Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press
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Month: January 2016
Seen On The Internet – 1-31-2016
I suspect Trump followers will say that the above is a “…librul conspiracy”.
Voter Asks Ben Carson: If You’re So Smart, Why Don’t You Accept Climate Change?
CREDIT: AP PHOTO/CHRIS CARLSON
CLIMATE PROGRESS
Ben Carson is not a fan of the uneducated.
At his town hall meeting in Iowa City on Friday, the Republican presidential candidate insulted people with low IQs and lamented that they were allowed to vote. He said it was “disturbing” that many people are unable to pass the written test to get into the military. He urged the audience to “read up” on the history of Islam, and said progressives are “dumbing down our society” with calls for political correctness.
All of this intrigued Daniel Schnall, 29, a graduate student at the University of Iowa and registered independent. Schnall asked Carson: If you’re so passionate about being educated, then why don’t you accept the science of human-caused climate change?
“You’ve spoken a lot about using common sense and using your brain, and I really appreciate that,” Schnall said. “And in some of the questions in the debates, you responded that you really seek the input of experts.”
He continued: “The experts in the scientific community overwhelmingly agree that climate change is a problem. Can you explain that discrepancy, and why you’re not willing to listen to the experts?”
For the entirety of his presidential campaign, Carson has been unwilling to say he accepts the mainstream scientific opinion that carbon emissions from human activity cause climate change, and that climate change will have catastrophic effects if left unchecked. “There’s always going to be either cooling or warming going on,” Carson has said, implying that humans have nothing to do with how hot the Earth is becoming.
On Friday, he responded to Schnall’s question by saying that the climate science is “politicized.”
“I don’t subscribe to the politicization of the environment, because that’s what leads to things like the Clean Power Plan,” Carson said, referring to Obama’s regulations to limit carbon emissions from coal power plants. “The EPA has said that if we implement every aspect of the Clean Power Plan, it will lower the temperature of the Earth by 0.05 degrees Fahrenheit… that’s the benefit. The cost is billions of dollars and millions of jobs. That doesn’t make any sense, because that is ideologically driven.”
There’s a lot to unpack about Carson’s comments on the Clean Power Plan. For one, he said that regulations would be useless because they would only make a small dent in global temperatures. But that’s scientifically misleading — no one regulation in any one country can be significant enough to make a big dent in global temperatures. However, considering the United States is currently the world’s second-largest carbon emitter and by far its largest historically, the idea is that the U.S. must act first to motivate other countries to do the same.
And his claim that putting carbon regulations on the already-dying coal industry would cost “billions of dollars and millions of jobs” is also dubious — according to multiple studies, the regulations would actually create jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors, since both will have to be increased to meet the regulations’ requirements.
But the most notable portion of Carson’s response was what he didn’t say — and that’s anything about the actual science of human-caused climate change. Carson said the EPA had become politicized and that the Clean Power Plan wouldn’t work, but he didn’t say anything surrounding the actual question, which was why, scientifically, he doesn’t accept that climate change is a problem.
Schnall recognized this, telling ThinkProgress that he was “not really” happy with the candidate’s answer. Schnall said that while he’s “not the biggest climate change advocate,” he asked the question because he was frustrated with the polarization of climate change in politics. And for Carson in particular, he just didn’t understand how someone could preach the importance of education while denying mainstream science.
“If he’s going to stand up there and say we need to listen to the experts, and we need to use our brains — 97 percent of the scientific community agrees on this one,” he said. “It’s not just politicizing the issue. It’s a little more than that.”
Koch network spent nearly $400 million in 2015
Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce
THE HILL
The Koch brothers’ donor network spent close to $400 million last year, and is on its way to spending an unprecedented $889 million supporting right-wing politics and causes during the 2016 cycle.
On Saturday afternoon, the Koch network assembled 500 wealthy conservatives — its largest gathering ever — at a luxury resort near the foothills of Palm Springs’ Coachella Valley.
