John Fugelsang thoroughly destroys Republican presidential hopefuls in this classic monologue about Jesus, Republicans and The Bible.
John Fugelsang – no stranger to religion, having grown up as a child of two ex-clergy members – tore apart every single GOP candidate in just over a minute.
The GOP just can’t stop mentioning Jesus, some of them claiming he asked them to run directly (guess the signal was weak when he mentioned which one). They bring Jesus up so much that he’s, “like a mascot holding pom poms on the sidelines” for the Republican party.
But why?
“I’ve come to view Jesus the same way I view Elvis – I love the guy, [but] the fan clubs scare me, like GOP candidates. We hear them all talking about Jesus all the time. They invoke his name incessantly. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get the actual Jesus of Nazareth to come back and run for President on the GOP ticket? They can’t pick a front-runner anyway.
“So wouldn’t the GOP love to get behind a peaceful, radical, nonviolent revolutionary who hung around with lepers, criminals and hookers? Who never spoke English? Who was not an American citizen? A man who was anti-capitalism, anti-wealth, anti-public prayer (yes, He was, see Matthew 6:5), anti-death penalty, but never once remotely said anything anti-gay, didn’t mention abortion, didn’t mention premarital sex? A man who never justified torture? A man who never called the poor lazy? Who never asked a leper for a co-pay? A man who never fought for tax cuts for the wealthiest Nazarenes? And who was a long-haired, brown-skinned (that’s in Revelations), homeless middle Eastern Jew?”
Through a rapid-fire of facts Fugelsang continues to blast the GOP’s image of the capitalist-white-Jesus that simply does not exist, finishing, “of course that’s only if you believe what’s actually in the Bible.”
“Can you imagine how the return of real Jesus would shake up conservatives?” he asks. “The point is, Republican candidates for the Presidency have no idea who Jesus really is. Or maybe they do, and like smarmy, snake-oil salesmen they are simply pandering to their Evangelical base.”
Fleming concludes by noting that “Either way, the real Jesus has already chastised them in unequivocal words.”
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” ~ Matthew 6:1 ESV
“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” ~ 1 John 4:20 ESV
“Our Principles PAC”, an anti-Trump Super PAC founded by a Romney 2012 campaign staffer, released an ad that shows repeated videos of Trump expressing non-conservative views.The goal of the Super PAC is, “Our Principles PAC has focused on conservative principles and ensuring that voters have the necessary information to make a wise decision on Election Day.”
Kansas’ school system has been in considerable trouble ever since the state’s Republican government decided to slash funding and change how money was distributed, which badly shortchanged poorer schools. Of course, Kansas Republicans didn’t really seem to care until they were sued, and the case went to the state’s supreme court. The court ordered them to fix the situation, and we’re just certain they put forth their best effort, but the so-called “changes” resulted in no change at all for most schools.
“Disparities among the districts remain inequitable and unconstitutional.”
If the legislature doesn’t fix the problem in a way that makes funding fairer for the poorer districts by June 30, the court has ordered that all schools will remain closed until the funding problem is resolved.
Governor Sam Brownback swept into office with grandiose promises about how tax cuts and budget cuts would result in businesses just flocking to the state, which, in turn would actually increase revenue for the state. The education funding crisis began after the GOP legislature and Brownback cut the state’s education budget last year, after Brownback’s promises of business windfalls failed to materialize.
That’s typical Republican thinking – these things never work that way. They live in denial, though.
Last year, six districts had to close before the official end of the year because their funding had run out. Fortunately, they’d already held enough days of school to still comply with the law, but they had to look for ways to tighten their belts without laying off teachers, which was quite painful for them.
All the state legislature did to address the problem was reshuffle dollars around, but didn’t increase education funding overall. According to U.S. News & World Report:
“Because the plan guarantees that no district loses any aid it already has been promised for the next school year, most of them —including the four suing the state — would see no change in their aid overall. Twenty-three would see small increases, covered by the state tapping an existing pot of emergency school aid.”
Forget Kansas’ students. Forget producing graduates that can help take the state—and the country—into the future. Cutting government spending is Republican dogma. They don’t care who they hurt, even if it means hurting children and the education they’re entitled to under their state’s constitution.
Trump gives big donations to people who can lower his building evaluations.
His no-expense-spared, world-class properties keep turning into huge losers when it’s time to report their value to the IRS.
Donald Trump’s presidential campaign disclosure reports declare that his buildings are worth a lot of money, in his view demonstrating phenomenal business acumen and how the Trump name adds luster. But in property tax filings Trump describes the same properties as almost worthless, asserting one of his biggest properties is in such an awful location that its retail space is unrentable—what he’d probably define as a loser.
