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Archive for February, 2012

Size Matters

Feb 29

Posted by Michael Collins in Big Money, Election 2012 | Comments off

By Michael Collins

The presidential election in 2012 is probably a done deal, barring some calamity that the Obama administration fails to spin in its direction.

The exit polling for the two major primaries so far, Florida and Michigan, show that the Republican vote is concentrated primarily in the suburbs. 62% of Michigan Republican voters and 59% of Florida Republican voters are from the suburbs. That’s 13 and 10 points  respectively over the 49% share of the electorate in the 2008 presidential election. Of equal or greater importance, 13% and 25% of the Republican votes came from urban areas (large and medium sized cities). That’s below the 30% share of voters from urban areas in 2008.

In 2008, Obama won 53% to 46%. His 2012 share of urban voters is not likely to diminish. One could argue that any of the current field of Republican candidates would struggle to hit McCain’s 35% urban share. The suburban spit — 50% to 48% Obama — may shift somewhat depending on how well “Halftime in America” sells, i.e. the pseudo recovery. Even if there’s a 5 point shift in suburbia in favor of Republicans, Obama’s urban advantage will carry the day. The rural vote may deliver the same or slightly increased advantage for Republicans. Any changes in this smallest segment of the electorate will be offset by maintenance of the much larger urban advantage. Read the rest of this entry »

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Senator Santorum’s Satanic Voices

Feb 26

Posted by Michael Collins in Big Money, Intelligence, War (endless) | Comments off

By Michael Collins
Satire

(Washington, DC) Senator Rick Santorum knows something many of us do not. Satan is waging war on the United States. This is no scruffy terrorist group carrying explosives in their underwear or shoes. It is Satan himself, also known as the Devil, Mephistopheles, the Beast, etc. (Image one, two)

How does the senator know so much about this attack?

Santorum hears voices.

Four years ago, he admitted just that:

“Satan is attacking the great institutions of America, using those voices of pride, vanity, and sensuality as the root to attack all of the strong plants that has (sic) deeply rooted in the American tradition,” Senator Rick Santorum from The Daily Beast

That’s a very strong statement. Some wonder if the senator is barking-at-the-moon mad. Santorum is undeterred. Campaigning in Arizona, he asserted his right to speak out about “good and evil.” He referenced former President Ronald Reagan as one political leader who shared this view. Santorum also shares Reagan’s strongly held conviction that trees cause pollution. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Guardian Challenge – War Propoganda or Real Reporting

Feb 25

Posted by Michael Collins in Big Money, Corruption, Justice, People's Revolution, War (endless) | Comments off

Take a look at the image of the Guardian front page today.  There are five stories listed.  From the “Friends of Syria” meeting, the Saudi’s suggest arming the Syrian “rebels” (they already have, according to Brian Downing).  Then we get the sub headlines telling us that Assad is targeting children (surely incubators are soon to follow), two journalists are in trouble, and Syria is committing war crimes (what about U.S, UK, and French leader war crimes in Libya?).  This is truly “Fair and Balanced” in the Murdoch/Fox sense of the phrase.

While the Guardian stenographers are busy carrying the water for Cameron and NATO, some of their first rate reporters should follow this story.

The Guardian Challenge

This video is from an anti Libyan rebel site.  It purportedly shows “-Criminal “rebels” of Misurata locked up and humiliate the residents of Tawerga to the Zoo cage, which was at the end of August – beginning of September.”  Tawerga, you may recall, is the town of 30,000 black Libyans that was ethnically cleansed by the victorious rebel forces from Misurata.

Here’s the challenge to the Guardian.  Is this video showing prisoners forced to eat the former flag of Libya for real?  Are these prisoners from Tawerga?  Are they being abused by rebels from Misurata?  We’ve seen many anonymous pro rebel videos from Syria and Libya.  Take a look at this one, Guardian, and tell us all about it.  And while you’re t it, answer this:  where are the people of Tawerga?

