paid for, to the tune of 400 million dollars, by Clear Channel. No matter the right or left politics of it, or which political party comes out of this looking better, it’s hate speech against women, and, Sandra Fluke in particular. The man called her a “slut and round heeled”. The lawyers will have to decide if Limbaugh’s speech is also actionable.

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If you were traveling with your horse through Nebraska or Wyoming in December you may want to pay attention to the FDA Bulletin that just came out. So far, those two states are the only ones listed.

308-247-2601

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 3, 2012 -Western Feed, LLC is voluntarily recalling two lots (M718430 and M720280) of Kountry Buffet 14% feed because it may contain monensin sodium (Rumensin). The feed is packaged in 50 lb. bags bearing the Payback logo with the attached tag identifying the product as Kountry Buffet 14%. Monensin sodium is a medication approved for use in some livestock and poultry species, but can be fatal to horses if fed at sufficiently high levels.

The lot number (M718430 and M720280) can be found towards the bottom of the tag, below the Feeding Directions.

This feed was distributed December 2, 2011 through December 15, 2011 to retailers in Nebraska and Wyoming. Retailers receiving product from the lot in question have removed it from their stores.

Western Feed had received a report of some horses that had died as a result of consuming the feed. Initial testing by a private laboratory has indicated the presence of a potentially harmful level of monensin sodium (Rumensin) in these two lots. Further follow up testing is underway.

The symptoms of toxicity vary with the amount of monensin ingested by a horse. Trace amounts may cause a horse to go off his regular feed, show signs of colic and appear unwell for a few days. Larger amounts will cause a horse to show more serious symptoms within a few hours including colic, stiffness, sweating, a lack of co-ordination and the inability to stand.

Customers who purchased Kountry Buffet 14% from lot M718430 and M720280 should stop feeding the product immediately and call Western Feed LLC at 308-247-2601, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT.

At this time, the limited voluntary recall only applies to Kountry Buffet 14%, lots M718430 and M720280. No other Western Feed, LLC products and no other lots of Kountry Buffet 14% are involved.

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm294530.htm

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After the announcement of Andrew Breitbart’s death, I did wonder about this and Politico has the scoop:

[Shirley Sherrod’s suit against Andrew Breitbart likely to continue

By JOSH GERSTEIN | 3/1/12 4:38 PM EST
A defamation lawsuit a former Agriculture Department employee filed against conservative journalist Andrew Breitbart is likely to continue despite Breitbart’s unexpected death on Wednesday night at age 43 …..

http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2012/03/shirley-sherrods-suit- against-andrew-breitbart-likely-116078.html ]

Please go to their full article and read it. If all the kinks are worked out it seems likely that Breitbart’s estate and at least one co-worker will be subject to the continued court proceedings.

If you’re trying to remember who Shirley Sherrod is, I have attached a pdf of an older blog post from JohnSmart, now at:
http://johnwsmart.wordpress.com/

I liked John’s post, first because he laid out the timeline of events nicely, and because I thought he well represented the traps, pitfalls and honesty in opinion writing.

Can the the tenants of this lawsuit apply elsewhere? You lawyers out there will know, but it seems to me that one person who defames another and gets paid or promised 400 million dollars to do it ought to have made vulnerable the whole business system that allowed this defamation.

Even if he gets fired.

Even if he dies.

What are 15 million listeners supposed to think, when year after year Limbaugh and Company get away with this garbage and no one brings them to justice?

And, what about Danica?

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Senator Boxer issued a press release on the defeat of the Blunt Bomb to day:

[Press Release of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer

For Immediate Release:
March 1, 2012
Contact:
Washington D.C. Office (202) 224-3553
Boxer Statement on Senate Defeat of Blunt Amendment
Republican Measure Threatened Vital Health Services for Millions of American Women and Families
Washington, D.C. ­ U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today issued the following statement after the Senate defeated an amendment by Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) that would have allowed any employer or health insurance company to deny critical health care services to anyone:

³Today¹s vote is a victory for the millions of American women and families who were in danger of losing access to vital health services. It is clear that the Republican attacks on women¹s health are having ripple effects all across this country, and the fact that nearly every Republican voted for this amendment will not soon be forgotten.²

http://boxer.senate.gov/en/press/releases/030112.cfm%5D

Thank you, Senator Boxer, for your efforts. Yea, a lot of reds and a few blues voted for this mess. Maine’s Senator Snowe was the only Republican Senator to vote against it. I don’t wonder she wants to retire. As an actual Republican, it can’t have been easy for her the last four years either.

Sure enough, she just put out a statement to that effect:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/olympia-snowe-why-im-leaving-the-sena te/2012/03/01/gIQApGYZlR_story.html

There are currently 17 women in the Senate-obviously nowhere near 51% of the possible 50 seats. Snowe’s seat MUST go to a woman if only to retain the status quo. I know it’s Maine, but a little diversity wouldn’t hurt either.

Snowe herself has inferred that there is little room for a moderate in the current Senate. To break the deadlock in the Senate a Democrat or a Green in her seat would make the difference.