There are multiple lessons in the different faces Trump presents to voters and tax officials that shine a light on Trump’s character and conduct. There are also lessons for you if you own a home or other real property—or plan to someday—because when big property owners pay less, more of the burden falls on you.
Consider first the Trump National Golf Club Westchester, located roughly 33 miles north of Trump Tower in Manhattan. It features a 50,000 square foot, $20 million clubhouse that Trump built after he acquired the 140 acres in the late 1990s. There are 18 holes and a majestic waterfall that Trump says is 101 feet high. Trump boasts that “no expense was spared” in creating a “world class” golf course.
It is located in Briarcliff Manor village, a tony Manhattan suburb where half the homes are valued at more than $700,000, according to town assessor Fernando Gonzalez. Houses listed for sale at that price typically are between 2,200 and 3,700 square feet and sit on a fraction of an acre.
In his presidential disclosure Trump valued the golf course and its massive clubhouse at more than $50 million. In tax documents Trump valued the same property at just $1.35 million.
That is a 97% variance, an irreconcilable difference that raises yet again questions about Trump’s integrity, not to mention the size of his fortune, which he has testified he values differently as his emotional state shifts, regardless of objective facts.
Trump’s presidential disclosure indicates he made $10.3 million off the golf course last year and early this year. That alone should sound alarms since businesses normally sell for multiples of their profits, not a tiny fraction of profits.
A Tale of Two Numbers
This was no one-time error. Throughout his career Trump has filed official government documents that place wildly different values on properties, presenting high values to bankers, investors and the public and small numbers to tax authorities and others, such as contractors and vendors seeking payment for work they performed. He has been accused of dishonest conduct and using mismatching financial data again and again by government auditors, bankers and investors, though he negotiated civil settlements in every case, many on terms kept secret because judges sealed the files.
In mid-May, when Brian Ross, chief investigative correspondent for ABC News, was about to air two reports about the vast difference in valuations—reports in which I was featured as a tax expert—Trump upped the golf course value for tax purposes to $9 million.
While that‘s more than six times Trump’s original figure, it is also at least 82% less than what he declared was “true, complete and correct” in his campaign disclosure filing, which declared the golf course is worth north of $50 million.
Understanding Property Valuation
Modest differences in property values are routine. It’s best to think of real estate as falling within a range of values, but not a range with a top that is more than 37 times the bottom.
As someone who writes about taxes, I decided a few years ago to challenge the re-assessment on my home a few blocks outside Rochester, N.Y. I thought the assessment was higher than the market value of my home. I also wanted to experience the appeals process to understand it. The town and I differed by $30,000, or 9%. The town lowered my assessment by $20,000 or 6% after looking at comparable sales in my neighborhood. That’s the kind of range assessors from New York to California tell me is common in appeals: single digits, not 97.3% or even 82%.
Keep in mind as you read this that the original federal levy, more than two centuries ago, was a property tax. Every farm and workshop in the original 13 states was assessed based on its size and the crops or products it could produce. The property tax is levied at the local and state level.
He is a black man with a gun in the car and stopped at a DUI checkpoint. He wants to know about 'Probable Cause' and to see a supervisor. The Supervisor came and was let go without showing license, registration and gun permit. He told the police he DOES NOT have to produce the requested documents unless they have probable cause.
Video uploaded to YouTube recently shows a man in Newington, Connecticut, refusing to fall for Police State tactics of intimidation at a police checkpoint — widely known as a sobriety or DUI checkpoint, but in reality what amounts to an excuse for cops to surveil and keep tabs on citizens.
Though The Free Thought Projecthas covered numerous checkpoint refusals over the years, this particular assertion of rights stands out for several reasons. This time, the driver said he had not one, but multiple firearms in his vehicle — and he still refused to give up his rights with stunning success.
“Ok, I need to see your license, your registration, and your insurance,” the officer says, approaching the man’s vehicle.
“Why?” the driver immediately and rightly asks. The officer flatly repeats himself, to which the driver respectfully retorts, “What is your probable cause for pulling me over, sir?”
Appearing somewhat bristled by the man’s refusal to give in, the officer says, “Ok, here’s the deal — you are required, when asked, to produce license, registration …”
“I am not required to produce anything without … probable cause,” the driver interjects. “What is your probable cause of asking me anything? Give me your supervisor,” he demands, adding, “You’re clearly not equipped to handle this conversation. Give me your supervisor.”
