Judge Overturns Health-Care Reform

Next up will be the conservative U.S. Supreme Court:

A federal judge in Florida struck down President Obama’s health-care reform law, saying it is unconstitutional. Twenty-six states sued to overturn the law, and U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson accepted their argument without trial. They argued that the government cannot force individuals to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties. In his decision, Vinson wrote, "It would be a radical departure from existing case law to hold that Congress can regulate inactivity under the Commerce Clause.” This ruling evens the score among lower courts' decisions, with two judges upholding the controversial law and two striking at least part of it down.

Politics Liberal News

TNT Apologizes for Tracy Morgan's Lewd Remark About Sarah Palin (Video)

Nothing new to see here, just men being nauseating misogynistic adolescents on prime time tv. TNT apologizes for "Tracy Morgan’s crude remark about Sarah Palin on last night’s Inside the NBA pregame show: 'It’s unfortunate Mr. Morgan showed a lack of judgment on our air with his inappropriate comments. We apologize for any embarrassment or offense it may have caused.'”


During yesterday’s live broadcast, co-hosts Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley handed 30 Rock‘s Morgan a microphone and asked him to settle a bet: Tina Fey or Sarah Palin? “Me and him have this argument all the time, ” crowed Smith, referring to Barkley. “[Morgan's] the only one who can settle it. Tina Fey or Sarah Palin?” They were clearly not asking which woman was smarter or faster in a race.

Contact TNT at: tnt@turner.com.


Politics Feminist News Gender

Fear of Women (Video)

via Women's Media Center
WMC interviews Robert Redford at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival

Politics Feminist News Gender

Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Verdict on Obama's State of the Union Speech (Photo)

Politics Feminist News Gender

'Missrepresentation:' Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin & the Deep Misogyny (Video)

Missrepresentation, the new documentary about the culture's deep misogyny, devotes significant time to the media's infamously sexist trashing of the women in the 2008 presidential election, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sarah Palin:

The documentary "Missrepresentation," directed by Lieutenant Governor of California Gavin Newsom's wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom, explores how mainstream media undermines American women in influential positions, and the impact this makes on young girls. It also challenges what it says is the media's often disparaging portrayal of women. In particular, "Missrepresentation" devotes quite a bit of time to how Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton were covered by mainstream media in the 2008 presidential elections.


Politics Feminist News Hillary Clinton

Arkansas Grocery Store Censors Elton John's Baby

Unbelievable.

Politics Gay News Gender

Jon Stewart on Obama's SOTU: 'That's Our Sputnik Moment?' (Video)

Politics News Liberal

Colbert vs. the Tiger Mother (Video)

Politics Feminist News Gender

Quote of the Day

"If the president is willing to do what I and my members would do anyway, we're not going to say no."

-- Mitch McConnell

McConnell addressed an audience of journalists and political insiders:

McConnell pointed to reports that Obama won't tackle Social Security in his State Of The Union address, suggesting that the president could be willing to talk about the issue behind the scenes. "I'm not surprised he won't say what he'll do on entitlements [in the speech]," McConnell said. "I wouldn't either. So it's not so much what he says tonight but what he's willing to do."

Politics Feminist News Gender

Mayor Bloomberg: 'The City Is Safe for Women'

"Today, a woman could walk in virtually every neighborhood in this city during the day and not look over her shoulder, and most neighborhoods at night."

-- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg

One thing problematic about Mayor Bloomberg's assertion:

It ain't true. What actual women say:

"Bloomberg's trippin'. This isn't the upper East Side. He's definitely out of touch with what women deal with in the Bronx."

"I know the mayor doesn't have to worry about walking home from the subway, but I sure do. If he thinks we don't still have to watch our backs, he's crazy."

"I love my neighborhood. I feel safe in it, but I wouldn't walk anywhere in New York without being aware of what's behind my shoulder. As a woman, you have to be aware of your surroundings."

Politics Feminist News Gender

Bloomberg Urges Obama to Take A Stand On Guns in the SOTU

Like a lot of people Mayor Bloomberg has called on Obama to stand up to Republicans and the NRA by taking a courageous stand on gun control in his State of the Union address.

Obviously it's never going to happen. President Obama will lead on this nation's dangerously primitive and barbaric fetishization of guns when Republicans and the NRA tell him to:

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined gun violence victims Monday calling on President Barack Obama to urge tighter controls on firearms during his State of the Union address. The mayor, a prominent voice in the national debate over guns, said Obama's speech on Tuesday is a chance to act in the aftermath of this month's wounding of congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and killing of six others in Arizona.

