If you have a problem reading this email, please click here to see the web page version
You received this email because you signed up for it at OpEdNews. Unsubscribe instructions are at the bottom of this email.
We're rough around the edges. There's no question about that. Opednews is not smooth and polished. We don't fill every page with stellar, famous writers. Matter of fact, we have a lot of writers who are average-- and we're proud of that. We are a different kind of website, perhaps unique-- a non-profit run by a team of over 45 dedicated volunteers, with close to 60,000 members who have, over the years, contributed over 140,000 articles. They know us in congress. They know us in the mainstream media. Our voice-- the voice of all who write for and with us-- is heard. We do it on a tiny, frugal shoestring budget and we do it only one way-- with your help-- that's you the person reading this, not some generic "you" out there meaning other people. We need your help to keep the site going. We need your help to pay our bills, and to stay enough ahead of the budget so we can focus on keeping up our work of bringing you light and truth. It really is a bit of a miracle where we've come. And it's happened because of you. thanks, rob kall Support Opednews. Make a tax deductible donation to make OEN Strong. 
 Daily Headlines
Harry Reid Will Ask Obama To Recess Appoint All Nominees If GOP Delays Continue  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) fired a warning shot to Republicans on Friday: Stop blocking President Barack Obama's executive branch nominees or I'll ask him to bypass the Senate and recess appoint all of them. By Robert Cogan
Shared Economic Theology Causes Stagnation, Suffering
Federal Reserve gave vastly greater aid to corporate "persons" than losses to human persons. ($16 trillion vs. less than $1 trillion.)Both parties share an economic dogma that leaves government and business stalemated over who should provide the jobs. Vast new government job-creating stimulus needed. See "19 Million Jobs for U.S. workers" online. By Bev Harris
Dear Maine GOP: 1+1+1 does not = 4. Official results are wrong  Evidence that Maine's GOP caucus results were miscounted. By Robert Reich
Manufacturing Illusions  In the 1950s, more than a third of American workers were represented by a union. Now, fewer than 7 percent of private-sector workers have a union behind them. If there's a single reason why the median wage has dropped dramatically for non-college workers over the past three and a half decades, it's the decline of unions. SCOTUS Blocks Montana Campaign Finance Ban That Challenges Citizens United  The US Supreme Court has blocked, pending further review, the Montana Supreme Court's December decision upholding the state's century-old ban on corporate political spending. The order, released on Friday evening, comes in response to an application submitted last week by American Tradition Partnership, a conservative interest group that says it fights "the radical environmentalist agenda," and two companies, seeking to have Montana's ban struck down. A five-member majority of the U.S. Supreme Court in the 2010 Citizens United decision declared that corporations' independent spending in elections does not corrupt -- or even appear to corrupt -- the political process. The Montana Supreme Court held that the state's history of corrupting corporate influence in politics, as well as the relative ease with which corporations may currently make expenditures through political action... By John Roth
Nightshades or Nightmare?  When I was a kid, before modern medicine and "specialists," our doctor, Abe Greenberg, carried a black bag and took an oath, Primum non nocere, "First, do no harm"). Doctor Greenberg had this to say about medicine: By Reza varjavand
Legalized Market for Human Kidneys: a Problem or a Panacea?
Out of 113, 000 patients who are waiting for organ transplants, as of Feb. 8th 2012, almost 91,000 of them, more than 80%, are waiting for a kidney. Additionally, the number of kidney donors is 12,090, indicating that there are only thirteen donors for every 100 patients on the waiting list. Evidently, there is a severe kidney shortage in the US, thus creating the possibility of alleviating it through monetary incentives. Ca 'DNA robot' targets cancer cells  The method could find wide use in biological applications, where this kind of "specificity" is highly prized. By Sayer Ji
