Could be a rough month financially for Spain

If this is accurate, next month may be an especially painful month in Spain. One regional government failing is obviously not good so if others also fall, the already delicate situation could easily spill over into a broader European Union problem. Greece, Portugal or Ireland are small issues compared to any problems in Spain. The Guardian:

The conservative Spanish government of Mariano Rajoy expects to take direct financial control of at least one of the country's ailing regional governments by May, according to sources in Madrid.

With some regional debt already downgraded to junk, senior officials said it would be the regional governments themselves that came to Madrid to beg for help to get through the year.

"It wouldn't be surprising if this happened in May," said a high-ranking official. "Some are paying interest rates that are impossible."

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Republicans block "Buffet Rule" debate

That's right, not just the rule, but even debating the rule was blocked by the GOP. The Party of No is doing what it does best and ignores the overwhelming support for the Buffet Rule among the public. What are the Republicans afraid of besides losing control of the debate that they know enjoys broad support?

It's interesting to see that when there's a tax out there on the poor that might generate a few million dollars, it's a big deal for the GOP but when it's a tax that generates billions, suddenly, the number is insignificant. Why is it so consistently difficult for the Republicans to stand up for middle class Americans? Read the rest of this post...

Women are now wearing feeding tubes to lose weight

WTF?

While I'm not terribly thrilled with the notion that all fat is beautiful (because I'm not convinced that everyone who is overweight is overweight because they can't help it - some are, of course, but I've seen my share of obese people eating horrific food, and had an overweight friend whose idea of a diet was eating buttered popcorn for lunch), I'm also not sure I like this feeding tube idea either.  Inserting a feeding tube in a woman's nose to deliver 800 calories a day until she loses the desired weight. Yikes.

Is there no happy medium between anorexia and embracing obesity carte blanche? Read the rest of this post...

Welcome Home: Scott Ostrom's struggle with PTSD

Scott Ostrom served four years as a reconnaissance Marine, deploying for two tours in Iraq. Now 27 years old, he suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Since being honorably discharged from the military he has struggled to maintain healthy relationships or keep a steady job. But the most difficult thing for him has been coping with his chilling memories of Iraq, and what they mean for him going forward:

The most important part of my life already happened. The most devastating... Nothing is ever going to compare to what I've done, so I'm struggling to be at peace with that.

Craig Walker of the Denver Post is set to receive a Pulitzer Prize in Feature Photography for his photo essay, entitled "Welcome Home," which documents Scott Ostrom's life as a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The photos, and accompanying captions, provide a sobering reminder that the cost of war is measured in more than lives, dollars and poll numbers. I encourage readers to view the photo essay here.

As of April 2012, 6,422 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and 47,545 have been injured in combat. Countless more, including Scott Orstrom, suffer from post-traumatic stress.

Between 106,000 and 116,000 Iraqi civilians and 12,793 Afghan civilians have been killed have been killed. Thousands more have been injured; millions more have been displaced.

The next time our leaders consider sending American troops overseas, be it for promotion of American values or cynical national interests, they should think about Scott Ostrom. I challenge anyone to look at "Welcome Home" and, with a straight face, tell me that the invasion of Iraq was worth it. Read the rest of this post...

Compare your taxes to Mitt Romney's

Guess who loses?  It's a great site.  Check it out.  Oh, and enter your total income in the first line AND your total federal taxes in the second. I found it a bit confusing, but still a good site.

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Does Tagg Romney agree that Obama is "a piece of sh*t" and Hillary a "b*tch"?

Aging former rock star, Ted Nugent, recently endorsed Mitt Romney for president.  Two weeks ago, Romney's son Tagg had this to say about Nugent's endorsement.

Cool?  Great?  Really?

Does Tagg Romney think it was cool and great when Ted Nugent called Barack Obama a "piece of sh*t," and when he called Hillary Clinton a "b*tch", during the 2008 campaign - while waving two machine guns in the air?  Here's what Nugent said at the time (video below):

"I was in Chicago last week.  I said, hey Obama, you might want to suck on one of these, you punk [holds up two machine guns].  Obama, he's a piece of sh*t, and I told him to suck on my machine gun.  Let's hear for it.  I said Hillary, you might want to ride one of these into the sunset, you worthless b*tch?

Nugent had more violent rhetoric about President Obama this week, after having endorsed Mitt Romney for President.  The Secret Service doesn't appear amused:

Ted Nugent’s threatening remarks about President Obama at the annual National Rifle Association convention in St. Louis have earned him a follow-up conversation with the Secret Service. On Sunday, the singer remarked that “if Barack Obama becomes the president in November again, I will be either be dead or in jail by this time next year.” The Secret Service, which investigates all threats against the President, confirmed to New York Magazine’s Daily Intel blog that they have in fact flagged Nugent’s comment. “We are aware of it, and we’ll conduct an appropriate follow up,” the agent told the magazine.

Tagg Romney has been silent.

