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Monday, April 16, 2012

April 16, 2012 - Morning Headlines

- Anders Breivik, the suspect of the mass killings in Norway last summer will plead self defense (CNN): http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/16/world/europe/norway-breivik-trial/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

- President Obama says he will be "angry" if the accusations of sexual misconduct involving the Secret Service are true (Fox News): http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/15/congress-to-probe-secret-service-prostitution-scandal/

- Violent twisters ripped through the Midwest, killing 5 this weekend (ABC News): http://abcnews.go.com/US/children-dead-oklahoma-tornado-watches-issued/story?id=16142721#.T4v_tbM3smE

6 comments:

  1. I found this article particularly interesting, important and a good read. Opinion article by an Independent on the recent statement by U.S. Rep Allen West saying that "I believe there's about 78 to 81 members of the Democratic Party that are members of the Communist Party" in Congress:
    http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/15/opinion/avlon-west-communists/index.html?hpt=hp_bn7

    The communist thing always strikes a particular cord with me because it is just one of the most uninformed, over-used and incredibly ridiculous accusations one can make in American politics; yet it is still so common. Even the most progressive liberals are nothing close to what would be defined as communism, but now it’s at the point where even centrists that lean left are often called it. It really is no different from, as stated in the article, accusing tea party members (or even anyone leaning right) of being fascist Nazis.

    That would be absolutely wrong and inappropriate, would it not? So why is the opposite so casually common and allowed?

    And I'll be the first to admit that both sides are guilty of many forms of blatant exaggeration and falsehoods, either through not knowing better (likely the majority of cases), lack of a compelling argument, or attempting to rally the base and/or uneducated/ignorant around cheap talking points.

    But it doesn’t change that it is wrong and should be pointed out as so.

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    Replies
    1. RKen - good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

      First, thank you for posting this. I actually wish people posted more of these. When I do the Morning Headlines each morning, it's usually 3-5 links of basically "stuff that's going on in the news." It's what I find interesting, and it's an aggregated collection of simple news articles. Sometimes it starts discussions (which is the main purpose), sometimes it doesn't. What I hope for is more people doing what you're doing: I found THIS and why it's important to ME, RKen. Let's discuss. So thank you for that!

      In response to it, I would say I truly do agree with you. You make many great points. Progressive liberals, regardless of how much people like me disagree with their views, whether regular "Joes" or members of Congress are no where year close to being communist. Just as you say the Tea Party aren't Fascist Nazis. 100% true. Now, if Mr. West did the Loudmouth Elephant approach (you know I had to say that :-)... but when you think of it, he is being a loudmouth with this... and that's fine) he WOULD have backed it. Voter ID cards showing affiliation, meeting minutes roll call for communist party meetings, published articles in communist newsletters, etc. would all back his case. To me, it's a chant, and just like any other empty chant, if it has no, pardon my French here, "nuts" behind it, it's hollow.

      Now, even if it was the case, say Mr. West backed his claim and yes, there were 78-81 actually sworn and affirmed communists in the democratic party and/or in congress, how does it change anything? On one side, if this was completely unknown to the people who voted for them, and these voters are unhappy, they would vote them out and beat them in their reelection bid. If voters knew about this, then as much as so many people don't like communists in America, they still got elected in the democratic process we have established in this country. To me, that's pretty much how this goes.

      All that being said, yes, Mr. West should come up with his proof, or he has a weak case AND has probably killed any chance of being a VP potential.

      You're also correct in that both sides do it. For me, and you can probably predict me like reading a book now, I keep hearing from the left "republicans want to give more and more tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires while saddling the middle class with debt." It's the same mass blasting of pure false information, to me, and it's similar in nature to West's blast. It's pure junk on both sides, and you're right in that it needs to be vetted.

      Thank you again!

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    2. Good morning to you too LME! Weekend was great and the weather was beautiful, can't complain! Hope yours went well too.

      Happy to provide an article I found important. :)

      Also happy to hear we agree. Certainly made some additional good points too, in that making such a bold statement he should've at least tried to provide some sort of proof. And likewise, even if it did turn out to be true and known; they were elected by voters.

      In any case, I wish people would focus more on attacking the ideas than attacking the people themselves. This political atmosphere is becoming far too super-charged by the rhetoric of labeling anyone you disagree with as if they’re the enemy.

      We need to look past the labels of 'liberal' and 'conservative', or 'Republican' and 'Democrat' (or even Independent), and focus more on improving the actual plans, ideas, and issues.

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    3. For me, here is another one: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/16/romney-gets-fat-cat-treatment/comment-page-4/#comments

      Someway, some how, being successful and wealthy in this country became something for which we vilify people? Come on... honestly, this is ridiculous. We talk about constantly dividing people... this is another example.

      The article contains the paragraph, "When the wealthiest one percent pay a fair tax rate like the rest of us it keeps the American dream alive for everyone," the narrator in the commercial said. "So tell Mitt Romney, kittens are cute. One percent fat cats who won't pay their fair share? Eh, not so much."

      Grrrr... when people actually see the truth, that not only to the wealthiest taxpayers pay an overall greater effective tax RATE than the middle class, but they pay a much larger amount nominally, too... will they drop this lie that the middle class pays a greater rate than the wealthy? Sure, there are some that pay a lower rate, but the number is so statistically small, to even bring it up as a mention is a stretch at best.

      I'm truly getting tired of this lie. It's a lie, plain and simple, and for people to be swallowing it is truly sad.

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    4. Wow, I missed that article... but, talk about ridiculous.

      I can't even take that article and advertisement seriously, despite supporting the idea of the Buffet Rule. Embarrassing. Even I'm tired of hearing about this now, as I agree it is such a small issue it's just not worth this much attention.

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  2. Yah, definitely can't take it seriously. But there aren't many people like you and I. I think the majority of people just latch on to the lie. I vehemently oppose anything like the Buffett Rule as I never want the government pointing it's revenue collecting gun at a specific group of people and not everyone. That's a different story, but either way... too many people are just swallowing this lie.

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