Research: Roundup Diluted by 450-Fold is Still Toxic to DNA  New research released ahead of print and published in the journal Archives of Toxicology indicates that Roundup, the most common formulation of the herbicide glyphosate, is not only more toxic than its constituent ingredients, but is capable of damaging DNA within a human cell line when diluted down to 450,000% lower concentrations than presently used in GMO agricultural applications. Zygotes Close to Becoming Microscopic People in the Eyes of Oklahoma  Oklahoma's obtuse personhood law made it through the state Senate on Thursday by a margin of 34 imbeciles to 8 brains, and will now go to the House, where there are even more "interior person"-loving junkies than in the Senate. This means that, yes, fertilized eggs shall have "all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of this state." So get ready to give your zygotes your old car, hundreds of thousands of dollars in school tuition, and don't be surprised if their profiles shows up on eHarmony. The bill's backer, Sen. Brian Crain, clearly doesn't actually even understand the text of what he put forth, saying that it won't actually limit contraception access or other things involving contact with zygotes, when actually it will, hugely, you stupid guy, because if a zygote is a person, anyone using the morning-after pill, or... The Contraception Debate and Pop Culture's Weird Silence on Birth Control  When we talk about reproductive health in popular culture, as progressives, we mostly talk about the essential invisibility of abortion. But the debate over Obama's contraception coverage rule really ought to raise something related into sharper relief: the near-absence of any kind of depictions of contraception in our popular culture at all. By Bob Patterson
Texas Chainsaw Dynasty?  Will the Republican convention remind some pundits of Wes Craven's movie sequels? Why MSNBC Dumped Pat Buchanan: His 10 Most Outrageous Statements  Yesterday, Pat Buchanan announced that his tenure as a commentator at MSNBC was finally over, ending months of speculation about his absence from his once-frequent perch aside morning anchors Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. Calls for Buchanan's firing by groups like Color of Change, Credo, and Media Matters had been loud and growing, following years of controversial, offensive and outright bigoted statements made by Buchanan without apology or remorse. Here is a look back at 10 of the most offensive and outrageous statements made by Pat Buchanan: 1. Wanted to close the borders to protect white dominance. 2. Blamed lower test scores on minorities. 3. Claimed Jerry Sandusky's atrocities are because of "Homosexual marriage." 4. Said the Jewish population in the United States dropped in the 90s because Jews aborted all their babies. 5. Asserted Anders Breivik, who murdered 77 people... Scott Walker, Targeted For A Recall, Which Heartland Institute Aims To Fight, Leaked Documents Show  Recently leaked documents show that a Chicago-based conservative think tank plans to spend money on an issue-advocacy campaign timed to influence a potential recall election of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, which could happen as early as April. The proposed campaign highlights the invisible hand that nonprofits, shielded from disclosure laws, can wield in electoral politics. Short-term Exposure to Pollutants Increases Heart Attack Risk, Study Says
A new report says that even short-term exposure to major air pollutants increases the risk of heart attack. In an analysis of more than 100 studies conducted worldwide, researchers from the Paris Cardiovascular Research Center found that increased exposure to pollutants -- including fine particles, coarse particles, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide -- consistently increased the health risks after even short-term exposure, or less than seven days. While the risk from pollutant exposure was relatively small, compared with factors such as high blood pressure, the number of people breathing these pollutants worldwide is so large that a sizable number of people are at risk, the study said. In the case of fine particles, the researchers found that heart attacks increased 2.5 percent for every incremental increase in pollution levels. Obama DOJ Tries to Insulate Warrantless Wiretapping Law  he government today asked the Supreme Court to overturn an appeals court ruling that allowed the American Civil Liberties Union to challenge the constitutionality of a law that gives the government unprecedented authority to monitor international emails and phone calls by Americans, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). By Bob Alexander
That Don't Make No Sense  Have you ever watched a FOX News program from start to finish? I can't. I tried a couple of times to watch Bill O'Reilly, or Glen Beck when he was on, but I could never make it to the first commercial break. It hurt my head too much. Ten minutes of FOX and I'm yelling at my television in pain and outrage. By Stephen Lendman
Wrongheaded UN Vote on Syria
On February 4, Russia and China vetoed the Arab League's one-sided Syria resolution (SC/10536). It illegitimately called for Assad to step down. By Mike Whitney
Would You Vote For This Man?
