Tuesday, August 28, 2012

UNBELIEVABLE! RNC Delegates Heckle/Boo Puerto Rico Representative. Lead Chants of "USA!"

This is disgusting.... RNC Delegates, LOTS OF THEM, heckling and booing the Puerto Rican representative. Welcome to today's GOP!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Rick Scott Threatens Firing of Elections Supervisor for the Crime of Encouraging More Voting

Crossposted as a Recommended diary on DailyKos

The Florida Keys elections supervisor is a man named Harry Sawyer. He represents Monroe County, is a lifelong Republican, and has held this seat for 24 years. Rick Scott threatened him a few days ago.

First, let me catch you up.

Florida's new Jim Crow laws cut early voting everywhere in Florida with one exception: the five counties that require federal preclearance due to their history of discrimination under the Voting Rights Act.

Rick Scott and his GOP minions are doing everything they can to limit opportunities to vote. In particular, they specifically ended the decade-long practice of being allowed to vote the Sunday before the election. You can vote the day before AND after, but NOT that Sunday. Why that day? Because that is the day that has the highest turnout for Latinos and African-Americans in this state: 30% of African-Americans voted that day in 2008. Churches organize a "Souls to the Polls" effort to get everyone in their congregations to the polls to vote: especially the thousands without cars or transportation, and those who have to put in long hours during the work week with several minimum-wage jobs to make ends meet. (Getting rid of that Sunday was such a victory for the GOP that I have heard it gleefully referred to as "Color Free Sunday").

Jim Greer, the former FL GOP chairman who was later kicked to the curb, talked openly about GOP strategy sessions to curb minority voting. Greer said the GOP in Florida has essentially given up on garnering minority votes, so it instead decided to limit their participation. This included a DEC 2009 meeting he spoke about in a court deposition:

“I was upset because the political consultants and staff were talking about voter suppression and keeping blacks from voting.”


One could have easily figured this out regardless, with the GOP legislature passing ridiculous laws such as putting a 48-hour deadline on registration forms (that had massive fines attached for each one received late), purging voters (87% minority), and significantly cutting early voting times.

But a federal court has said that the five Florida counties that fall under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, including Sawyer's Monroe County, could NOT limit the times that it has cut in every other county in Florida. The state failed to prove its case that limiting the hours wouldn't hurt minority voters (ya think??).

Rick Scott's voter suppression team, including Secretary of State Ken Detzner, (the last Secretary of State resigned in disgust over Rick Scott's voter suppression BTW), desperate to limit the days, proposed to have the five counties keep the shorter time span of only 8 days of early voting BUT keep the polls open 12 hours a day in those counties. They would accept longer voting hours as long as the days could be curbed, including the Sunday before election day.

Since it is technically the same amount of hours, the Court said they would agree ONLY if the supervisors of elections in each of those 5 counties all agreed. Rick Scott's Secretary of State held a conference call and tried to bully the five supervisors. Four out of five agreed, except for Harry.

He said the old early voting days worked great, and this new ploy would be less effective, disenfranchise minorities, and would also cost Monroe County taxpayers more in overtime pay. On the conference call the Secretary of State even admitted that their ploy would cost a lot more money.

Harry Sawyer was disgusted by the phone call, and said that the attempted suppression was not the legacy he wanted to leave.

The court clearly said that all five supervisors had to agree. Harry Sawyer said NO.

Rick Scott responded exactly how you would expect a criminal to respond. He decided to threaten to fire Harry if he didn't play ball. Scott promised to take "all necessary and appropriate action" to ensure that the days of voting are limited, and if that meant removing an elected Supervisor of Elections, he was prepared to do it.

Ironic. The Teabaggers in this state who claim to masturbate to the Constitution are very silent about practicing our fundamental right to vote. Yet this lone Supervisor of Elections is the only elected GOP official I have seen standing firm and fighting for our fundamental right to vote.

Harry retires this year, so Rick Scott's threat to remove him is pointless. It needs approval by the State Senate, and they don't convene until next year. However, Rick Scott could still cause havoc, such as possibly suspending Harry from his position.

Part of me hopes he does. Rick Scott is just tone deaf enough to make a martyr out of a fellow Repbulican who refuses to disenfranchise the very citizens he is standing up for; a man who is already becoming a national voice against the GOP's mission of voter suppression.

No doubt it would end up in court, as many of Rick Scott's initiatives do (costing us a ton of taxpayer money in the process). But the result oftentimes is Rick Scott getting humiliated. (This is why he is keen on attacking our courts). Usually Rick Scott is given a humble reminder from the bench that Florida is not one of his corrupt corporations where he can play CEO. He works for us, not the other way around.