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Women Strike Back! Georgia Leads the Way

Feb 24

Posted by Michael Collins in Big Money, Health, Justice | Comments off

By Michael Collins

Georgia Democratic Representative Yasmin Neal has an answer to recidivist Republicans in Georgia, Virginia, and across the country seeking to limit a woman’s right to manage her reproductive health. She introduced a bill in the Georgia legislature to bar vasectomies for men. Unlike the recent vaginal invasion bill proposed by Virginia Republicans, this measure doesn’t invade the bodies of men, it protects them, along with motile spermatozoa. (Image)

Georgia House Bill 1116 states:

“It is patently unfair that men avoid the rewards of unwanted fatherhood by presuming that their judgment over such matters is more valid than the judgment of the General Assembly. … It is the purpose of the General Assembly to assert an invasive state interest in the reproductive habits of men in this state and substitute the will of the government over the will of adult men.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Did you know that the U.S. has a special “command” for Africa?

Feb 24

Posted by Michael Collins in Big Money, War (endless) | Comments off

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Virginia is for Misogynists

Feb 22

Posted by Michael Collins in Corruption, Criminal Justice, Health | Comments off

By Michael Collins

The Virginia legislature is about to enact a law that requires a transvaginal ultrasound procedure for all women who have abortions (except in the case of a medical emergency). Apparently, the legislators are unaware that the law violates existing sexual assault code or that Virginians oppose the law  by a wide margin.

Here’s the procedure.

“You will lie down on a table with your knees bent and feet in holders called stirrups. The health care provider will place a probe, called a transducer, into the vagina. The probe is covered with a condom and a gel. … The health care provider will move the probe within the area to see the pelvic organs.” Medline Plus

This isn’t an option. It’s a requirement for an abortion in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The law is clear:

“a qualified medical professional … shall perform fetal ultrasound imaging and auscultation of fetal heart tone services on the patient undergoing the abortion for the purpose of determining gestational age.” House Bill No. 462, Virginia Assembly (Also here)

The medical professional is then required to “offer the woman an opportunity to view and receive a printed copy of the ultrasound image and hear auscultation of fetal heart tone.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Iranian Navy “boldly goes” where they have not before

Feb 21

Posted by Michael Collins in Big Money | Comments off

This is interesting. Iran’s 18th Fleet has just crossed the Suez Canal.

ASIA TIMES:  IRAN ON THE MOVE Warships sail to Syria

By M K Bhadrakumar (former ambassador, Indian foreign service)

A flotilla of Iranian warships crossed the Suez Canal and docked at the Syrian port of Tartus on Saturday. Iran’s Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the mission displays Iran’s “might” despite 30 years of relentless sanctions.

February 2011 was the first time Egypt allowed Iranian naval vessels through the Suez canal, right after Mubarak was deposed. Israel was very upset by this most recent passage. The Iranian 18th fleet will dock in Syria and conduct training and exercises with the Syrians and Russians.

Simply put, Iran’s message to Turkey and its Arab allies (which are arming and supporting the Syrian opposition) will be: “Brothers, if you keep doing this, so can we.” There is much food for thought here for these countries – especially the oil monarchies – as they gather in Tunis this coming Sunday for the first meeting of the “Friends of Syria”.

The NATO – Gulf Cooperation Council formula is defunct as a result of this action. Watching/enabling resistance, demanding that the dictator go/making war on the dictator with surrogates requires NO opposition. Oops!

At any rate, the display of “might” in the Mediterranean, which is historically a “Western lake”, is bound to carry resonance within Iran itself. Such displays appeal to the Iranian people’s sense of national honor and in turn helps consolidate public opinion, which is particularly important for the regime as the country approaches a crucial parliamentary election in March in which the calculus of power is expected to decisively shift and the alchemy of the Majlis to transform radically.

Who knows where this will go.  It will prop up the Revolutionary Guard in Iran.  It may also have the paradoxical effect of causing calmer rhetoric and plans of military action.

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