Paul Ryan's Congressional Budget-Filled With Snake Oil

You've heard the saying "Don't let the green grass fool you", so listen to the truth when folks caution you not to be fooled by the Congressional Budget introduced by House Budget Chairman  Paul Ryan (R-WI). Have confidence in your ability to understand some basic things that Republicans try and make complex. Let's take it step by step so that things are easy to follow.

First of all, just remember that a budget is a basic plan designed to project what money will come in (revenue) and what money will be spent and on what.  It's the action plan for the nation to follow. Most reasonable folks agree that our country's current situation calls for us to bring more money in and cut spending so that we can decrease the gap in unfunded spending and reduce our need to borrow money from others. Unfunded spending and borrowing money creates the "budget deficit".  The budget outlines our priorities, what things we feel are worth spending our monies on.

Insensitive Reporting on Trayvon Martin

Of course people want to know more about Trayvon Martin.  I get that.  But, should a reporter go to the sterotype about chicken (and watermelon) when interviewing the murdered teen's mother? I couldn't believe the insensitivity of a reporter in the short clip below.  Listen and tell me what you think. Clearly, we have a long way to go in learning to communicate with one another.

Justice for Trayvon Martin

When I heard of the death of Trayvon Martin, my first thoughts were of my son and my grandsons for there but for the grace of God could be my family member. It's is every mother's nightmare. Yes, every mother, not just African American, or Hispanic, or Caucasian. When violence erupts, it tears through the heart of any family- race, ethnic background and age notwithstanding.

On February 26, 2012, a 17-year-old African-American named Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in Sanford, Florida. The shooter was George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old white man. Zimmerman admits killing Martin, but claims he was acting in self-defense. Three weeks after Martin’s death, no arrests have been made and Zimmerman remains free.

Racist Anti-Obama Bumper Sticker

Recently an image of a racist anti-Obama bumper sticker went viral on Facebook and other social media networks. The sticker reads: "Don't Re-Nig In 2012. Stop repeat offenders. Don't re-elect Obama."

Of course we all know that this is far from the first time that racially insensitive comments made about the president have captured the nation's attention. This particular campaign has distinguished itself from other Obama attacks, by being unapologetically race-based, with no real messages about policy.

GOP War on Women Health Continues

AZ Birth Control  Law Penalizes Women

Huffington Post Politics reports Arizona legislators have advanced an unprecedented bill that would require women who wish to have their contraception covered by their health insurance plans to prove to their employers that they are taking it to treat medical conditions. The bill also makes it easier for Arizona employers to fire a woman for using birth control to prevent pregnancy despite the employer's moral objection.

Moreover, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, the law would give Arizona employers the green light to fire a woman upon finding out that she took birth control for the purpose of preventing pregnancy.

The Fight for Contraception: Look at Unmarried Births

Believe it or not, "Righteous Rick" Santorum was right about the number of unmarried births in America, so I don't understand his war on women's health with his stance against contraception.

According to 2009 data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 41 percent of all births were to unmarried women. The percentage has risen steadily since at least 1980, the earliest year for which data was provided in the CDC report. In 1980, it stood at 18.4 percent. By 1990, it was 28.0 percent. And by 2000 it was 33.2 percent.

"It has been increasing over the last 50 years," said Tom W. Smith, a senior fellow at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago.

I Agree With Ann Romney-Cut Her Some Slack

Image via Wikipedia

When I first heard about Ann Romney's recent remarks, I wondered what she could be thinking.  All the media pounced on was her statement "I don't even consider myself wealthy", which was just a portion of her remarks. I've learned from past media coverage not to buy a pig in a poke.  Ask President Obama, Shirley Sherrod, Sandra Fluke, and others about how taking a statment out of context creates a wrong impression and does not accurately reflect the individual's message. Unfortunately changing a message for political gain is a nasty trick that continues to grow because it often works and carries a small price tag..

War on Women??? There's Enough Blame to Go Around

Today I read two thought-provoking articles worthy of note.  Daily Beast Columnist Kirsten Powers' article "Rush Limbaugh isn't the Only Media Misogynist" gave me pause to examine myself and others on the issue of the "war on women". As I pondered that article, I stumbled on Washington Post reporter Karen Tumulty's  article "Rush Limbaugh Not the Only Culprit, left guilty of misogyny" with a similar message.

Ron Paul: No Federal Money to Tornado Victims

Here's what Republicans mean when they say get rid of big government.

Ron Paul has a message for victims of the tornadoes that killed dozens of people in the South and Midwest: buy insurance.
"There is no such thing as federal money," he said Sunday on CNN’s 'State of the Union.' "Federal money is just what they steal from the states and steal from you and me. The people who live in tornado alley, just as I live in hurricane alley, they should have insurance."
The libertarian-leaning presidential candidate went on to reiterate his opposition to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and suggest the National Guard play a key role in the aftermath of natural disasters.

Another Nasty Newt Lie Uncovered

"The story is false".

That was Newt Gingrich's memorable response several week ago to moderator John King after King opened the CNN debate with a question about Gingrich's ex-wife's claims that the GOP hopeful sought an open marriage. The rant was a crowd pleaser and not only allowed Gingrich to shake off the rather explosive allegations, but even to gain a little more of the all-important political momentum.

Politics 2012: Stop the Madness

When I talk with my sister, she often tells me about a frustrating incident she’s experienced and closes by saying, “stop the madness”.  I think about that phrase when I view the latest political news featuring the antics of the presidential candidates.  Then I watch feedback from all the stations’ contributors, visiting show hosts, politicians from both side of the aisle, and anyone else who has an opinion on the subject being discussed. When all is said and done, I’m feeling my frustrations increase and I want to shout “stop the madness”.

Take a page out of the playbook for the headlines on today’s news circuit:

Senate rejects Republican birth control challenge The Senate Thursday defeated a proposal that would have allowed employers and health plans regulated by the 2010 health care law to opt out of paying for medical services (specifically contraceptives) that are contrary to their religious beliefs or moral convictions.