So go ahead. Make my day, governor.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Last Week's Post Inspires Performance by OLB in WI

My previous post from last week included bumper sticker slogans that I had received from various readers. One of them was an anagram of the phrase "Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan". It was very clever: "MY ULTIMATE AYN RAND PORN".

An activist that goes by the moniker of Noise of Rain represents the Overpass Light Brigade that gained noteriety during the Walker Recall in Wisconsin. They often hold lighted displays over various overpasses throughout the area. Noise of Rain let me know that they planned on doing a performance using the anagram....

CHECK IT OUT!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Winners: Anti-Romney bumper sticker slogans!! (Full List)

Crossposted on DailyKos:


Hattip Ismay and everyone who entered. This is something we do every election. The full list is below:

Some you have heard before, most you haven't. Most are original, others can be found on websites from other progressives.

These slogans can be made into bumper stickers, T-shirts, signs for rallies, tags for blogs or facebook, or WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO...

If you actually want any of these slogans to be on an item, first Google the slogan to see if someone is already selling what you want. For original slogans, there are several places on the web you can make your own stuff: Places like makestickers.com, bumperactive.com, zazzle.com or cafepress.com.

Please let me know which ones you like, or give new ideas in the comments that I will update and display.

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Together We Can Build A Medicare-Free Future!

RepealReplaceRomneyRyan

Pharaoh was a Job Creator, so why did GOD side with a Community Organizer?

Mitt Romney thinks HIS tax history deserves more privacy than YOUR vagina.

ROMNEY/RYAN=VULTURE/VOUCHER 2012

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Keep your Mitts off my college kid's Obamacare!

Hey Mitt, Show us your worth certificate!

GOP = Goodluck Old People

Romneys Tax cuts don't trickle down - they just float offshore

Romney: People like him don't care about people like you

Romney: That guy just gives me the Willards
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F@ck the truth - Vote Romney/Ryan

Romney: I invented Obamacare before Obamacare was cool

A Danceyhorse in Every Car Elevator!

Mitt for Swiss Banker

Gekko/Galt 2012: Greed Is Good

Romney(R), brought to you by Wall Street

Romney: It's going to be his money soon anyway.

Romney/Ryan: Yes, We cOn.

Obama kills terrorists, Mitt kills jobs

ROMNEY-RYAN: FIRST SEAMUS. THEN GRANDMA. YOU'RE NEXT.
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Romney/Ryan: Hand Over Your Medicare!

Tax The Poor For Tax Cuts For The Rich - Vote GOP

Where are the tax returns?

Romney/Ryan=More Tax Breaks for Millionaires

Does Romney vote in the Caymans?

Romney: Kochsucker

Kill Medicare. Vote Mittens/Ryan.

The Buck Stops In Switzerland

Romney: No plan, No tax returns, No way!

ROMNEY/RYAN 2012 - Let 'you people' eat cake!
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Photo ID Mitt's tax returns

Help Mitt pay less than 1% in taxes!  Romney 2012.

Restore aristocracy. Romney-Ryan

Strapping granny to the roof of the car

The country is like a car - If you want to go forward, put it in D. If you want to go backwards, put it in R(omney)

Outsource Romney
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Prevent truth decay

Mitt got rich helping China spy on dissidents

Romneyhood steals from the middle class and gives to the rich

"I don't care about the very poor"-Mitt Romney

Romney/Bush: Same bad ideas, different spoiled rich kid

I'm from Wall Street and I'm here to help.

Hey Mitt: Corporations aren't people, and dogs aren't luggage!!
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Ruh-roh. RomRy? No!

Romney: Doing you doggie style

Mitt: Another mega-millionaire who paid no taxes

We work and pay taxes so Mitt doesn't have to

Mitt's a Twit

Bin Laden is dead, Auto industry is alive

Romney: A guy with that much to hide ought to be invisible
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Romney=Bush III
Romney stands for nothing

Guys like this don't help people like us

Believe in greed

Mitt doesn't just happen

If corporations are people, then the Mitt is a serial killer

DON'T make America Mitt's new dog!

Romney's Plan: WE pay higher taxes so HE can pay less

Made his money by outsourcing jobs and raiding pensions
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No Medicare; No Pell Grants; but another Tax Cut for the Rich.

Vote Romney-Ryan 2012

Vote Romney: F**k GM

Why should we be taxed more so they can pay even less?

