Almost Free Speech

Powerful words from Keith Olbermann

2010-10-27T20:31:00.000-07:00

Little more could I add to this commentary by MSNBCs Keith Olbermann that could better express the responsibilities we all face on November 2nd.

Holy Tacos' Flow Chart to predict your vote

2010-10-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

So How accurate is this chart in determining how you will vote on November 2nd? If you say you are still undecided then Holy Taco thinks he has the answer to your dilemma.

"The midterm election is only a few weeks away, and many people claim they are still undecided on how they will vote," Holy Taco writes. "These people are filthy liars."

Landmark Court Decision- Teachers have no First Ammendment rights concerning what they teach.

2010-10-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

Oct. 22 2010

Source http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/school_law/2010/10/court_no_free_speech_rights_fo.html

An epic and somewhat disturbing ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, in Cincinnati states that Teachers while in the classroom are exempted from the rights and privileges afforded citizens under the First Amendment of the Constitution concerning free speech.

Teachers have no First Amendment free-speech protection for curricular decisions they make in the classroom, a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday.
"Only the school board has ultimate responsibility for what goes on in the classroom, legitimately giving it a say over what teachers may (or may not) teach in the classroom," the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, in Cincinnati, said in its opinion.

The decision came in the case of an Ohio teacher whose contract was not renewed in 2002 after community controversy over reading selections she assigned to her high school English classes. These included Siddhartha , by Herman Hesse, and a unit on book censorship in which the teacher allowed students to pick books from a list of frequently challenged works, and some students chose Heather Has Two Mommies, by Leslea Newman.

This begs a question on how the ruling could be applied in cases where a school district decides to teach Intelligent Design as being an alternate theory beside Darwins' Origin of the Species more commonly referred to the Theory of Evolution.

Will the teacher have the right to actually state that Intelligent Design is not based on proven scientific principals? Or will it also lend a district the right to censor the teaching of credible scientific principles like Evolution and and make the teachers advocate dogma over science?

This Damocleasean ruling sets the stage for even broader range of debate where we denigrate the role of the teacher to an automaton rather than an individual with wide ranging ideals to teach our kids that might not be found in the particular book the school district decides to use or how they decide to approach science vs dogma.

AFS Proudly announces Joe Miller as its first Ass Hat of the Week

2010-10-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

By Proclamation and popular consensus Almost Free Speech happily announces that the recipient of the inaugural Ass Hat of the Week Award will be Alaskan Republican Senatorial candidate Joe Miller. For his many achievements in this election year he has deemed himself mote than worthy of this honor.

By Proclamation:
For your ever eloquent arguments that Social Security, Unemployment, and other federally mandated forms of entitlement being unconstitutional while you and your family partook and were recipients in these same programs.

For furthering the backlogs facing the municipal court systems of Alaska by disputing a lawsuit to obtain you employment records with the Alaskan North Star Council where you by your own admission were discharged for impropriety. For your further suit against the North Star Council seeking monetary recompense for their release of public records concerning your tenure as council.

For you furthering employment to the disadvantaged in Alaska by hiring an unlicensed security firm to breach the laws laid down in the First Amendment of the Constitution concerning freedom of the press and arresting a bonafide journalist for asking you "difficult questions" after you stated you would no longer answer personal questions.

For your equating the United States immigration problem to that of communist Germany and advocating the same solutions that were effected by the Berlin Wall as a solution.

For all of these and every other reason not stated we are proud to name you. Joseph Wayne Miller Ass Hat of the Week for September 22 - 29, 2010.

I will be getting that suitable for framing certificate out to you in the mail today Joe, it will look great on the wall with your West Point Diploma that I paid for and you refuse to disclose information about, as well as the Yale Law degree you apparently slept through the classes for.

Don' forget to vote today for next weeks Ass Hat award recipient.

More on the gift that keeps giving named Joe Miller from Rachael Maddow...

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Chris Mathews tells you why to vote.

2010-10-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks Chris I whole heartedly agree that if you don't vote you don't have a right to bitch.

Joe Miller looks to East German illegal immigration solutions as a model for America

2010-10-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

Say It Ain't So Joe

Source: Immoral Minority

Post Date: 10-17-2010

Controversial Alaskan Senatorial candidate Joe Miller speaking at a town hall meeting held at Central Middle School in Anchorage tonight fielded some of the questions that have plagued him recently.

Says attendee Gryphen from the Immoral Minority:

One of those locals, a soft spoken woman, (who) managed to ask Joe about the questions surrounding his military career. Joe did NOT like having that question asked.

"You were at the last town hall meeting, and I saw you with Murkowski about just two days ago , and I understand you are working on that campaign." He responded somewhat angrily.

