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But not before I share a few things with you. Next time you root down into one of your emails and find the word "abomination" in reference to teh gay, reply with this.

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Kiplinger, the business forecast and personal finance guru, has put together a slide show of the Great Cities for Raising Families in the U.S. and low and behold, Pocatello, Idaho, made the list.

Yeah, I'm scratching my head a little, too.  read more »

From Boing Boing comes this compelling presentation on the method by which we save the planet. Its less than 20 minutes but once you click play, you'll never notice the time.

As I buried in the post on the Beckpocalypse, unfortunately the Nuge won't be performing at the "I have a nightmare" speech. He's been scrubbed, no doubt because of the racist comments. Beck's partners couldn't have that on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of MLK's landmark speech. But the tea baggers' loss is Boise's gain. But $60! Hell, Dylan was just here for $50. Good luck with that.  read more »

Yes the economy sucks, but there ain't no way electing this will make it better.

I must say Labrador fits right in with this cast.

Christ on a crutch. Who knew that almost a half century after Brown v. Board of Education, there's still segregation practiced in southern schools.

Updated 8/27: Shortened the title from "Senator Crapo Unwittingly Publicizes the Inherent Contradiction in Republican Campaign Strategy" Catchy, no? And I got some wonky quibbles on the numbers down below.

You think teh crazy talk and inhibited logical faculties are limited to the tea baggers? Its embedded in the Republican game plan of reducing deficits while repealing health care reform. Senator Crapo, in an election year gambit, attempted to demonstrate economic justification for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (health care reform). Crapo asked the Congressional Budget Office for an analysis on the deficit should the ACA be repealed. And the response (.pdf) probably won't be heralded by any press releases from the Senator's office:

"[Y]ou asked what the net deficit impact would be if certain provisions of PPACA and the Reconciliation Act that were estimated to generate net savings were eliminated -- specifically, those which were originally estimated to generate a net reduction in mandatory outlays of $455 billion over the 2010-2019 period. The estimate of $455 billion mentioned in your letter represents the net effects of many provisions. Some of those provisions generated savings for Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children's Health Insurance Program, and some generated costs.

"If those provisions were repealed, CBO estimates that there would be an increase in deficits similar to its original estimate of $455 billion in net savings over that period."  read more »

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"I regret that I have but one vote to give Mr. Labrador," writes Dan Welker on the Facebook page of Labrador for Idaho. "Great position statement. Now lets go get you elected!"

Welker is referring to the 1st Congressional District Candidate's position statement on illegal immigration.

"I agree with Dan," added Angela Ippolito-Cross "I regret that I have but one vote to give Mr. Labrador."

But apparently, Republican words regarding their candidate are not worth the blog windows they are printed on.

According to KBOI:  read more »

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) penned an editorial this weekend which should be the template for every leader in this country on the controversy near Ground Zero. He nails it in seven short paragraphs.

The debate swirling around the proposed mosque and Muslim community center in lower Manhattan near the World Trade Center site has, for many, tapped into strong emotions of a national trauma that is still raw. But in the churning political and constitutional arguments, one question has not been adequately addressed: what makes a mosque near ground zero offensive?

Nearly everyone in this debate affirms the constitutional right for the mosque's construction. Indeed, that right is a cherished founding principle. As Thomas Jefferson said, "The constitutional freedom of religion [is] the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights." It is no accident that the right to worship in accordance with one's own conscience is enshrined in the First Amendment.  read more »

Down With Tyranny

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Our post Hostility to minorities is held by the far right majority of the Republican Party was picked up by several reference sites, including Topix.com.

In this discussion, kodbager writes (among other things):

Here's a valid question. As a "minority" ... just what the hell is it that really distinguishes YOUR want's and wishes from that of MINE???  read more »

Maybe Harry Reid should consider adding the thought: I don't know how any woman could be a Republican, OK? ... Do I need to say more?

