Why is red the color of the GOP? Red signifies communism, after all.

Chris Tombrello responds: Wikipedia credits Tim Russert with coining “red state/blue state” during the 2000 elections. That year all of the TV news networks decided to use red/blue on their maps as a way to code the 2 parties. I’ve seen the use of colors used extensively in nations where there is low literacy, you…

OpEdNews: Chris Hedges is Correct About Militant Anarchists

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Chris-Hedges-is-Correct-Ab-by-Joe-Giambrone-120210-962.html “More of a parasite than a cancer, these pro-violence [Black Bloc] activists latch on to other nonviolent movements and use the cover of a large human shield to carry out actions that the large, nonviolent gathering wants no part of and did not sanction — and it puts their personal safety at risk without…

Rob McKenna returns money to shady foreclosure firm days before settling with banks

On Wednesday, a story broke that Rob McKenna has accepted $14k from a shady foreclosure firm that his office had put “on notice” for investigation.  After sitting on those contributions for over four month, he only returned them to avoid an optics problem –  days before he announced a settlement with major banks. See McKenna…

Occupiers to converge on Olympia this weekend, work with Dems like Hasegawa

I heard this on Norman Goldman’s radio show and tracked down some references. The caller mentioned Rep. Bob Hasegawa by name and lauded his work on the state bank and other issues. Goldman spoke of knowing and liking Hasegawa as well. (See Norman Goldman, Bob Hasegawa, and Adam Kline speak at the WPC banquet.) So,…

Dear Maine GOP: 1+1+1 does not = 4. Official results are wrong

Two super alert citizens, Frank Pearson and John Washburn, each hit me with spreadsheets about the same time, proving that Maine’s caucus results don’t even add up. As the precise John Washburn says, “their spreadsheet lacks internal integrity.” Because of the relatively open, public process, we’ve all been treated to a public display on lack…

Sobering New Yorker piece: Poor, White and Republican

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2012/02/poor-white-and-republican.html This article is reminiscent of Thomas Frank’s “What’s the Matter with Kansas?”.  It describes how many poor whites in the South depend on government handouts but, at the same time, are attracted to the Tea Party’s anti-government message. Biting the spoon that feeds them?

Get The Money Out of Politics Free Lunch – Occupy Election Fundraising (Bellevue, Friday)

Friday February 17th, 2012 @ Noon – Bellevue Washington Bellevue Downtown Park, 10201 Northeast 4th Street President Barrack Obama will be in Bellevue collecting a wheelbarrow of money. – The Election Money Lunch with President Barrack Obama is sold out. So we have decided to have a free lunch for all of us unable to…