Tagg Romney should be asked whether he still thinks it's "cool" that Ted Nugent is endorsing his dad.  Whether he thinks it's cool and great that Ted Nugent called Barack Obama a "piece of sh*t" and Hillary Clinton a "worthless b*tch." But of course, Tagg won't be asked. Because the media is willing to enable Mitt Romney using his own family members as human shields who can act as campaign spokesmen, and embrace even the most radical haters, with impunity.

If a Democrat embraced a hater like Nugent, they'd never hear the end of it.  But when a Romney does it, silence.  Even Mitt Romney himself embraced Nugent a few days ago.  Not a word from the media.

Here's the video of Tagg Romney's idol, Ted Nugent, going after Obama and Clinton with two machine guns in hand:

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Gingrich wants worldwide treaty declaring gun ownership a universal human right

As Digby notes, stupidity is a human right too.

The right to bear arms comes from our creator, not our government,” Gingrich said. The NRA “has been too timid” in promoting its agenda beyond American borders. The Bill of Rights was not written only for Americans, he said. “It is a universal document.”

“A Gingrich presidency will submit to the UN a treaty that extends the right to bear arms as a human right to every person on the planet.” Every world citizen, he said, “deserves the right to defend themselves from those who exploit, imprison, or kill them.” For his latest big idea, Gingrich earned a standing ovation from the crowd of roughly 5,000.

“We don’t need to go across the planet trying to impose American values, but we do need to go across the planet spreading human values,” Gingrich said. “The Second Amendment is a right for all mankind.” [emphasis added]

Gingrich has a point. Where do Americans get off being so arrogant as to think we own the patent on the God-given right to enable the massacre of our children in schools? Read the rest of this post...

NASA prepares for possible Romney presidency

Here's Joe's home video and photos of the Space Shuttle Discovery flying over DC this morning. Read the rest of this post...

Video: Space Shuttle Discovery flying over DC today

It's not often that really cool things happen in DC. But, today was different. The space shuttle Discovery did a fly-over on its way to to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum out by Dulles. It came down, did a loop, then flew back. It was quite awesome.

To give a sense of how big this is, that little spec behind the 747 in my photo below is a fighter jet.

And, a short video I just took:



And NASA caught a really amazing photo of the Shuttle:

Preparing for a possible Romney presidency,
the Secret Service retrofits Air Force One to carry a dog.

More from the Washington Post here. Read the rest of this post...

Does DCCC back anti-woman Democrat Steve Pestka instead of pro-woman Trevor Thomas?

UPDATE: Live chat with Trevor Thomas at Crooks & Liars, coming up at 2pm EST (11am PST). Click over if you can. Thomas will be posting in the comments section.
___________

That's a serious question: Who does the DCCC back in the Michigan 3rd CD race?

• Steve Pestka, who voted to defund Planned Parenthood when he was in the Michigan House, or
  
  
• Trevor Thomas, an actual pro-woman Democrat

Context — Obama's White House is in the process of trying (and failing) to damp down the firestorm from the gay community about Obama's pointed refusal to grant the same protection against same-sex–preference bias as it routinely grants to other biases.

Simultaneously, national Democrats are taking the "Republican War against Women" meme and, at least until Rosen-gate, wrapping themselves tight in it — making it their unique selling point (product identifier) in the 2012 election.

Something doesn't add up.

• Is the national Democratic "we support women" message sincere? If so, they should disavow anti-woman Steve Pestka now and actively work to make Trevor Thomas the nominee.
  
  
• Or is "we support women" just a convenient ... untruth, told to sell an appearance only?

If Pestka is the nominee, the DCCC will be using "War on Women" money to finance Planned Parenthood–defunder Steve Pestka's House race.

That's a problem, if you gave to the DCCC to fund its defense of women. Only the DCCC can clear this air.

The facts in the case

Let's start with Steve Pestka. Here's Marcy Wheeler, who lives in the district, writing last week (as always, my emphases and reparagraphing):

I went to a Debbie Stabenow event hosted by a local women’s group. As we were waiting for the Senator to speak, a top county Democrat was sitting several rows behind me trying to convince some of the women not to support Trevor Thomas.

“There is absolutely no way he can win,” the guy said (the polling says he’s wrong, and I suspect he knows that).

In addition to saying a gay man can’t win, he also said a pro-choice person can’t win in the district (his listeners pointed out that Stabenow herself had won the district; so have at least two other pro-choice candidates).

Then he described Steven Pestka, using the line Michigan Democrats used to defend Bart Stupak as he was rolling back access to choice for women across the country ... "He’s with us on everything else."

Except he isn't. Wheeler again:

Steve Pestka’s with us on everything else, this guy said at a women’s event. But he’s not just anti-choice. When he was in the State House (the experience locals point to to claim he’s a better candidate than Trevor) he a scored whopping 0% [pdf] on votes to support choice.

That included a vote for HB 4655, which singled out Planned Parenthood to be defunded, precisely the outrage–at the national level–that Democrats use as the cornerstone of their metaphorical attack on the GOP for its “War on Women.”