Austerity for you, more breaks for them. RR 2012

Romney-Ryan: Because things can get sooo much worse.

Return to the great days of "W": Vote R-money
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Screw "you people". Vote Mitt.


Vote Mitt, because all scary brown people should be asked for their papers.

Tired of presidents with conviction? Vote Mitt.

Ayn Rand: Jesus was "weak" & caring for the poor "immoral". NOW do you understand these guys?

Romney/Ryan supports green policie$ -- for the 1%.
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Romney: Putting the CON in eCONomy

Dogs for Obama - we ride inside

I'd rather Romney fail now than later! Vote Obama.

Social Security is an earned benefit NOT an entitlement!

Romney = Citizens United
Obama = United Citizens

Romney: Standing strong for/against everything

Vote for me or I'll cut your hair too.

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If you think "illegals" are taking our jobs, then why do you support a "pioneer outsourcer" for president?

THEIR tax cuts are more important than YOUR grandmas

RR: We'll tell you our platform on 1/20/2013.
Heh heh.

Romney delivers Medicare to the Caymans

Restoring Royalty to America

We're buying the government. We'll buy you next.

RRx Couponcare

R & R for the 1% - Slavery for the rest

"I Got Mine" is not a national economic plan!

Bain and Pain

Hands Off My Obamacare!

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Jesus said feed the poor and heal the sick, NOT bleed the poor to feed the rich!

Stop the GOP War on Voting!

Vote GOP: Because blocking EVERY jobs bill to stop our recovery is a winning strategy.

People who can't afford health care should die or go broke trying. Romney 2012.

Romney: Obama is the most "Dangerous" president in America.
U know who else thinks so? Al Qaeda!

Next year, when the IRS asks for your tax returns, just moon them and tell them you've shown them enough.


We PAID $70,000 for WHAT?!?!


China: We Love Romney's Job Creation Plan!

Romney's "job creation" plan


Romney: "Corporations are people"

Name me one GOP president who has cut spending or the deficit...

Lying Sack of Mitt


UPDATED: Some new ones from comments:

Romney Fired Your Dad

Romney: First Republic Steel, then the USA

Paul Ryan:  Romney's mudflap

The wealthy want us poor and powerless
Don't vote against our own self interest.

Yes we Cayman

ROMNEY/RYAN: WE'RE THE WHITE GUYS!

Obamacare vs. Vouchercare

You pay taxes so we don't have to.

Romney/Ryan: Obey Your Superiors!

Romney/Ryan: The Power of Crass Commands You!

Mitt Romney '12: Berlusconi without the sex and alcohol!

Romney '12- Bully for America!

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Mitt - I usually fake laugh right before I lie

Romney 2012: Because $200 Million Just Isn't Enough.

Romney and Ryan: Inhuman and Inhumane

RomneyHood: Straight Outta Cranbrook

R-money: NOW HE'S COMING FOR YOUR LUNCH MONEY

Romney said he will cut the NEA: I guess ballet is only for horses


Romney: Because Scrooge Was a Rookie.

Run government like a Bain business: Cash out and drive it into bankruptcy

Fifty Shades of White

We whine harder

Mitt Romney has friends who own what you do

Memo to Paul Ryan: Ayn Rand or Jesus, pick one.

My way: No highway

No voting for you!

Mitt the Twit & Lyin' Ryan 2012

R/R: VOTE FOR PROSPERITY. OURS, NOT YOURS.

Romney/Ryan: Only you little people pay taxes

R/R: GOVERNMENT SUCKS, WE'LL PROVE IT!

Romney/Ryan: Because Social Darwinism is Back in Style

MITT ROMNEY The more you know The less you like

Rmoney/Ryan Road To Ruin

Romney: The Great White Dope

Corporations Are My Friends, You People

Obama cares, Romney scares





UPDATED: Hey Girl slogans for the big eared sexpot Paul Ryan:

Hey girl, I hope you're middle class because I'm totally ready to screw you.
xo Paul Ryan

Hey girl, got birth control? Not for long.
xo Paul Ryan

Hey girl, choose me, lose choice.
xo Paul Ryan

Hey Girl You'll love my choices for your body
xoxo Paul Ryan

Hey Girl, lets get rid of Social Security.
xo Paul Ryan

"Hey girl, you don't need Medicare for that hip replacement. You just need one of my hugs."
xo Paul Ryan

Hey girl, you look so cute when you're losing your reproductive rights.
xo Paul Ryan

