If we had President Obama chasing down nothing but how much of our tax dollars go to fund religious organizations that discriminate he'd have a full time job--more on this in the diary-- but it's going to get a whole lot worse.
Reuters reporter James Vincini has looked into the Citizens United decision and concluded that, while it may involve business, that's not what the Justices were trying to guarantee with their appalling act. So what exactly were they trying to get done?
Time was running out. The wild liberals had taken over, it was now or maybe never--so they picked this case, stretched it into two sessions, twisted and tortured the process so their social agenda could finally be done. (If you haven't read about it, I'm detailing what they did (in one of three diaries to come), unprecedented in SCOTUS history--taking the decision to do two separate deliberations in order to discuss a provision that was dropped by both sides. What were they trying to accomplish, that would cause the to reach so far from anything any court in our history had done?
Vincini concludes (with good reason), that it's a social agenda. Fundamentalist leaders now have a clear path to support candidates to decide how we worship, whether or not gay people are equal under the law, whether or not God meant women to have access to birth control, and whether children ever learn science as they believe children played with dinosaurs. So was it Adam and Eve Flintstone?
Supreme Court moves right, focus on social issues
James Vicini - Analysis
WASHINGTON
Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:55pm EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court's conservative majority has drawn a rare rebuke from President Barack Obama for its corporate political spending ruling, but the justices are likely to move slowly into the economic arena, with hot-button social issues the main battleground.
and the economic issues...
"The court has stayed away from redefining federal power over the economy, and that's very unlikely to change.
Not just any social issues, hot button social issues... the one's we almost lost under Bush. The Supreme Court only hears about two percent of the cases put before it each year. The rest are heard by federal circuit judges around the country. So now, a church can pour money into a local school board, they can decide to teach creationism, someone will have to come forward to sue them, then the circuit court judges appointed by Bush will be there to decide. There are some 90 vacancies in those courts now. The process to approve Obama appointees is makes DADT look like it's proceeding at lighting speed.
And wait until you see the new Citizens United smear campaign against Obama. If he has the guts to run against it and his "base" that we've heard a million times is lost, well then he's the bravest man alive.
Citizens Unitedhttp://www.citizensunited.org/], the very group who started this in the first place (with the Hillary film) is all about the fundamentalist evangelical agenda. First it offers the new film, by Newt Gingrich and his wife, designed to demonstrate what a properly Christian Country should be. The film "Rediscovering God In America II, Our Heritage" can be purchased with a Fred Thompson offering called "Uncommon Valor" an upclose look at what the war in Iraq was like. Helpful if God decides we have to go back and win.
You won't find anything about big business on their site, just plenty of quotes from all your favorite conservative Senators, and a lot of Christian propaganda. In fact the President of Citizens United is David Bossie. Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to Bossie, Gingrich and their long and unholy alliance.
So, where do we stand. We don't. They've won as of now. Even Chuck Schummer's legislation addresses 501(c)4, 5 and 6 entities. C 3's are religious. And now, they don't even try to pretend that churches aren't political, it's blatant. I read that the great friend of Newt Gingrich, James "King of Pain" Dobson had decided to step down. He will forever be known for his books about hitting children, with God's blessing.
Was Dobson really walking away? A closer look at his "resignation" statement proved there was less there than meets the eye. Dobson vowed to continue with his daily radio broadcasts, which are heard by millions, and pledged to continue mailing monthly letters on "culture war" issues to his supporters.
In addition, Dobson promised to continue issuing personal political endorsements. At the end of the day, it seemed, not much had changed at FOE. Dobson dropped a title and some administrative duties, but for most listeners to his broadcasts or readers of his bulletins, nothing will have changed.
He will not stop any of his personal political endorsements. Far from it. He plans to make sure Newt Gingrich or some other "God will take everything from the rich and give it to YOU liar." That's what they promise.
I have a sister. She has three children. Now on her facebook page she tells you about her 2 children. You see, her gay child died at 16. Now he's with the Lord and she'll see him again. Meanwhile she's got her pot of gold coming, no matter how mean she is from now to them. She's been faithful to the faithful. Yes, they have them suckered. Well, the crowd I know. After my last plea (to my other nephew) just not to let them tell him how to vote, think for yourself on that at least... my niece called crying because she wouldn't see me in heaven.