A Minnesota Republican Party operative yesterday waded into one of the signature political issues of our time: "Who's hotter — Republican women or Democratic women?" writes Rachel Rose Hartman on Yahoo News.  read more »

The 'almost next to hallowed ground zero Mosque/Islamic Center/ex-Burlington Coat Factory' controversy is being demagogued to death by bigots and opportunists. Discriminating on the basis of religion is against everything this country was founded upon. Glenn Greenwald observed this exchange which is the first mention in the traditional media of what this controversy is really about, telling the Muslims they can sit anywhere they like on the bus, just not the front. When this first broke I thought this was an actual proposal to build a Mosque deliberately on ground zero. And upon reflection I can think of no better way to signal to the world that Islam is not the enemy of America. No American Muslims flew those planes or killed the innocent and the first responders. We should encourage moderate Muslims and seek retribution from the killers who have declared America its enemy.

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No matter the group, one can almost feel the seething disgust the GOP has for people they don't like.

Simply put, there is one party that welcomes people of all colors and faiths, and there is one that does not.

- brooklynbadboy

***

Harry Reid really touched a nerve when he said: "I don't know how anyone of Latino heritage could be a Republican, OK?" ... "Do I need to say more?"

Out of necessity, 1st Congressional District Republican candidate Raul Labrador, who was born in Puerto Rico, weighed in:

“Harry Reid’s latest race-baited words are simply unacceptable to all members of the Hispanic community and I fully expect his party and Walt Minnick to condemn these terrible comments immediately.” he said

Calling Reid's comments "ill-tempered," and "ignorant," Labrador issued the following statement:

I cannot believe an elected leader of Harry Reid’s stature can continue to make racist comments about huge numbers of Americans. Harry Reid’s latest race-baited comments are simply unacceptable to all members of the Hispanic community. Denigrating the entire Republican Hispanic community, including myself, is simply outrageous. Contrary to Senator Reid’s beliefs, the Latino community is perfectly capable of making choices of political affiliation that are in its best interests, including being Republicans.  read more »

From Popkey:

Former Idaho GOP Sen. Larry Craig will be on KBOI-670 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, [CALL 336-3700 or 1-800-529-KBOI] filling in for conservative host Nate Shelman. Craig will be joined by Wayne Hoffman, executive director of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, and formerly an Statesman political reporter and spokesman for former U.S. Rep. Bill Sali, R-Idaho.  read more »

The latest right wing conspiracy theory which shamelessly utilizes their favorite motivation, fear. Needless to say, it has no basis in reality. Watch this congressman embarrass himself when called out on his baseless fear mongering.  read more »

demonizing teh Muslin. H/T nic.

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The Boise Guardian, a blog run by Boise photographer Dave Frazier, posted this yesterday on his site. Apparently the Boise Police Department has removed the Guardian from its media contact list because the list is for “media only.” Frazier claims his site is a “news blog” and objects to BPD’s decision.

The Boise Guardian is primarily devoted to Boise City and Ada County issues. It is slanted, as the blog itself acknowledges – its tagline is “The Boise Guardian – a different slant on the news.” Frazier’s frequent target is the City of Boise, usually Mayor Bieter and his administration (whom he refers to as “Team Dave”). Frazier often uses his blog to grind whatever ax he has against Bieter. Here are a few headlines from his latest “news” stories:

Will Council Ground Bieter’s PR Flight of Fancy?
Team Dave Seeks $60K to Deny Citizen Voting Rights on Airport Debt Projects
Boise City Active in Real Estate Speculation
CCDC Seeks Expansion Despite Statewide Opposition
Boise Deceives Citizens on Hammer Flats
Mr. Bieter! Open This Building!

Frazier inserts himself into many of the "news" stories he posts (they often mention “The GUARDIAN” or Frazier in some way). Moreover, as I recently learned when he kicked me off his blog, he is thin-skinned and apparently cannot tolerate critical commentary directed toward his blog. In other words, trite though they may be, he can dish it out but he can’t take it.

Here’s just a bit of background. In early August a tuber on the Boise River floated past the traditional take-out spot in Ann Morrison Park and got caught in a diversion just down river. She was under water for several minutes and tragically died as a result several days later. Apparently there have been other incidents of Boise River floaters getting caught in this diversion.
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