Would you vote for a firebrand, a demagogue, a populist, a leftist tyrant? Who you vote for someone who'd bend the rules to make the country a fairer place for everyone? By David Glenn Cox
The Show Must Go On  Florida as we know from our recent political experience is a must win state for any candidate serious about moving into the Pennsylvania Avenue address. Why would McCain go into a must win state and cut his own throat with a policy address at a campaign stump event. Did the McCain camp think these senior citizens would perhaps admire his candor? Latest Articles
Redrawing the map of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan: Independence for the Balochi people
Ten days after he chaired a Congressional committee's hearing on Balochistan, Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher Friday (2/18) introduced a concurrent resolution in the congress, calling for an independent state for the Balochi people living in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. Solidarity with Khader Adnan
Day 62 and counting. Adnan's hunger strike continues. On February 15, Israel let his wife Randa see him for the second time. Greed Kills
Though we will be able to choose between Presidential candidates this November, we will not be able to vote against a greed driven economy. This is despite the consequences of living selfishly. Our only choice is to join the resistance. Part 1 of 3: The Cassandra Syndrome for Canada, Europe, Australia and America
Cassandra Syndrome: It is a term applied to predictions of doom about the future that are not believed, but upon later reflection turn out to be correct. This denotes a psychological tendency among people to disbelieve inescapably bad news, often through denial. The person making the prediction is caught in the dilemma of knowing what is going to happen but not being able to resolve the problem. How to Date Someone Who Has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)  If that special someone in your life happens to have OCD, take heart. Many OCD sufferers manage to lead normal (or crazy and normal) lives, which includes marriage, children and career. Just because a person has OCD, does not mean that they cannot be a huge asset to your life and make an excellent partner and parent. So here are some tips on how to treat your special someone and have a wonderful life regardless of their OCD The Great Contraceptive Slip Up
Liberal, conservative, theist, atheist, just about everyone has mishandled the contraceptive controversy. Overturn Citizens United
Help overturn Citizens United.  Best News Links from the Web
Two Iranian warships enter Mediterranean  Israel calls move a "provocation" and says it will monitor the vessels closely as they cross Suez Canal. Obama's Plan to Save the Military From Cuts--at the Expense of Domestic Programs
As budget wonks comb over President Obama's outline for fiscal year 2013, a startling White House plan has become clear: the administration is seeking to undo some mandatory cuts to the Pentagon at the expense of critical domestic programs. It does so by basically undoing the defense sequester that kicked in as a result of the Congressional supercommittee on debt. This wasn't a featured part of the White House budget rollout, and for good reason--it undercuts the administration's carefully crafted message of benevolent government action and economic fairness. The process for this shift is complicated, and has been flagged by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Essentially, Obama wants to eliminate individual spending caps for both military and non-military spending, and institute one single discretionary spending cap instead. Here's the basic rundown. Dateline Feb 17: Veterans For Peace Elects First Female President  Veterans For Peace, a non-profit educational organization, has elected Leah Bolger, a retired U.S. Navy commander to serve as its first female president in its 26-year history....According to Bolger, "After more than ten years of illegal and immoral wars with Afghanistan and Iraq, and with the drumbeat for war on Iran growing louder by the day, there has never been a more important time for veterans to stand up and speak out about the truth of war and to oppose it in every way we can." Private Equity Gears Up For PR And Lobbying Blitz  Private equity has an image problem. What began a few months ago with questions about Mitt Romney's background as chief of Bain Capital has ballooned into a tidal wave of legislative, regulatory and media attention -- and much of it unflattering. Now the industry is working to fight back, as some fear that the bad press could lead to greater regulation... Before Mitt Romney entered the political fray, private equity firms -- which specialize in pumping investors' money into companies that aren't listed on the U.S. stock exchange -- enjoyed relative anonymity. Few people outside the business community had a detailed understanding of how they worked, and many of the firms in turn did their best to stay clear of the spotlight. Maxine Waters Ethics Probe: Six Out Of Ten Committee Members Recuse Themselves  All five Republicans on the House ethics committee and the panel's ranking Democrat withdrew from a long-standing investigation of Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of California on Friday to avoid further questions about their impartiality. The extraordinary development came more than two years after the panel began examining whether Waters tried to steer money from the 2008 financial bailout to a minority-owned bank while her husband was a shareholder and board member of the institution. The mass recusal came in one of the committee's most troubled cases, after past allegations of bias by Republican members forced the panel to hire an outside lawyer last July to investigate the committee and its handling of the Waters case. New Hampshire Lawmaker Urges Married Couples To Practice Abstinence  A New Hampshire lawmaker with a history of surprising statements suggested on Thursday that married couples who want to use contraception should practice abstinence instead of using birth control pills. State Rep. Lynne Blankenbeker (R-Concord) made the claim -- noting that abstinence is available "over the counter" along with condoms -- during a legislative committee hearing on a resolution urging the Obama administration to drop the birth control requirement for religious organizations. Blankenbeker was trying to explain her position on why the administration's requirement to provide insurance coverage for birth control should be overturned. US officials