About 150 of the donors are first-time attendees, and the rest are paid-up members of the conservative donor network, which requires a minimum annual membership fee of $100,000.
“Everybody, come out and identify yourself because this isn’t some secret cabal,” Charles Koch said in his opening address to the donors on the lawns of the luxury Renaissance Resort and Spa.
“I’ve been identified lately,” Koch said, referring to his recent media appearances to improve the Kochs’ public image, “and it’s not so bad, I’m still here. … I’m going stronger than ever.”
While billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch have historically kept their political and ideological activities secret, they made a strategic decision last year to “open up” the donor network, which had been portrayed by Democrats including President Obama and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, as a sinister force in American politics.
The strategy involved Charles doing a series of media interviews to promote his new book, “Good Profit,” and also allowing a small number of journalists into their exclusive retreats.
This Palm Springs retreat is the second time journalists have been allowed to attend. They had to agree not to name any donors in attendance who do not consent to being interviewed.
The Koch network hired out the entire Renaissance Resort and Spa. Koch staff and security guards are stationed throughout the resort and screened cars at the front gate to prevent infiltration. The hotel has a championship golf course, a sand-beach pool, and 100,000 square feet of meeting space. Hung in the hotel lobby is a giant banner announcing the theme of the event, “A Vision to Unleash America’s Potential.”
The donors gather over three days in breakout sessions and larger group settings to discuss their various policy initiatives, which include slashing taxes, government spending and regulations, and other less expected initiatives such as criminal justice reform. They also discuss politics; the rise of billionaire Donald Trump in the 2016 cycle has many Koch donors concerned, given his unreliability on conservative issues.
The network is now the most powerful force in right-wing politics, with a budget and technological infrastructure that rivals that of the Republican Party.
Many of the Koch network members – which include some of the biggest-spending conservative families in America, such as Michigan’s DeVoses and the Adelsons from Las Vegas – spend tens of millions each year advancing their favored politicians and causes.
In his introductory speech, Charles Koch told the donors he had four goals to change the trajectory of American government and society.
The first is to “reverse the policies that are moving us toward a two-tiered society,” which include corporate welfare.
The second is to end “irresponsible government spending.”
The third is to get governments at all levels to focus on what he sees as government’s “primary responsibility to people,” which is to “keep Americans safe.”
And fourth, protecting free speech, which is “under attack everywhere.”
“Now the tragedy is,” Koch said, “in my view, America is moving further and further away from this type of society. And we’re moving more toward of control, dependency, cronyism and poverty.”
Jonathan Swan
Virginia GOP Scraps Mandatory “Loyalty Pledge” for Primary Voters
Image Credit: AP
POLICY.MIC
The Republican Party of Virginia has given up on a plan to make all voters in the upcoming GOP primary sign statements saying “I am a Republican” after weeks of pressure from supporters of real-estate billionaire and presidential candidate Donald Trump.
A spokesman confirmed to the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the state party has abandoned the plan, which would force all people casting ballots for the Republican nominee for president to sign such a document. Virginia has an open primary, which means anyone can vote to choose the GOP nominee, not just members of the party.
News of the proposal being rescinded first emerged on conservative blog The Bull Elephant.
In December, Trump called the idea a “suicidal mistake” and said the Virginia GOP was “working hard to disallow independent, unaffiliated and new voters.”
Of course, Trump is the one who stands to benefit from defeating the proposal. As Mediaite’s Ken Meyer wrote in December, “There is a possibility that Trump’s frustration on this is due to how his supporters are mostly a mix of independents and hard-right conservatives who are disenchanted by the Republican Party:”
Three black pastors who are also Trump supporters filed a federal lawsuit against the Virginia GOP over the pledge earlier in January, according to the Washington Post. The party has denied opponents’ characterization of the document as a pledge or oath, previously releasing a statement saying it implemented “a far lower barrier to participation than in states that require party registration for voters participation in primaries.”
REALLY?