Hey girl, you know what makes me swoon? Tax cuts for millionaires.
xo Paul Ryan

Hey girl, I know I'm only 42, but my ideas on women's rights are over 500 years old.
xoxo Paul Ryan


Hey girl, I would have voted for the Fair Pay Act, but Lilly Ledbetter? I hardly know her!
xoxo Paul Ryan

Hey girl, don't let the personhood issue get you down. You still get to choose what to make for dinner tonight.
xoxo Paul Ryan

Hey girl, I'm pro-life. But not necessarily yours.
xoxo Paul Ryan

Hey girl, let's get rid of Medicare!
xoxo Paul Ryan

Hey girl, admit it, vouchers are sexy.
xoxo Paul Ryan

Hey girl, I LOVE your body, I just don't trust you with it.
xoxo Paul Ryan

Hey girl, let's get rid of granny so we can be alone.
xoxo Paul Ryan

Hey girl, you're pretty fine but fertilized eggs should have more rights than you.
xoxo Paul Ryan

Hey Girl, I'm the last choice you'll ever be allowed to make.
xoxo Paul Ryan



ONE LAST GIFT: Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan is an anagram for....
"MY ULTIMATE AYN RAND PORN"

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Sunday, August 12, 2012

August 14 Primary: Seminole Democrat Blog Endorsements

Only a few races this year... and fewer endorsements.   Two to be exact.  Although I'll give some thoughts on each. 

MAKE SURE you vote on August 14th; for anything to ensure you are good to go for voting in the main election Nov. 2.   The GOP-controlled legislature made it very difficult to vote:  they cut early voting, they made registration difficult, don't have to give you information at the ballot box; and if you changed your address OR changed your name within the past four years, you will get a PROVISIONAL ballot, which almost never counts.

MAKE SURE YOU CAN VOTE.   Vote in the primary.  If you just can't make it Tuesday, at the very least check your information to make sure you are good to go for November at http://www.canivote.org/.
Now here we go:

ENDORSEMENT FOR SENATE:  Bill Nelson.

There is somebody else running (Glenn Burkett).  I don't care.   Bill Nelson can defeat Cornilius McGillicuddy IV (Connie Mack).  That is who we need.

ENDORSEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY DISTRICT 7:  No endorsement.

You can go for Jason Kendall or Nicholas Ruiz.  Nicholas Ruiz is definitely the more progressive of the two, but Kendall might stand a better chance in this gerrymandered, made for the GOP district that includes all of Bithlo.  Either one would be a good Democrat and a vast improvement over Mica or Adams.  Either one is also facing an uphill battle:

Compare for yourself here

See responses here

NO ENDORSEMENTS FOR JUDGES

For the 18th Judicial Circuit, Group 26:   Personally, for me, I cannot find any reason to not continue to support Jim Earp for Circuit Judge. He has done well and has a solid platform. I have nothing against his Challenger, Matt Aungst, and I like to have a choice (Earp has run unopposed before). I don't see anything in Aungst's platform that would give me concern, but I am confused why he hasn't been willing to face any editorial boards, like the Orlando Sentinel, to explain why he is running. Here are two comparisons side by side, read them and make your own decision

For County Court Judge Group 2:  I really have no strong feelings in this race.   Any of them I think would do a fair job.   Sometimes a Judge is a political hack who has an agenda, which needs to be called out.  That is not the case here.

For an endorsement, I would need to at least send a questionnaire or contact each candidate for a response, which I didn't do this year.  However, there is only so much they can tell you.  These roles aren't partisan, and they cannot talk about how they would have handled certain cases.   For a comparison,  I urge you to look video of their interviews before the Orlando Sentinel editorial board.  For what it is worth,  the Sentinel has endorsed Jeff Dowdy.



ENDORSEMENT FOR SCHOOL BOARD District 4:  Amy Lockhart. 
Mostly because her opponent is Sylvia Pond.  Four years ago I endorsed a Republican, Barry Gainer, over Sylvia Pond. I complained that Sylvia Pond was a right-wing radical who wanted creationism taught in science class. and that she had no business on the school board.    Unfortunately, she eventually did get elected (gotta hand it to her for persistance.)  In 2010, the Sentinel said Sylvia and the rest of the board deserved an “F” for their lack of honesty in statements  made about the half-cent sales tax for schools.  That is probably why she didn't respond to the Sentinel's questions this year.   Yes, I am sure that Amy is a GOPer as well, but between the two, I would pick her.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

13+ Reasons I am STOKED about Paul Ryan Pick

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