October 10, 2015

Fox's O'Reilly Calls Media Matters A "Hate Group" | Crooks and Liars

Oh dear. Media Matters has apparently done something terrible to annoy Bill O'Reilly and Stuart Varney to the point where they're foaming at the mouth and calling Media Matters a "hate group," a pejorative O'Reilly has used against the organization in the past.

It began gently enough, with them agreeing that Media Matters is really just a "far-left propaganda machine." And then they ramped it up, suggesting that their tax-exempt status should be taken away because...hurt fee-fees.

Fox News has been after Media Matters for years. At one time, they had a page up on their website with a petition inviting viewers to sign to have their tax-exempt status revoked.

Media Matters is the left-side equivalent to the right-wing's Media Research Center. No one is calling for MRC's head on a platter, so what's got Bill-O's panties in a bunch?

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/10/oreilly-calls-media-matters-hate-group

October 9, 2015

"We Did it Together,' Says Tunisian Co-Winner of 2015 Nobel Peace Prize | NPR

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/10/09/447110303/2015-nobel-peace-prize-goes-to-tunisian-quartet-of-mediators


"National Dialogue Quartet, a group that helped preserve Tunisia's dreams of democracy in 2013, has won this year's Nobel Peace Prize, with the Nobel Prize Committee citing its "decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia."

"We are here to give hope to young people in Tunisia, that if we believe in our country, we can succeed," said Ouided Bouchamaoui, president of The Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, a group that's part of the Quartet.

Talking by phone with a Nobel representative today, Bouchamaoui was asked if the group has a leader; she replied, "No, it's a collaboration. We did it together, the four of us.""



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"The Quartet, made up of the General Labor Union; the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts; the Tunisian Human Rights League; and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers, was formed in the summer of 2013 to act as mediator between the warring parties."

"The committee held Tunisia up as an example of a peaceful transition to democracy in a region mired in violence."

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A triump of diplomacy and what the Nobel Prize Committee Chair called a result of the force of "moral authority".

Official Press Release:

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2015

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2015 is to be awarded to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet for its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011. The Quartet was formed in the summer of 2013 when the democratization process was in danger of collapsing as a result of political assassinations and widespread social unrest. It established an alternative, peaceful political process at a time when the country was on the brink of civil war. It was thus instrumental in enabling Tunisia, in the space of a few years, to establish a constitutional system of government guaranteeing fundamental rights for the entire population, irrespective of gender, political conviction or religious belief.

The National Dialogue Quartet has comprised four key organizations in Tunisian civil society: the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT, Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail), the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA, Union Tunisienne de l'Industrie, du Commerce et de l'Artisanat), the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH, La Ligue Tunisienne pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme), and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers (Ordre National des Avocats de Tunisie). These organizations represent different sectors and values in Tunisian society: working life and welfare, principles of the rule of law and human rights. On this basis, the Quartet exercised its role as a mediator and driving force to advance peaceful democratic development in Tunisia with great moral authority. The Nobel Peace Prize for 2015 is awarded to this Quartet, not to the four individual organizations as such.

More: http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2015/press.html

October 8, 2015

Amnesty International Says The U.S.-Supported Coalition In Yemen Is Committing War Crimes

Source: Amnesty International/Think Progress

'BOMBS FALL FROM THE SKY DAY AND NIGHT': CIVILIANS UNDER FIRE IN NORTHERN YEMEN

A devastating air bombardment campaign launched in March 2015 by a coalition led by Saudi Arabia has killed and injured hundreds of civilians in Yemen, many of them children. The governorate of Sa’da has been particularly targeted, as it is the stronghold of the Huthi armed group, and its capital Sa’da city has suffered more destruction as a result of relentless coalition airstrikes than any other city in Yemen. Much of the city and its surroundings are in ruins and most of the civilian population was forced to flee. This report details the results of Amnesty International field investigations into 13 airstrikes in Sa’da carried out between May and July 2015.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde31/2548/2015/en/

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Think Progress article:

"In March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition began bombing Yemen in an attempt to support the embattled regime and counter the advances of the Houthi rebels. This coalition, supported by logistics and intelligence provided by the United States, has now been accused of war crimes in a recent report by a prominent international rights group.
“The coalition airstrikes investigated by Amnesty International in Sa’da governorate have involved serious violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes,” the report, published this month by Amnesty International, reads."

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/world/2015/10/07/3710223/heres-why-the-us-may-be-complicit-in-war-crimes-taking-place-in-yemen/

October 5, 2015

I would like to ask the Head Terrorist of the NRA just one simple question, if I may.