Though the officer ignores the man’s request and obvious understanding of his rights under the Constitution, repeating his demand for, essentially, ‘Papers, please’ — but the driver stands firm and asks for the supervisor each time.
Then the situation takes a serious turn when a second officer appears at the passenger window — pointing a gun at the driver who has done nothing but speak knowledge to police power.
“Don’t fucking move, you understand?” the second cop threatens; then addressing the first officer, “He’s got a fucking gun on his right.”
“Why are you pointing your gun at me?”
“Don’t move, Ok?”
“Ok, I’m not moving,” the driver responds. “Why are you pointing your gun at me? Clearly [the gun] is in the holster, so clearly it’s supposed to be there,” he notes of the gun on his hip.
At this point, the driver wisely asks for both officers’ names and badge numbers — not only to make filing a complaint simpler but because a gun was unjustifiably pointed at him moments before.
Even with the officers’ refusing to back down, numerous demands for the man’s license, pointing a gun at him, and general harassment — the driver persists in his request for the supervisor.
“Are you not listening to me?” he finally asks.
“It doesn’t go like this. You don’t get to ask the questions. I do. And if you don’t want to get arrested for interfering, and if you don’t want to have any more problems … All you had to do was answer a couple basic questions and you would’ve been on your way like every other vehicle,” the frustrated cop says. “So, you chose to not answer any questions, so now you’ve prolonged this stop.”
“Supervisor,” says the driver, unmoved by the cop’s spiel. “I don’t answer questions. Su-per-vis-or.”
Finally, the officer explains his supervisor is en route, so the driver turns the camera on himself, saying, “Now what’s going on, this illegal stop — a DUI checkpoint — and they’re asking to see my license and registration. No probable cause, so I’m not showing them anything. But we’ll just sit here.”
Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cops-pull-gun-armed-black-man-dui-checkpoint-wont/#kAoXPoiL6vIGOQjI.99
We know that the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill was one of the worst manmade disasters in history. Scientists are still desperately studying the behavior of marine life in the region hoping to find clues as to better understand just how much harm BP caused the ecosystem in 2010.
That’s why when a video showing a pod of orcas swimming very close to the mouth of the Mississippi River off the coast of Louisiana, scientists started paying attention. Whales have never before been seen swimming in the area. While orcas do enjoy coastal waters, they prefer to stay in colder waters.
The video was captured by a fishing group, who sent the footage to local news station WWLTV. Dr, Moby Solangi, who is the President and Executive Director of The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, told WWLTV:
“This is really an amazing story that you have told. We have not heard about this before.” Dr. Solangi then on went to say that, “That is concerning, you know. It’s when these animals start showing signs of change, we need to pay attention.”
In the video, which is embedded below, it is mentioned that there was another recent example of large marine life exhibiting bizarre behavior. Just two months ago, a group of young pygmy whales was found beached in Mississippi, hundreds of miles away from their normal habitat.
When asked about what role the BP spill may have had in these incidents, Dr. Solangi responded, saying:
“That certainly disrupted their habitat. There’s no question. These are top predators and if they’re moving somewhere, something may be going on.”
What’s even more disturbing about this is the revelation that BP is facing very few consequences for the marine armageddon they unleashed. In April, it was reported that BP will have to pay $20 billion dollars in a settlement for the disaster. Though, since we currently live in an age where corporations can get away with just about anything, BP is able to deduct more than $15 billion dollars of the settlement expenses in tax breaks.
Scientists are hard at work trying to figure out what exactly is going on in the Gulf region. This bizarre whale migration may just be the thing that points scientists in the right direction.
North Carolina is an emblem of the New South. In recent decades, significant population growth has dramatically altered the state's demographics. Young professionals, non-native Southerners, Latinos, and other minorities have migrated to the state due to the booming housing market, an enviable higher education system, and the economic draw of Charlotte and the Research Triangle. All these changes have had a profound effect on the state's politics and culture, turning a once reliably red state into a closely-fought swing state.
In general there are eight regions of the state. The Outer Banks, the Southeast, the Northeast, the Sandhills, and the Research Triangle make up Eastern North Carolina, while Charlotte, the Piedmont Triad, and the Mountains make up Western North Carolina. The east and west each have about half of the state's population.
Since the days of the Solid South, east and west have been the primary divide in North Carolina politics, with Democrats dominating in the east and Republicans having a base in the west. However, this disparity is diminishing due to partisan realignment and demographic change. Historically, the east-west divide stretched back generations: While the east was influenced by plantation agriculture and the related legacy of slavery, the soil further west was more suited to small farms and tobacco, resulting in a rural population that was far whiter, especially in Appalachia.