In this week's New Rules Bill Maher blasts Obama for abject cowardice on guns:


Politics Liberal News SOTU

Court Kicks Misogynist Rahm Emanuel Off the Ballot

Like they say, there is a God and she is pissed. The Court has ruled that Rahm Emanuel is not a resident of Chicago and thus cannot be Chicago's mayor. Misogynist Rahm Emanuel is expected to appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court, but he'll have to make it fast.

The judge wrote:

“We … order that the candidate’s name be excluded (or if, necessary, be removed) from the ballot from Chicago’s Feb. 22, 2011.”

Politics Feminist News Gender

Carol Moseley Braun To Rahm Emanuel: 'Let's Talk About Tampons'

Former Senator Carol Moseley Braun recently suggested to Rahm Emanuel's face that his bad misogynistic boy temperament is simply too primitive for the people of Chicago, therefore he is not suitable for the position of Chicago's mayor.

Unfortunately, President Obama has already set the precedent by installing the in-your-face misogynist as the President's top man in the White House.

What Carol Moseley Braun said:

And you’re reported in the New York Post as telling your workers to, `Take the Tampons out and get to work.’ As a woman, this is really offensive. So, the question is, as a matter of temperament, how can you possibly do these kinds of things to people?

Emanuel replied that you just have to be tough or have a "strong personality" to be a leader (and we all know that people with strong personalities don't wear tampons).

Emanuel said:

First of all I have a strong personality because when it comes to fighting the NRA . . .

Carol Moseley Braun interrupted the sexist wannabe mayor:

Let's go back to tampons . . . let's talk about tampons. This isn't about guns, this is about tampons and how women would feel about someone who does that in the workplace.

Eventually it occurred to Emanuel to deny ever harassing his employees (presumably they were all male) with the misogynistic taunt, but no one believes him. Emanuel's use of the gendered insult was first reported in a book by Newsweek columnist Jonathan Alter.

And regarding Emanuel's astonished bug-eyed look in the above photo:

Mayoral Debate at Tribune: -- Up until that point, Emanuel was cool as a cucumber. But she kept on him, talking about his "poking people in the chest, cussing 'em out" and being "mean-spirited and nasty". When she referred to media reports about his Tampon comment, Emanuel lost it. . .

Braun also challenged Emaneul on his role in healthcare reform's betrayal of women:


Politics Feminist News Gender

Reliable Sources Discusses Olbermann's Abrupt Departure from MSNBC (Video)

Politics Liberal News Howard Kurtz

Keith Olbermann Out At MSNBC, Final 'Countdown' Broadcast Was Last Night

Keith Olbermann shocked his fans and his MSNBC colleagues last night when he announced on the air that he was not coming back.

It's not clear who made the decision, it is clear that it was made hastily. There are still promos running on MSNBC boasting of Olbermann's role in next week's coverage of Obama's State of the Union speech. According to Mediate, Olbermann is out of a job for the simple reason that he is a very difficult person to work with. On the other hand, Olbermann's new bosses may well have had something to do with this.

Keith Olbermann, the highest-rated host on MSNBC, announced abruptly on the air Friday night that he was leaving his show, “Countdown,” immediately. In a closing statement on his show, Mr. Olbermann said simply that it would be the last edition of the program. He offered no explanation other than on occasion “all that surrounded the show – but never the show itself – was just too much for me.”

In a statement, MSNBC said: “MSNBC and Keith Olbermann have ended their contract. The last broadcast of ‘Countdown with Keith Olbermann’ will be this evening. MSNBC thanks Keith for his integral role in MSNBC’s success and we wish him well in his future endeavors.” . . Ms. Maddow . . has built such a successful show that some NBC executives felt less concerned about losing Mr. Olbermann as the signature star of the network.

On air, Olbermann hinted that he had just learned of the end of his show Friday . .

Olbermann almost single-handedly revived the network by leading it on a leftward march.


Politics Liberal News

Jon Stewart Mocks Rep. Steve Cohen (TN) For Calling Republicans Nazis (VIDEO)

Jon Stewart patiently explains to Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) that being a liar does not make you a Nazi, nor does being a liar mean you are leading this nation down the path to a new Holocaust, even if you are a Republican. Why does Tennessee always have to make the national news because of irrational drama-king politicos?


Politics Liberal News Tennessee

Hillary Clinton For President In 2012 Ad Running on MSNBC (Video)

The 'Hillary Clinton 2012 /Where there's a Hill, there's a way' ad is back. I saw it yesterday on MSNBC.


Politics Feminist News Gender

Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen Slams GOP With Holocaust Rhetoric (Video)

Rep. Cohen gives the Republicans aid in their claim that Democrats are just as lacking in civility as Republicans. Yes Republicans are shameless liars but invoking Holocaust rhetoric takes the attention away from the lies and puts it on Rep. Cohen's shameful willingness to use the horror of the Holocaust to score political points.


