Author: Trish
$27 Million Down the Drain? Doh!
Bad news for whoever is writing the checks at Americans for Prosperity (AFP). The Koch brothers’ political organization has spent $27 million since last August, with millions more planned, on ads attacking Senate Democrats who voted for healthcare reform and who are up for re-election this year.
A new poll shows they are likely wasting that cash.
Poll: Support for candidates who voted for the health-care law has improved dramatically
Support for candidates who voted for the health-care law has improved dramatically in recent months, a Washington Post/ABC News poll released Tuesday shows.
The survey found respondents almost exactly split on the question of whether they would be more or less likely to vote for a congressional candidate who supports the Affordable Care Act, with 34% saying they would be more likely to vote for the candidate and 36% saying they would be less likely to do so. Some 27% said it would not make a difference.
That’s a significant jump in support levels from November—a month after the troubled launch of HealthCare.gov, the federal insurance exchange that serves 36 states—when just 21% said a candidate’s support for the law would make them more likely to vote for them, compared to 37% who said it would make them less likely to do so. A much larger percentage—40%—were indifferent.
AFP’s ads are termed “misleading” by neutral fact-checkers, and “absolutely false” by Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
The organization put all its eggs in the “Obamacare will be hated” basket so if the public approves of the reforms and the costs of coverage decrease, the Kochs lose. Some Republicans have sniffed the wind and moved away from criticizing Pres. Obama over the Affordable Care Act to criticizing him over every other initiative instead.
Even the 2nd Amendment’s Little Known Dumbass Clause Wasn’t Strong Enough
While this ad from Saatchi & Saatchi for the “gun responsibility” group, Evolve, is funny, neither the ad’s, nor the group’s, dots connect.
“Personal decisions” leave us at the mercy, not of good guys with guns, but just guys with guns which in reality is all there is
The spot’s creators said they were not taking a stand on gun safety laws.
“When we researched the gun debate in America, we saw that it’s become almost impossible to have a thoughtful discussion about gun safety. What I love about Evolve is that they’re not about taking a side in that debate–they’re squarely focused on promoting personal decisions about gun safety.”
The List of What Young Black Males Can’t Do Grows Longer
When I saw this sobering warning from Twitter about an image related to the trial of Michael Dunn, the man who fired 10 shots into a vehicle occupied by four black male teenagers, killing one, 17-year-old Jordan Davis, I steeled myself for the worst. I do the same when I suspect I am about to see something that’s going to stay with me, like a tale of horror visited upon an animal.
I braced myself as much as I could, deciding it might be worth the psychic damage, and clicked, “View photo.” Here’s what appeared.
A Third Alternative: Just Answer the Freakin’ Question, Marco
If you want a taste of what passes for honesty and frankness from Republican leaders these days, here’s a quote from Florida Sen. Marco Rubio after he was asked at an educational forum if he ever smoked pot.
“If I tell you that I haven’t, you won’t believe me. And if I tell you that I did, then kids will look up to me and say, ‘Well, I can smoke marijuana because look how he made it. He did alright so I guess I can do it too.'”
So you see, Marco isn’t going to respond because he can’t control what people will do with his answer. If your idea of presidential material is cutesy mind games or outright stonewalling (a term originated to describe Republican Pres. Richard Nixon’s way of blocking information to the press), then Marco is your guy.
A “Look Back” at Chris Christie’s Very Bad Month, ala Facebook
Those one-minute Facebook “look back” videos probably held your interest for about 30 seconds. But this one, put out by the Democratic party about Gov. Chris Christie’s (R-NJ) past month, has a little longer shelf life.
International Group Accidently Provides Evidence that Obamacare is the Best Health System
If you want to live a long life, don’t come to America. According to the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the average lifespan of people in the United States is only 78.7 years, putting us at number 26 among the OECD’s 34 member nations. But thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the research shows there is hope for Americans in the future.
The Wall St. Journal recently looked at the new OECD study, and counted down the top five countries.
- #5: Spain — Life expectancy of 82.4 years, even with a low gross domestic product of only $33,000 per capita
- #4: Iceland — Life expectancy is also 82.4 years, and Iceland is third lowest in smoking rates and last in diabetes
- #3: Japan — Life expectancy is 82.7 years, thanks to very low rates of heart disease and obesity
- #2: Italy — Life expectancy is also 82.7 years, yet Italians spend only $3,000 per capita on health care
- #1: Switzerland — Life expectancy of 82.8 years, but third highest in spending on health care (you already know who spends the most). Switzerland is the only country on the list that does not provide single-payer, universal access to health care. Instead, it uses a system very like the Affordable Care Act that requires citizens to buy a health plan. Doh!
Nice Atheist Collects $125,000 Thanks to Wolf Blitzer’s Douchery
Comedian Doug Stanhope helped raise $125,000 for the tornado victim who told Wolf Blitzer earlier this year that she wasn’t thanking the lord for sparing her and her child because she’s an atheist and doesn’t go in for that sort of thing. But before you go thinking Stanhope did it because he’s a nice guy…well, watch his explanation.
Tweets from Iran? Merry Christmas to the Pope and Happy Birthday, Jesus
Felicitations to @Pontifex on birthday of Christ, Prophet of love, mercy & friendship. Hoping for new year filled with peace & prosperity.
May Jesus Christ, Prophet of love & peace, bless us all on this day. Wishing Merry #Christmas to those celebrating, esp Iranian Christians.
@HassanRouhani — Iran’s president, in stunning tweets on Christmas day to the pope and all Christians.
What’s Wrong With Colorado? Stepfather Shoots 14-Year-Old Stepdaughter Sneaking Back Into House
Here’s the thing, gun users. Be sure someone is trying to hurt you personally before you shoot. That way you’ll have a chance to notice if it’s your daughter and not a burglar. Especially before the third shot.
And there are way too many shootings in Colorado.