Again — "precisely the outrage–at the national level–that Democrats use as the cornerstone of their metaphorical attack on the GOP".

By the way, I suspect some Pestka-allied commenter will chime in with the statement:

Steve Pestka in the State House had a 100% voting record with the ACLU, Clean Water Action and the League of Conservation Voters. To uncritically call him "conservative" is foolish and not based on facts.

To head that off, here are the actual facts. In 2002, when Pestka ran for state Senate, he got no rating from the MI ACLU, because he didn't fill out the questionnaire (pdf; search on "Pestka").

Apparently, like the word "literal," which has a non-literal meaning, the phrase "the facts" has a contra-factual meaning. Who knew?

Now, the national Democrats and this "we love women" flag they're wrapped in.

  ▪ Here's the DCCC "war on women" page.

  ▪ Here's former Speaker Pelosi hating on Romney's anti-Planned Parenthood position.

  ▪ And here's yet another "Republican War on Women" mailing, dated last Friday (my emphasis and link-strippage):

[Dear name deleted] —
There’s no question about this. The Republican War on Women is real, and it’s extremely dangerous. If you agree, add your name to our petition: 1,000,000 strong against the Republican War on Women >>

House Republicans are pursuing the most comprehensive and radical assault on women’s health and reproductive freedom in our lifetime. Over just the last year, Republicans in Congress have voted repeatedly to limit women’s access to health care and reproductive services.

  ▪ Yet here's is the DCCC page on the Michigan CD-3 race:

Latest Press Releases: No press releases.

It's a clear choice on Choice, DCCC

The choice on Choice is clear. The choice on "War on Women" is clear. In 2002, Steve Pestka was part of the war on women.

He's running a covert Blue Dog-like campaign that says, in essence, "I'm conservative enough to win" — look for phrases like "crosses the aisle to solve problems" and "diverse bipartisan coalition" in videos like this (start at 8:00).

Why do I say "covert"? Because his campaign webpage is entirely devoid of content. (No link; I'm sure you can find it if you doubt me.)

Howie Klein calls Pestka an "anti-Choice, multimillionaire conservative" and says this:

Our sources tell us that local Democrats, no doubt backed by the DCCC, are looking at a pro-life, multi-millionaire conservative who will run on the Democratic ticket. They think he’s a safe alternative, but most folks admit they don’t believe he has the fire to mount a decent campaign. This election is going to be about fighting for the middle class. And, we need candidates who are from the middle class to make the case to voters. That's Trevor Thomas.

There is even talk that Republicans are directly involved in helping to set the Democratic ticket. They don't like Amash, but won't set up a primary challenge.

Is this true — are Howie's sources wrong? Only the DCCC can say for sure — by openly supporting pro-woman Trevor Thomas against anti-choice Steve Pestka.

If they don't, they're open to the charge of not supporting women themselves, but merely (and cynically) pretending to. And taking money "War-on-Women" money while doing so.

The cynical have a word for this; so do the betrayed, if they ever find out.

What you can do — Support Trevor Thomas. His ActBlue page is here. And if you're in his district, volunteer.

Blue America will be formally endorsing Trevor today, Tuesday, at 11am PST (2pm EST) when he's doing a live session at CrooksandLiars. Tune in then.

The polling is good, according to Wheeler (see above). Thomas can win against the Republican. Progressives need to give him that chance.

Not only that, progressives need to be taking these shots, whatever the odds. We can't keep deferring to the NeoLibs; we may as well start standing up now.

And frankly, this won't be the first fight we have in the next four years. Gear up now, with the Trevor Thomas campaign.

GP

(To follow on Twitter or to send links: @Gaius_Publius)
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Ann Romney, human shield

First Mitt Romney used his wife to justify some pretty nasty attacks on President Obama.

Now Mitt Romney is using his wife to explain away why Mitt used to strap his dog to the roof of the car during family vacations.

So Mrs. Romney is now a full-fledged campaign spokesman, dealing with unemployment policy and crisis communications.

But please don't say anything about Romney spokesman Ann Romney's credibility, accuracy, or knowledge, because that would be sexist.

No.  What's sexist is using your wife as a political human shield because you're unable, unwilling, or simply afraid to run for president on your own two feet.

PS Someone should ask Romney campaign spokesman Ann Romney if she thinks stay at home moms are lacking in dignity. Read the rest of this post...

UK to approve fracking, earthquakes and all

So besides the Big Energy industry, who is this really helping? Youngstown, Ohio had to purchase earthquake insurance following problems there related to fracking. Why should any city or individual have to fork out cash like this when the problem is completely caused by fracking? The political class never minds throwing costs at individuals, yet they can't stop whining about the costs of regulation.

Why is it OK for individuals to pay higher medical costs due to pollution or for earthquakes yet it's somehow a crime for business to pay for their own costs? This an indirect tax on everyone else but in the minds of the political class, this is not a problem. It's pretty clear whose side they're on and it's not on the side of voters. More on the fracking approval process in the UK at The Guardian. Read the rest of this post...