THE HUFFINGTON POST
Joe Raedle via Getty Images
DES MOINES REGISTER FINAL POLL: TRUMP 28, CRUZ 23, RUBIO 15…HRC 45, BERNIE 42… Caucus Tool Has Major Flaw…
Sunday Talk: The beginning of the end is near
DAILY KOS
In less than 48 hours from now, the (stupid) people of Iowa will gather in caucus locations throughout the state to cast the first “votes” in the 2016 presidential primaries—as mandated by the Preamble to the Constitution.
This is a perilous time for the GOP; despite an overabundance of polling and know-it-all pundits, many big questions remain unanswered.
Among them are:
• Is Canadian “anchor baby” Ted Cruzeligible to run?
• Why has God (Jesus) forsaken BenCarson?
• Is Jeb!—or anyone, really—the “smart Bush“?
• Has Marco Rubio’s “moment“—assuming that such a thing even exists—finally arrived?
• Time for some traffic problems in Des Moines?
• Where is Rand Paul’s Aqua Buddha now?
• Just who does Carly Fiorina think she’s kidding?
And, most (yugely!) importantly:
• Can Donald Trump harness enough “white power” to make America great again?
Stay tuned to find out.
Morning lineup:
Meet The Press: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT); Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX); Roundtable: David Brody (Christian Broadcast Network), Joy Ann Reid(MSNBC), Tom Brokaw (NBC News) and Jennifer Jacobs (Des Moines Register).
Face The Nation: Raging Narcissist Donald Trump (R); Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL); Pollster Ann Selzer; Roundtable: Kimberley Strassel (Wall Street Journal), Ed O’Keefe (Washington Post), Ezra Klein (Vox) and Ben Domenech (The Federalist).
This Week: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D); Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT); Raging Narcissist Donald Trump (R); Roundtable: Democratic Strategist Donna Brazile, Republican Strategist Alex Castellanos, “Independent” Strategist Matthew Dowdand Katrina vandal Heuvel (The Nation).
Fox News Sunday: Raging Narcissist Donald Trump (R); Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX); Roundtable: Brit Hume (Fox News), Kathie Obradovich (Des Moines Register), Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) and Anne Gearan (Washington Post).
State of the Union: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL); Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX); Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT); Roundtable: Republican Strategist Ana Navarro, Former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D), Radio Host Hugh Hewitt and Neera Tanden (Center for American Progress).
Evening lineup:
60 Minutes will feature: a hidden camera report on what happens when hidden cameras capture American lawyers being asked to move highly questionable funds into the U.S (preview); and, a report on scientists trying to get to the bottom of climate change and sea level rise by studying one of the largest glaciers in the Arctic Circle (preview).
Late night shows:
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Monday: Actor John Travolta; Actor Courtney B. Vance; Social Psychologist Amy Cuddy; Singer/Songwriter John Moreland.
Tuesday: Actor David Schwimmer; Preacher Joel Osteen; Singer/Songwriter M. Ward.
Wednesday: TV Personality Dr. Phil McGraw; Filmmakers Mark & Jay Duplass; Georgetown Prof. Michael Eric Dyson; Rapper Anderson Paak and the Free Nationals.
Thursday: TV Personality Michael Strahan; Comedian Samantha Bee; Rock Band Wilco.
Friday: Guests TBD.
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Monday: Reshma Saujani (Girls Who Code); Tuesday: Journalist Peter Bergen; Wednesday: Comedian Hannibal Buress; Thursday: YouTube Star Lilly Singh.
More>>>
10 things you need to know today: January 30, 2016
Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press
THE WEEK
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Stephen Colbert’s ‘Trump vs. Trump’ debate reveals just how meaningless but loud Trump actually is
Stephen Colbert (YouTube)
THE RAW STORY
Stephen Colbert celebrated Thursday’s Trump-free Republican presidential debate by holding his own Trump vs. Trump debate.
The “Late Show” host said Donald Trump, the GOP frontrunner, was “the star of this year’s top reality show,” so the debate just wouldn’t be the same without him,
But he said the real estate tycoon and reality TV star showed weakness by backing out of the debate to protest what he sees as “unfair” treatment by Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly.