And for contrast:

October 4, 2015

How Australia and Britain Tackled Gun Violence | NY Mag

Then they tackled the related issues, so of course many things, many laws, can be easily done if there is the will...but the way is blocked by the cowards of the NRA and their cowardly GOP puppets in Congress, the only body that can do something and coincidentally and fortuitously is in session and exists to do one thing and one thing only.....pass many laws!

Emergency national legislation passed quickly after the infamous Port Arthur mass murder with guns in Tasmania in 1996, because to not take action was deemed insane.

Australians were shocked and horrified - versus Americans who have apparently become numb and despondent in the face of the perceived impossibility of rewriting laws passed by Men by other Men.

Laws passed by Men can be, get ready for it.......changed by new laws passed by Men!

Shocking, but true!

And, more shocking news, the second amendment has nothing to with rightly being shocked and horrified by scene after scene of men, women and children being torn apart daily by one of the 300+ million guns in America staining the streets in rivers of blood.

300+ million! Enough scrap metal to build an entire new Pacific Fleet.

"The massacre shocked and horrified Australians, and in just 12 days the government proposed and passed the National Firearms Agreement and Buyback Program. The new gun laws included a ban on many types of semi-automatic, self-loading rifles and shotguns. Each gun required a separate permit with a 28-day waiting period, and Australia created a national firearms registration system. Guns could only be sold by licensed firearms dealers, and limits were placed on the amount of ammunition that could be sold. Firearm owners had to be 18, complete a safety course, and have a "genuine reason" for owning a gun, such as sport shooting, hunting, or occupational requirements ("personal protection" did not count as a legitimate reason). Licenses expired every five years, and could be revoked if police found "reliable evidence of a mental or physical condition which would render the applicant unsuitable for owning, possessing or using a firearm."

So please do not insult me by telling me or anyone else with half a brain and half a heart that nothing can be done.....defeatism and idiocy are not liberal values.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/how-australia-and-britain-tackled-gun-violence.html

September 30, 2015

Ten Mindbending Facts About Water

http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/facts-about-water/

10. Earth Doesn’t Have as Much Water as you Probably Think it Does



9. Europa Actually Has Much More Water Than Earth

8 more things you need to know about water at the link.

September 24, 2015

Who Is Voting For Trump For President? The Farce Report Interviews Actual Trump Voters.

"Did you watch the Republican debates? Plenty did and the GOP polls are indicating that Donald Trump is the frontrunner for president. With all his wild antics and offensive quotes, we can’t understand who is voting for Donald Trump. If he’s leading this high in the polls somebody, somewhere wants Donald Trump for president. We just had to know who.

Our crack team of reporters hit the streets and found people that are ready and willing to vote for Donald Trump. Of course, we asked them why? How? What in the? And, of course, their answers were priceless.


Whatever you think about the American people, think again. These Donald Trump supporters will blow you away. Watch the video to see why these men and women want to vote Donald Trump for president."

SHARE this video to spread the word about Trump and his supporters.

September 24, 2015

Right Wing Media Lash Out At Pope Francis During U.S. Visit | Media Matters

From David Brock's Media Matters watchdog of the media:


Right-Wing Media Lash Out At Pope Francis During U.S. Visit

Research 8 hours and 30 minutes ago ››› JULIE ALDERMAN & NICK FERNANDEZ

"Right-wing media are attacking President Obama and Pope Francis for what they're characterizing as the hypocrisy and cowardice of their joint remarks at the White House marking the beginning of the pope's first-ever visit to the United States.

Pope Marks First Visit To U.S. By Visiting Obama At The White House

Pope Francis Meets With President Obama On The First Full Day Of His U.S. Tour. Pope Francis spent the morning of September 23 at the White House on the first full day of his tour of the United States, which will include stops in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia. President Obama welcomed the pope on the South Lawn of the White House, where both leaders gave a brief public remarks that saw the pope endorse Obama's climate change agenda."

Read More: http://mediamatters.org/research/2015/09/23/right-wing-media-lash-out-at-pope-francis-durin/205746

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The list of crazed right wing babblers quoted in the MM article forms a long and convenient reference list of right wing hate sites and is a clear lesson in who they really are.....messengers from sites without any message a sane person would want to hear.

September 22, 2015

Hillary Clinton on Keystone Pipeline: "I Oppose It"

Source: NBC News

NBC News


Hillary Clinton on Keystone Pipeline: 'I Oppose It'

TUE, SEP 22

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton announces in Iowa that she does not support the Keystone pipeline.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/hillary-clinton-on-keystone-pipeline-i-oppose-it-530326595631

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Video at link of live announcement.