I am so sick of their shit I could die. They demonize government--of course-- they don't want any laws on what they do. I know the former CEO (8 years ago or so) of one of America's largest three companies. They were giving same partner benefits a long time ago.
But you know who's really fooled, it's not the fundamentalists. It's you. Yes, the fundies made a concerted effort to get control of the nut job crowd. Who do you think made the creationist museum? But THEY are the bad guys. They have turned YOU on your own Constitution. Just wait. When it's all gone it will be Newt, or James Dobson, or god forbid Sarah Palin who comes out on top. You need a little proor--who is the one group left out of Chuck Schumer's bill--right churches. They don't even have to overbid companies.
And who just put out the DVD that is going to smear President Obama and take away your best chance at DADT? That's right, Citizens United--ALREADY. It won't be DADT in the service, it will be DTOYD.
You hate government, well I remember when it guaranteed all my free speech. Right before all the media in this nation was owned by one man. Where do you think CNN checks to be sure they have the story? It's not media matters.
Those big CEO's you hate so much... well some of them are getting serious death threats, one is terrorized, because he's trying to stop them. They are DEMOCRATS. They were trying to make the world a better place. They personally make Brangalina look like they give a pittance to Africa. I talked to the wife of one of them 2 weeks ago. They were so frightened they had to stop working against the fundamentalists. They're on YOUR side.
But you'll never know, cause you haven't written a piece asking for help for US. They think, and rightly so, that you hate them too. But do you take the time to know them as people? Do you know every CEO is evil? Well, guess what, about half of them are Democrats. Half. And I'm not talking mid size companies, (but they're not the global giants either), just your average company who hires 20 thousand or so people, including in your town.
They are scared sick their grandchildren will not grow up in a free country. They can't move... they can't move three children, three spouses, 7 grandchildren, and all the spouse's families. Their last warning was getting their front yard ripped to pieces, their house spray painted, their lives threatened by name.... what, don't read about that in the Huffington Post? Guess not. Wouldn't want to offend the republicans on the site.
You don't get it-- if a company buys a Senator, their CUSTOMERS won't like it. Their CUSTOMERS are more Democrats and Independents than republicans. They will lose CUSTOMERS. Not to mention, go sit in on a shareholder meeting near you. Talking about a bunch of mad people. Half of them are DEMOCRATS. They don't like their money spent on republican war mongers. I talk to them every day. They're frozen with fear.
There are far more of this type CEO than the pigs at the trough. FAR MORE. If they weren't getting so much hate from the left they could have helped us win. Anyone needs a populist base. The fundamentalists have one, the Democratic Corporate leaders are hated, because the republicans do a great job of undermining the people you should trust. If you look at the PERSON you might find a strong, Democrat, just like you. And they put progressive to shame. When did you institute a policy of recruiting and promoting gay people, with full partner benefits, that was copied around the world?
So, yay. They succeeded. You hate government, you hate business (it's people who are evil, not brick and mortar), you hate, hate, hate. Fine. Cause you're going to have a lot to hate in the future. And congratulations Beck, Limbaugh, and crowd.... whoever wins is going to shut your fat mouth and fast.
Two more things, first the reptiles have everyone convinced that the Democrats caused the crash because Clinton signed ONE bill. Well, I'm going to debunk that myth for good in my next diary, but it's too late.
Second, name me one war that wasn't started by religious fundamentalists. One. Get ready to fight boys and girls, cause it's coming to a town you live in. There will be a draft by the way, we've got to win Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, or god can't come back.
Not my God. Theirs, their war, money, airplane, helicopter, yacht loving god. Check him out. Mel Gibson, of all people, drunk, sleazy, creepy Mel Gibson was given the task by the great Almighty, the king of kings, the hosts of hosts, the father son and holy ghost, came down and chose that jew hating, gay hating, pile of crap to define Jesus. He looks like Mikey Rourke in "The Wrestler." That's the god you'll be forced to worship. Hey they can get Mikey Rourke to play jesus return!