Dem Rep: No apology for saying GOP mendacity is worthy of Goebbels

Politics News

Boehner Snubs 3rd State Dinner

People hate to think it's 'pettiness' but how else to explain the Republican Party leader's refusal to attend all 3 of President Obama's state dinners?

John Boehner who toasted the queen in 2007 has since refused all three state dinner invitations from Democratic President Barack Obama for key U.S. allies: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mexican President Felipe Calderon and, on Wednesday night, President Hu Jintao of China. . "I hate to think it would be pettiness: 'I don't like the president so I am not coming,'" said a former social secretary in a Republican White House, who requested anonymity.

Politics News

President Obama Moves to the Right on Regulation

In yet another move to the right, Obama writes in the Wall Street Journal (where else?):

The administration . . is "making it our mission to root out regulations that conflict, that are not worth the cost, or that are just plain dumb."

Politics News

Misogyny: Rapper Kanye West's Women-Hating 'Monster' Video

Here we have black men desperately trying to be 'badder' or superior to white men in the category of sub-human misogynists.

If a woman depicted black men in a similar fashion, she'd be lucky to retain her life, never mind her career. But misogyny ain't hate speech in a woman-hating culture. The depraved so-called men in this woman-hating video are Kanye West, Rick Ross and Jay-Z:

Expect to hear boys singing along to it soon. This is the message they are imbibing:

Women are slaves and bitches who can service a man’s sexual needs, even in death. Men are brutal and dominant, and have no empathy for women. Men enjoy dead women as sex and entertainment. The female body is to be devoured, reduced to the same status as meat. Female bodies should be displayed before men as a great feast for their consumption.
Hanging from the rafters in stiletto heels, standing rigid in lingerie, expired on a bed. The white women in these scenes are depicted as subordinated to the black man, reminiscent of the pornographic representation of black men who love to ravish white women, to tarnish and spoil their ‘pure’ bodies.

Limp, floppy, rendered powerless these doll-like bodies retain their seductive, sexual allure. Sure, they might be dead. Sure they can’t consent. Sure they wanted it.

The clip is not only interested in fetishizing female bodies – it revels in fetishizing female pain, female passivity, female suffering and female silence. The ultimate female is the quiet, passive female – a mannequin – who accepts violence, abuse and suffering while remaining hot and sexy. And the creators of this feast of violence will probably win a ton of awards and commendations and sponsorship deals from major companies.

From the 'Petition to Prevent the Official Release of Kanye West's Women-Hating-Monster-Video:'

Dead women, clad in lingerie, hang by chains around their necks. West makes sexual moves toward dead or drugged women propped up in a bed. A naked dead or drugged woman lays sprawled on a sofa.

The victims in this video are clearly women. Only women. And the men, Kanye West, Rick Ross, and Jay-Z are far from bothered by the female corpses. They seem to enjoy being surrounded by lifeless female bodies, apparent victims of a serial killing.

We call on Universal Music Group and MTV to combat violence against women by refusing to support, promote, and/or give airtime to West's "Monster" video. Please add your name to the petition.

This is a preview of the soon to be released sick video:


Politics Feminist News Gender

Two Women-Directed Films Win Major Golden Globe Awards (Video)

The delightful The Kids Are All Right was one of two films directed by women (Lisa Cholodenko) that won major Golden Globe awards. The film won in the best comedy or musical category. Annette Bening won an acting award for her role in the film as Julianne Moore's partner. Women who won acting awards included Jane Lynch, Laura Linney, Claire Danes and Natalie Portman. (via Melissa Silverstein: A Golden Globe Recap )


Jezebel: First off, there were two women-directed films that got major awards: Lisa Cholodenko's The Kids Are All Right for best comedy or musical, and In A Better World, by Danish director Susanne Bier. It's still rare enough for women to direct films, let alone be honored for them. (Although Debra Granik has been serially robbed when it comes to Winter's Bone.)

Politics Feminist News Gender

Gay Glee Star Chris Colfer's Inspiring Golden Globes Acceptance Speech (Video)

Glee star Chris Colfer won the Golden Globe Supporting Actor award and he gave the best speech of the night.

Colfer dedicated his award to gay teens who are harassed by bullies.


Politics Gay News Gender

Woman Fights Greedy Subhuman Banks: LaSalle & Cenlar Federal Savings

What do you call a bank that tries to foreclose on an 85 year old woman who missed the LAST payment of $432 on her 30 year mortgage because she was hospitalized?

PHILADELPHIA – An elderly New Jersey woman billed $5,800 after missing the final payment on her 30-year mortgage can pursue her lawsuit against the debt collectors. Lawyers for 85-year-old Dorothy Rhue Allen say the fees charged by two banks and a law firm violate consumer-protection laws.