I have calculated election results for every presidential race from 1960 to 2012, as well as all statewide races for the last 20 years. Presidential election results from 1980, 1968, and 1960perfectly reflected the east-west divide, with Republicans winning all three regions in the west and losing all five in the east. In 2012, Obama won the combined regions of Eastern North Carolina by nearly 6 percent, while Romney carried the west by 9 points.
Downballot elections demonstrate an even starker contrast. Republican Gov. Pat McCrory barely carried the east by less than one point during his landslide 2012 win. In the last 20 years there were 80 non-presidential statewide partisan elections, of which Republicans won 28 and Democrats 52. However, only five of them saw Republicans carry the combined east, while just 18 resulted in Democrats winning the west.
Notice: I could only make it through a minute of her idiotic statements. (This may cause brain damage to listen to it - you have been warned.) Follow the link to watch Sarah sound stupid)
Sarah Palin made a surprise appearance at a Donald Trump rally in San Diego on Friday, telling Trump supporters that members of the political establishment "want you all to feel stupid."
“Stupid is some people are actually going to vote for the crooked one,” Palin said, referring to the "Crooked Hillary" nickname that Trump has given Hillary Clinton. Palin blasted the establishment and political commentators for doubting Trump's prospects as the Republican nominee for president.
“And media, you know, their head is still a-spinnin'," Palin said. "What you have tried to do to Donald Trump and to all of his supporters has only proven that we were right. Do you know how thoroughly distrusted you are, mainstream media? Well, he is now though, he is now we the people’s nominee. So suck it up, cupcake.”
Actually the phrase is "Suck it up Buttercup."
Palin also attacked President Obama for going to Hiroshima and not being a dick about the fact that we killed 146,000 people, mostly civilians, there. in 1945.
“Our commander in chief suggesting – actually, lying in suggestions – to the world that we were wrong to prove that we would eradicate evil in World War II.”
“You mess with our freedom,” she said, “we’ll put a boot in your ass. It’s the American way.” At that, the crowd chanted, “USA! USA! USA!”
Palin also referred to Donald Trump as a "golden wrecking ball." No, I am NOT kidding!
“Rattled, are they now?” Palin said. “Well, maybe it’s time that things get rattlin’.” She pointed out that the yellow Gadsden flag flown at tea party rallies depicts a rattlesnake “coiled, prepared, ready to strike.”
Gee I sure have not missed covering this lunacy.
Here is a video of Palin's remarks, but I warn you watching this could cause significant brain damage.
A strong warning that austerity policies can do more harm than good has been delivered by economists from the International Monetary Fund, in a critique of the neoliberal doctrine that has dominated economics for the past three decades. In an article seized on by the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, the IMF economists said rising inequality was bad for growth and that governments should use controls to cope with destabilising capital flows.
The IMF team praised some aspects of the liberalising agenda that was ushered in by Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, such as the expansion of trade and the increase in foreign direct investment. But it said other aspects of the programme had not delivered the expected improvements in economic performance. Looking specifically at removing barriers to flows of capital and plans to strengthen the public finances, the three IMF economists came up with conclusions that contradicted neoliberal theory.
“The benefits in terms of increased growth seem fairly difficult to establish when looking at a broad group of countries,” they said. “The costs in terms of increased inequality are prominent. Such costs epitomise the trade-off between the growth and equity effects of some aspects of the neoliberal agenda.
“Increased inequality in turn hurts the level and sustainability of growth. Even if growth is the sole or main purpose of the neoliberal agenda, advocates of that agenda still need to pay attention to the distributional effects.”
BERNIE SANDERS TROLLS 'TOUGH GUY' DONALD TRUMP AFTER GOP NOMINEE PULLS OUT OF DEBATE
Donald Trump decided against debating Bernie Sanders even after $10 million was pledged to host the event.
Bernie Sanders on Donald Trump, via YouTube
The speculation of a possible Donald Trump debate against Bernie Sanders was intriguing, though no one really thought it would ever come to fruition. Trump demanded that at least $10 million be donated for charity, but once the number was raised, the billionare real estate mogul backed off, much to the chagrin of Sanders.
