More on the Hillary problem

This sort of covers it.

lately, Hillary is doing everything in her power to tell the Democratic base (Progressives, People of Color and the LGBTQ Community) that she doesn't need them. Guess what, we don't need her either.

The Hillary problem

Hillary Clinton has issues.  An argument can be made that her surreal lie about Reagan and AIDS is a symptom of a much deeper problem. It has not gone unnoticed that she praised War Criminal Henry Kissinger, decried Reconstruction as a bad thing and called young black men "super predators" that needed to be "brought to heel". Is Hillary really the sort of person that the Democratic party of 2016 should choose as its standard bearer?

#WhichHillary

#WhichHillary exploded on Twitter after a video of her dismissive behavior toward Black Lives Matter activists went viral.

Now it’s being used to challenge everything from Clinton’s relationship with Wall Street to her record on gay marriage to her record on mass incarceration. But the hashtag isn’t just being fueled by the Black Lives Matter movement. It’s also getting a boost from Bernie Sanders’ army of Twitter supporters.
The hashtag reflects a new reality for political campaigns. Even if Sanders has vowed not to go negative, his followers online haven’t taken the same oath. Social media gives them the microphone to do it. For Clinton, the timing couldn’t be worse, as both she and Sanders have been working to court black voters in the lead up to the South Carolina primary.

Wired on #whichhillary

Some days I can barely stand it

If this doesn't piss you off and break your heart, then fuck you.


Offered without further commentary because, really, I have no words.

Colbert and Black Lives Matter

Stephen Colbert is a reasonable man. As such, he supports humane causes. Recently he has taken to wearing a Black Lives Matter bracelet. Apparently, the slimebeasts that work at FOX NEWS do not approve. From Crooks and Liars:

In case you were unaware, the movement that was formed in support of all the Black lives that have been taken by law enforcement is too controversial and no one in the MSM should pledge their support. I figured that showing solidarity with a particular demographic, who has been clearly marginalized and targeted, is something anyone with human feelings could get behind. Apparently, the folks at Fox 'News' do not see any reason to support a cause if it is associated with equality, civil rights and ethnic groups other than Caucasian, and damn it, Stephen Colbert should know better.

the story

They quote Tucker Carlson (Neandertalis Moronis):

 So it's possible [Colbert] is so rich, famous, a celebrity guy, so totally out of touch he doesn't fully understand what that represents. But here is my concern, obviously Stephen Colbert is a talented character, but there is also a strain of self-righteousness in his comedy. I don't think it -- I mean, do you really want to get into this your first week on air, diving face first into the most divisive social movement in America?

Daily Kos has some reaction

It is so weird that these people think that somehow Colbert has injured his reputation by having empathy and humanity. Seriously, fuck these fucking fucks. 

Fixing the police.

Campaign Zero


I like these common sense ideas to fix the issues our society faces with police. I like these ideas a lot. I would shuffle the numbers a bit (I think demilitarization is more pressing than community representation, for instance), but this is a workable plan. Put it on a ballot. I will vote for it. I'll fight for it. 


hat tip to Balloon Juice

This image says so much

Bernie Sanders and Black Lives Matter

I have long believed that when you share common cause with someone, you should work with them even if this involves overlooking their flaws or other issues on which you do not agree. As an example, I am an Atheist. I still find myself allied with religious people against the death penalty. I will stand side by side with deeply religious people whom I find to be deluded. I will fight against state sanctioned murder with these folks, knowing full well that at another time I may be shouting them down outside an abortion clinic while they wave crazy religious signs and try to block access.  I accept their friendship on the issue for which we share a common cause and goals.

I support Black Lives Matter. I believe that most of the leaders of that movement are committed, reasonable, kind people working to improve the world. If I should learn that those leaders were actually dicks; mean spirited cruel people, I would still work with them. Want to know why? Because  unarmed black men and women are being murdered by the police. Because black children are being murdered by the police. This must stop. Anyone who isn’t part of the solution is, as the old saw goes, part of the problem.

My question to BLM is this: why attack your natural allies? Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton and Martin O’Malley are not the enemy. They are the candidates that, if elected, would actually attempt to do something about police brutality and racism.  Sure, ambushing Bernie gets headlines, much imagine the headlines if we shut down a Rubio or Walker event.  Imagine if we forced Jeb! To answer some questions about mass incarceration, police racism, and the militarization of police forces. Imagine that.

I’m not telling anyone what to do (and no matter what, this movement will not lose my support, it is too important for that). I’m just wondering why we can’t all work together toward what are the common goals of the left.

Just my two cents. It probably isn’t worth that much

The Police

Oh my fucking gawd.

A police officer in Alabama proposed murdering a black resident and creating bogus evidence to suggest the killing was in self-defence

He's awaiting trial, right? Nope.

Officer Troy Middlebrooks kept his job and continues to patrol Alexander City after authorities there paid the man $35,000 to avoid being publicly sued over the incident. Middlebrooks, a veteran of the US marines, said the man “needs a god damn bullet” and allegedly referred to him as “that nigger”, after becoming frustrated that the man was not punished more harshly over a prior run-in.

2015, boys and girls. And still.

Middlebrooks allegedly said “the police were going to pull [Bias] aside on a routine traffic stop and [Bias] would get killed”. According to the lawsuit, which has since been filed to court in a separate ongoing case against the city, this prompted the brother-in-law to retrieve a voice recorder that Bias had been carrying around with him in an attempt to monitor alleged harassment by police, and then return to the conversation with the officer.

On the recording, Middlebrooks is heard suggesting Bias had been behaving threateningly towards his relatives. The officer said if he were in the same position, he would “fucking kill that motherfucker with whatever I had in that fucking house”.

This is the fucking planet we live on.