The suit says LaSalle Bank and Cenlar Federal Savings Bank started foreclosure proceedings in 2007 after the hospitalized Allen missed the last $432 payment on her Deptford, N.J., home. The banks advised her lawyers she could pay $5,800 to avoid foreclosure. But her lawyers instead sued over the fees, and the foreclosure action was dropped. A U.S. appeals court this week says Allen can pursue her case, reversing a federal judge who threw it out. A lawyer for the Trenton, N.J.-based banks declined to comment.

Politics News

Bill Maher: “The NRA Should Just Change Its Name To The Assassin’s Lobby”

Among other things Bill Maher argues that Democats should reclaim the gun issue, noting that America is "a very armed country with a lot of crazy people."


Politics Jay Leno News Gender

Tucson Shooting Survivor Blames Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Sharron Angle

Quote of the Day

“It looks like Palin, Beck, Sharron Angle and the rest got their first target. Their wish for Second Amendment activism has been fulfilled — senseless hatred leading to murder, lunatic fringe anarchism, subscribed to by John Boehner, mainstream rebels with vengeance for all, even 9-year-old girls.”

Eric Fuller,
Wounded survivor of the Tucson shooting

Politics Liberal News

U.S. Elected Officials Flunk Constitution Quiz

I think we've all noticed that a good number of our elected officials in this male-dominated nation aren't too bright. This appears to be just one of many symptoms of declining empires:

20 percent thought the Electoral College was a school for "training those aspiring for higher political office."

The survey asks 33 basic civics questions, many taken from other nationally recognized instruments like the U.S. Citizenship Exam. It also asks 10 questions related to the U.S. Constitution. . . Overall, our sample of elected officials averaged a failing 44 percent on the entire 33-question test, 5 percentage points lower than the national average of 49 percent.

The fact that our elected representatives know even less about America's history and institutions than the typical citizen (who doesn't know much either) is troubling indeed, but perhaps helps explain the lack of constitutional discipline often displayed by our political class at every level of our system. . . When elected officials take an oath "to protect and defend the Constitution," shouldn't they know what they are swearing to?

Take the quiz.

Politics Liberal News Gender

Jon Stewart: Congressman Writes Bill to Say 'F U' to Sarah Palin (Video)

Politics Feminist News Gender

President Obama: 'Gabby Opened Her Eyes' (Video)

Politics Feminist News Gender

Sarah Palin Accuses Critics of ‘Blood Libel’ (Video)

Sarah Palin responds to critics -- regarding her map with cross hairs targeting Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) -- with a video statement accusing critics of employing 'blood libel,' a term that invites yet more criticism. Meanwhile Congressman James Clyburn (S.C.) takes the debate to a new low by claiming that he is Sarah Palin's intellectual superior.



Palin Goes Nuclear With 'Blood Libel' Speech: "Blood libel, for those who are not familiar, describes a false accusation that minorities—usually Jews—murder children to use their blood in religious rituals, and has been a historical theme in the persecution of the Jewish people. Had Palin scoured a thesaurus, she could not have come up with a more inflammatory phrase."

Breaking: ADL condemns Sarah Palin's "blood libel"

Politics Feminist News Gender

Whoopi Goldberg & Elisabeth Hasselbeck Opine on Sarah Palin's Crosshair Map (Video)

March 2010 . . .

"We're on Sarah Palin's targeted list. But the thing is, the way she has it depicted it has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district. And when people do that, they've got to realize there are consequences to that action." -- Gabrielle Giffords, March 25, 2010

Following Giffords Shooting, Sarah Palin's Crosshairs Website Quickly Scrubbed From Internet

Politics News Gender

Democratic Congresswoman Shot in Head in Arizona

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is in critical condition after being shot in the head "at an event she was hosting outside a Tucson, Ariz., grocery store." The bullet went through her brain. The Congresswoman had received death threats.

A federal judge was also shot and is dead. The New York Times reports that the judge was involved in immigration cases and had received death threats. Thirteen people were wounded and 5 were killed in the attack. The federal judge and a nine year-old girl were among the dead.

New York Times:

During the fall campaign, Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice-presidential candidate, posted a controversial map on her Facebook page depicting spots where Democrats were running for re-election; those Democrats were noted by crosshairs symbols like those seen through the scope of a gun. Ms. Giffords was among those on Ms. Palin’s map, which later removed the crosshairs symbols.

Firedoglake: Giffords Opponent, Jesse Kelly, Held June Event to “Shoot a Fully Automatic M16″ to “Get on Target” and “Remove Gabrielle Giffords”

Jane Fonda: Progressive Arizona Rep Gabrielle Giffords is shot. In her ads, Sarah Palin had her targeted in a gun site. Inciting to violence. about 3 hours ago via Echofon Retweeted by 100+ people

Progrssive Feminist News