“After all, why would he want to practice going head-to-head with a strong, blonde woman?” Colbert said.
Colbert then used video footage of Trump’s frequently contradictory statements for a “mano a moutho” debate.
For example, Trump said Jan. 17 that “no one likes” Ted Cruz “once they get to know him,” after saying as recently as Dec. 11 that he liked the Texas senator “a lot.”
Trump also said this month that he loved Iowa and its people, although he wondered during a speech in November just “how stupid are the people of Iowa?”
He described Clinton in July as the “worst Secretary of State in the history of the United States” — although in March 2012 he described her as a “terrific woman” and friend, adding, “I think she does a good job and I like her.”
Trump heaped praise on Kelly in 2011, telling her that he could never beat her skills as a debate moderator. “You have done a great job, by the way, and I mean it,” he added with a smile.
This week, however, Trump said he had “zero respect” for Kelly, adding that she’s not very good at her job and “highly overrated.”
“Mr. Trump, in the past, when you have turned against a woman in that way — she ends up with half your assets,” Colbert cautioned the twice-divorced candidate.
Watch the entire segment posted online by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert:
Cruz happy to let millions lose health insurance to repeal Obamacare
attribution: REUTERS
DAILY KOS
Ted Cruz predictably vowed to repeal Obamacare Thursday night despite the fact that millions of Americans have been relying on it for three years now.
Question: Senator Cruz, if you repeal Obamacare, as you say you will, will you be fine if millions of those people don’t have health insurance? And what is your specific plan for covering the uninsured?
Cruz: Sure.
We could stop there ‘cuz that pretty much says it all, but let’s do a deep dive, shall we?
Cruz: First of all, we have seen now in six years of Obamacare that it has been a disaster. It is the biggest job-killer in this country. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs, have been forced into part-time work, have lost their health insurance, have lost their doctors, have seen their premiums skyrocket.
Well that’s an exercise in magical thinking.
National Journal: Obamacare is Creating Jobs — Yes, Really.
Bloomberg: Obamacare is Spurring Startups and Creating Jobs.
On premiums, yes, some have risen and some have fallen. That doesn’t take into account the ability of many people to shop around for lower rates nor does it account for the tax credits for which a majority of Obamacare buyers are eligible. Here’s a good explainer.
Cruz: If I’m elected president, we will repeal every word of Obamacare.
Shocker. But remember, he’d still have to get repeal through Congress—where practically everybody, including his GOP colleagues, hates him.
Then comes his big plan for a replacement, which, once again, he’d have to get through a Congress that hate-hate-hates him.
First, he wants to expand competition. Thanks for the fresh thinking, Cruz. Republicans have been saying that for decades.
Problem: “The barriers to entry are not truly regulatory, they are financial.” In other words, health insurers aren’t doing it because it’s not profitable.
In 2012, Ms. [Sabrina] Corlette and co-authors completed a study of a number of states that passed laws to allow out-of-state insurance sales. Not a single out-of-state insurer had taken them up on the offer. As Ms. Corlette’s paper highlighted, there is no federal impediment to across-state-lines arrangements. The main difficulty is that most states want to regulate local products themselves. The Affordable Care Act actually has a few provisions to encourage more regional and national sales of insurance, but they have not proved popular.
Insurers have been muted in their enthusiasm for G.O.P. across-state-lines plans. Neither America’s Health Insurance Plans, the lobbying group for most private insurers, nor the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association have endorsed such a plan when it has come before Congress.
Cruz also wants to keep “government from getting in between us and our doctors.”**
(**Except when it involves women’s bodies. Then he wants a government free-for-all.)
And finally …
Cruz: We should work to de-link health insurance from employment so if you lose your job, your health insurance goes with you and it is personal, portable and affordable.
Oh, you mean scrap Obamacare for something more akin to what they have in CANADA. Hmm.
The Fifth Column 