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TPMLivewire
04:26 PM EST
Sandra Fluke Issues Statement On Limbaugh’s Comments And Public Support

Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown University law student who was the subject of Rush Limbaugh’s remarks Wednesday, issued the following statement on Limbaugh and the support she has received:

[“I thank the thousands of women and men, including members of Congress, Georgetown University students and faculty, and total strangers of all political stripes across the country who have offered kind words and support following recent egregious personal attacks.

“We are fortunate to live in a democracy where everyone is entitled to their own opinions regarding legitimate policy differences. Unfortunately, numerous commentators have gone far beyond the acceptable bounds of civil discourse.

“No woman deserves to be disrespected in this manner. This language is an attack on all women, and has been used throughout history to silence our voices.

“The millions of American women who have and will continue to speak out in support of women’s health care and access to contraception prove that we will not be silenced.”]

Fluke testified at a hearing a week ago in which she talked about the burden of paying for contraception out of pocket. Limbaugh used those comments to call her a “slut” and a “prostitute.” Over 75 Congressional Democrats Thursday called on House Speaker John Boehner to condemn Limbaugh’s remarks.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/sandra-fluke-issues-statement- on-limbaughs-comments-public

Link below for TPM’s article on the remarks:

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/fox-and-limbaugh-miss-the-point-o n-birth-control-costs.php?ref=fpnewsfeed

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If you were out chopping wood to heat your house, after the weather we have had, you might have missed the tie-in of the Sandra Fluke story leading up to today’s vote to table the Blunt Bomb otherwise known as S.1467 – Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011². Last night, while trying to fall asleep, I came upon Nancy Pelosi’s pronouncement condemning Rush Limbaugh’s demented misogyny directed toward Ms. Fluke. I sure hope college student Fluke sues the gizzard out of Limbaugh and Clear Channel Vision and all those 600 stations and Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners.

Keep in mind though, Limbaugh is just the potty-mouth lap dog for those other paternalists who wouldn’t even let her speak at their hearing. I loved that the Pelosi site linked to this Think Progress page posted by Alex Seitz-Wald:

…[ While it¹s probably not even worth engaging with Limbaugh on the facts, Fluke¹s testimony was about a friend who is a lesbian and needed birth control for non-sexual medical reasons, so he¹s only wrong about three times over, and offensive many more times over than that….]

Clear Channel is to be blamed for this tripe. This kind of free speech does not deserve a 400 million dollar reward. That’s 50 million a year, and since his 8 year contract runs till 2016 we are going to be subjected to it for a while, unless we do something. COMPLAIN!!! BOYCOTT THE SERVICE!!

Clear Channel is owned by two groups. The first is Bain Capital which over the years has leveraged buy-outs on a lot of big name companies.

Founders for Bain Capital include:

Mitt Romney

T. Coleman Andrews III

Eric Kriss

Clear Channel’s other group is Thomas H. Lee Partners,(THL) which among other numerous assets, recently bought Warner Music Group. They also leverage big buy-outs.

The top three people for THL are:

Vice Chairman and Managing Director David Harkins
http://www.corporationwiki.com/Massachusetts/Boston/david-v-harkins/30357908 .aspx

Vice Chairman Scott Schoen

Co-President Scott Sperling
http://www.corporationwiki.com/Massachusetts/Boston/scott-sperling-P7833817. aspx

Sex is for two. Contraception is for humans. If there weren’t any men, women wouldn’t need it.

By the way, I hope you noticed who was at the top of the Bain list. No wonder he wasn’t sure how to answer.

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UPI and alJazeera are reporting that Syria has begun an all out ground assault on it’s Hom District.  The UN Envoy was not allowed into the country, and UN’s Kofi Annan is calling for resolution and an end to the fighting.

The VOA has reported that a bomb exploded in Instanbul, Turkey, near the ruling party’s headquarters. Several police officers were injured.

AlJazeera has an interesting perspective on the situation HERE.

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The New Policy effective March 1st.!

The ACLU has the scoop:

Google’s New Privacy Settings Go Into Effect Tomorrow

Posted by Ateqah Khaki, ACLU at 1:38pm

Tomorrow, Google will put in place a new privacy policy across the vast majority of Google products and platforms. As we told you when they announced the new policy back in January, the new policy makes clear that Google will, for the first time, combine the personal data you share with any one of its products or sites across almost all of its products and sites (everything but Google Chrome, Google Books, and Google Wallet) in order to obtain a more comprehensive picture of you. And short of signing out of your Google account, there is no opting out…..

 

As the Digital Journal reported last week:

 

Go to the Google homepage and sign into your account.

Click the dropdown menu next to your name in the upper-right hand corner of your screen.

Click accounts settings.

Find the “Services section.”

Under “Services” there is a sub-section that reads “View, enable, disable web history.” Click the link next to it that reads: “Go to Web History.”

Click on “Remove all Web History.”

When you click on “Remove all Web History,” a message appears that says “Web History is Paused.” What this means is that while Google will continue gathering and storing information about your web history it will make all data anonymous, that is, Google will not associate your Web History information with your online accounts and will therefore be unable to send you customized search results.

 

Google’s ability to gather personalized information about you by assigning data to your Gmail and YouTube accounts will remain “Paused” till you click “Resume.”…

 

Go HERE for more Information.

 

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