Trump pulls out
The tech firm "Traction and Scale" offered $10 million to host the Trump-Sanders debate, meeting the previous requirements set by the Trump campaign. "We are willing to offer that $10 (million) donation in return for the opportunity to host the debate," Traction and Scale CEO Richie Heckler said. Upon hearing the news, Trump decided he was no longer interested in debating Sanders, saying it would be "inappropriate." The senator from Vermont found out about Trump's decision on Friday, and wasn't too pleased, as reported by Raw Story on May 27.
"Mr. Trump, what are you afraid of?" Sanders said after hearing about the news. "Mr. Trump comes across as a big tough guy," Sanders stated, going on to say, "If you're so tough, let's sit down and have that debate." Trump officially clinched the Republican nomination on Thursday, and made note of the possible debate during recent appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Love" on ABC.
Although not nearly as fun as guessing what that thing is on his head, speculating on what could possibly be in Donald Trump’s tax returns is proving to be a new fun game. 100,000 dollars on orange spray paint? A charity that seeks to shoot the poor into outer space? Those are all things you expect to find in Trump’s returns. Despite forcing President Obama to stop wasting time fixing the economy and focus on important issues, like producing his birth certificate, Trump has resisted calls to produce his tax returns.
Trump’s entire raison d’ etre is that he’s a super rich guy who gets things done. In other words, he borrows a sh*t load of money from other really rich people, then undersells his assets to avoid paying taxes. I guess that doesn’t look as good on a red cap, though.
ABC News recently revealed that Trump has deliberately undervalued the Trump National Golf Club in Westchester County, New York. This sprawling jackass factory consists of 147 acres that is said to be worth “more than $50 million,” according to Trump’s campaign disclosure form. And yet when it came time to value the property for tax purposes, this 50 million dollar boast was suddenly only $1.35 million. Rich guys have really, really great access to magicians operating as attorneys. Naturally, the proposed valuation has bewitched the small town of Ossining. Moreover, they say the new figure would cut Trump’s tax burden by 90 percent and dump that burden on everyone else.
Trump says he represents the little guy, but the little guy is going to have to pay his taxes for him here in Ossining, said Dana Levenberg, the Ossining town supervisor.
Watch the entire segment exposing this luxurious pile of horse sh*t:
When Donald Trump recently said he would love to have a debate with Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders during his appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” he probably didn’t think it would actually happen – despite the fact that he bragged about how much the debate “would have such high ratings.”
But it turned out that Sanders was more than happy to fulfill The Donald’s request, knowing full well that he could wipe the debate floor with the presumptive Republican nominee on any day of the week and not even break a sweat doing it. In teasing about the debate, Trump challenged Bernie to raise $10 million for charity – a mission that Sanders immediately accepted by responding on Twitter:
“Game On. I look forward to debating Donald Trump in California before the June 7th primary.”
So although Trump might have never actually intended on having a face off with the Vermont senator and is likely regretting opening his big mouth (for once), it looks like it might actually happen!
We can’t wait to see Sanders put Trump in his place, and fortunately we have something to hold us over. We can easily get a preview of what the debate is going to look like thanks to the Trump vs. Bernie Web/TV Series and live tour, which is the genius comedy project of James Adomian (Bernie) and Anthony Atamanuik (Trump).
These two comedians have brought Sanders and Trump to life with their spot-on impersonations, perfectly capturing Trump’s ability to be offensive and effectively avoid answering direct questions, as well as Sanders’ unwavering dedication to human rights movements and the middle class. This skit is absolutely brilliant, and really gives us a taste of what we might actually see before Trump gets his ass handed to him in real life.
Obama was adamant before his trip to the site where 140,000 died in the nuclear bombing on August 6, 1945 that this would not be an occasion to apologize, but rather to honor and acknowledge. “It’s important to recognize that in the midst of war, leaders make all kinds of decisions, it’s a job of historians to ask questions and examine them,” he said.
Predictably, some conservatives just couldn’t handle it.
For President Obama, the political correctness gloves have been taken off and placed firmly up Donald Trump’s butt. Without the concern of reelection the President has become increasingly vocal, commenting frequently on the barrage of hate, intolerance and ignorance spewing from conservatives. Thursday was no exception as Obama took to Twitter to respond to an interview in which Trump indicated that a Muslim database and special ID badges that identify Muslims are policies he would consider to fight terrorism:
“We’re going to have to do things that we never did before. And some people are going to be upset about it…. And certain things will be done that we never thought would happen in this country in terms of information and learning about the enemy. And so we’re going to have to do certain things that were frankly unthinkable a year ago.”
President Obama’s epic response may just be his best yet, “@realdonaldtrump Perhaps ignorant racists should wear special ID badges too. I’ll have one made up for you.”
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