believe Iran sanctions will fail, making military action likely  American officials are resigned to the fact that the US will be seen in much of the world as a partner in any Israeli assault on Iran -- whether or not Washington approved of it. The administration will then have to decide whether to, in the parlance of the US military, "pile on", by using its much greater firepower to finish what Israel starts. "The sanctions are there to pressure Iran and reassure Israel that we are taking this issue seriously," said one official. "The focus is on demonstrating to Israel that this has a chance of working. Israel is sceptical but appreciates the effort. It is willing to give it a go, but how long will it wait?" Mitt Romney's Struggles Fuel Talk of Brokered Convention  Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's struggles in Michigan are fueling speculation that Republicans might have to resort to a doomsday scenario and launch a frantic search for a 2012 savior at their nominating convention in late August. Rare in the modern age of U.S. politics, a so-called brokered convention could result in Republicans ditching their current crop of candidates and turning to someone else who they feel would have a better chance of defeating Democratic President Barack Obama in the Nov. 6 election. Record $6 Trillion of Fake U.S. Bonds Seized in Zurich in Italy Mafia Probe
Italian anti-mafia prosecutors said they seized a record $6 trillion of allegedly fake U.S. Treasury bonds, an amount that's almost half of the U.S.'s public debt. The bonds were found hidden in makeshift compartments of three safety deposit boxes in Zurich, the prosecutors from the southern city of Potenza said in an e-mailed statement. The Italian authorities arrested eight people in connection with the probe, dubbed "Operation Vulcanica," the prosecutors said. The U.S. embassy in Rome has examined the securities dated 1934, which had a nominal value of $1 billion apiece, they said in the statement. "Thanks to Italian authorities for the seizure of fictitious bonds for $6 trillion," the embassy said in a message on Twitter. The financial fraud uncovered by the Italian prosecutors in Potenza includes two checks issued through HSBC Holdings Plc in London for $325,000... Christie Vetoes Equality Bill
Christie vetoes marriage equality bill. Legislature may not have votes to overturn. Rupert Murdoch Is Launching A New Sunday Edition Of The Sun  Rupert Murdoch is officially launching a new Sunday paper, according to an email he sent to his staff -- following the arrest of five Sun journalists allegedly linked to illegal payments to police. The Sun on Sunday will replace News of the World, a Murdoch-owned tabloid that became a casualty of the phone-hacking scandal over the summer. BREAKING: Obama DOJ Won't Defend Constitutionality Of Denying Military Benefits To Same-Sex Couples  The Obama administration has announced that it will not defend laws that prevent married same-sex couples from obtaining military benefits. In a letter to Congress today, Attorney General Eric Holder argued, "[t]he legislative record of these provisions contains no rationale for providing veterans' benefits to opposite-sex couples of veterans but not to legally married same-sex spouses of veterans " Neither the Department of Defense nor the Department of Veterans Affairs identified any justifications for that distinction that would warrant treating these provisions differently from Section 3 of DOMA." Billionaire Romney donor uses threats to silence critics  Frank VanderSloot is an Idaho billionaire and the CEO of Melaleuca, Inc., a controversial billion-dollar-a-year company which peddles dietary supplements and cleaning products...Currently, he is the national finance co-chair of the Mitt Romney presidential campaign, and his company has become one of the largest donors ($1 million) to the ostensibly "independent" pro-Romney SuperPAC, Restore Our Future. But it is VanderSloot's chronic bullying threats to bring patently frivolous lawsuits against his political critics -- magazines, journalists, and bloggers -- that makes him particularly pernicious and worthy of more attention. In the last month alone, VanderSloot, using threats of expensive defamation actions, has successfully forced Forbes, Mother Jones and at least one local gay blogger in Idaho to remove articles that critically focused on his political and business practices... Iran: false nuclear fears cloud the west's judgment  A non-hysterical approach to the Iran nuclear issue is entirely possible. It should take several considerations into account. If the rattled and insecure Iranian leadership is lying when it says it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons, or if it undergoes a conversion from that position (triggered perhaps by an Israeli air strike), it will find, like all other nuclear-armed states, that the bombs are essentially useless and a considerable waste of time, effort, money and scientific talent. Vet GOP candidate wants to kick Santorum "in the jimmy' for sexist remarks about women in military  The GOP candidate running for former Rep. Gabrielle Gifford's (D-AZ) seat responded to Republican presidential candidate Santorum's comment about women in combat by saying she wanted to "kick him in the jimmy." GOP hopeful Martha McSally, a retired Air Force colonel and the first American woman to fly in combat, told Fox News host Steve Doocy that Santorum was "out of touch." "You know I agree with many of the things that Rick Santorum says, but when I heard this I really just wanted to go kick him in the jimmy," she said. "He's totally out of touch. I mean, completely out of touch. These are the types of arguments we heard 20 to 25 years ago as to why women couldn't be fighter pilots. It's an insult to the men and women who are serving overseas, putting their lives on the line and focusing on the mission right now." According to Urban Dictionary, "jimmy" is slang for male genitalia. Federal agents arrest man who allegedly planned to bomb U.S. Capitol  The FBI and the U.S. Capitol Police arrested a Moroccan man Friday in downtown Washington after a lengthy investigation into an alleged plot to carry out a suicide attack on the Capitol. Amine el-Khalifi, 29, was picked up while carrying an inoperable gun and a fake suicide vest provided to him by undercover FBI agents posing as al-Qaeda associates, U.S. officials said. They said he entered the United States when he was 16.
Copyright © OpEdNews 2012
To subscribe to OpEdNews, please click here.
Or you can change to a weekly digest, if you like. |