The lady asking the question denied this was true, but Joe was undeterred and went into his "we are the most disclosed campaign in recent Alaska history" (Oops, forgot about you again Sarah!) and then continued on to list his work history as a magistrate and attorney in Fairbanks, but never really got back to answering the woman's question.

There was another Anchorage person who called Joe a "Welfare Queen" and asked how he could be against the programs that he himself had taken advantage of. Miller said his problem was not with the programs themselves, but rather who was in charge of these programs. (Yeah that answer confused me too.)

In response to another question about the state's ability to take care of itself without Federal dollars Miller responded by saying that "there was EXTREME wealth in this state if only the government would just let people get to it." (I am guessing this was in reference to opening up ANWR.)

However it was a question posed to him by a like minded supporter that provided the most jaw dropping moment of the town hall.

A gentleman ask Teabagger Joe how he felt about the illegal immigrant problem, and made sure that everybody understood he was speaking of "illegal" immigrants.

Joe quickly went through his talking points about national security and the illegal activity engaged in by the people coming over the border from Mexico, and then reiterated that the first priority was to build a fence.

Then things got a little surreal.
In his xenophobic zeal Miller asked how hard could it be to build a fence? After all, and this is a direct quote, "If East Germany can do it, we can do it!"

Audio of this comment :

And

Holy Tea Buggery Batman!!! Did my ears just see what my eyes heard?

Ok, Mr. Miller despite all of the other faux pas statements you have made in this campaign (such as "going house hunting in Washington", "looking at office furniture for new office in Washington","might need to look for name plaque for my new office door", "looking forward to meeting my new colleagues in Washington this weekend" or "I will not comment any further about my background" to name a few). Did you just advocate building a wall and staffing it with armed guards like Kruschev did in the 1960s? The same wall your venerated lord and master you so often invoke, President Regan decried to all of the world "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall"? Didn't you say that you are running for office to put an end to the Socialist ideals of the Obama administration?

The majority of the illegals that come here are not criminals and do not commit crimes while in America. They come here because much of our elitist citizenry are too spoiled to mow their own lawns, cook their own food, clean their own toilets, wipe their own kids asses and/or other menial jobs that they are willing to do to have a better life. Don't believe me? Just ask Meg Whitman, and Joe you just proved you are no better than she is.

So if we build your wall Joe do you also advocate the wholesale slaughter of those who decide to scale it like the Communists escapees did? There is no precise number how many people were killed trying to leave East Germany so it is up to you, name the number of people that it would be OK to kill for wanting to make a better life for themselves or their families.

I agree that something needs to be done but you just showed everyone how little value you would be in making that decision, as well as just how big a prick you are. So hows that candidate thing workin' out for ya JoJo?

Joe listen to me, I will put it in plain English and dumb it down for you so you get the point.

When you run for public office, any office, especially a high profile office like the Senate, people ask questions and expect to be answered. Not with rude statements and accusations let alone something as utterly STUPID as analogizing a border barrier to the Berlin Wall AKA the Iron Curtain.

SPECIAL UPDATE from Alaska Dispatch :

Teabagger Joe's "security staff" placed the founder of the Alaska Dispatch under arrest!

Hopfinger was reportedly pressing Miller on whether the candidate had ever been reprimanded for politicking while working at the Fairbanks North Star Borough in 2008. Alaska Dispatch and other media have sued for the release for records related Miller's time at the borough. Various accounts of what happened next generally agree on this course of events:

* Two or three bodyguards told Hopfinger to stop asking questions and to leave the building.
* Hopfinger continued to ask questions while apparently videotaping the candidate.
* Bodyguards told him that if he persisted they would arrest him for trespassing, but refused to identify themselves to Hopfinger.
* Hopfinger asked why he was trespassing, as the event was at a public school. Seconds later, he was then put in arm-bar and later handcuffed and sequestered at one end of a hallway for at least 30 minutes. He was told, "You're under arrest."
* Anchorage Police arrived on the scene shortly after.

Police were still trying to sort things out as this was written.

[Update, 10/18, 7:08 p.m. AKDT]: Anchorage Police freed Alaska Dispatcher editor Tony Hopfinger from Senate candidate Joe Mlller's body guards at Central Middle School early Sunday evening. Sergeant Mark Rein of the Anchorage Police Department said Hopfinger is not in custody or under arrest. Hopfinger had been trying to ask Miller questions when two or three guards told him to leave or risk being charged with trespassing.

When Hopfinger continued to try to ask questions, one of the guards put the reporter in an arm-bar and then handcuffed him.

Hopfinger was released after police arrived.

The reporter was on public property where a public event was being held at the time of the incident.

Miller has been adamant about his desire to avoid talking to the Alaska media, but no one in the working press in Alaska has ever before seen a candidate to go this length to avoid questions.

SPECIAL REPLY TO SPECIAL UPDATE BY LIL OLE ME:

What do you really want Joe old sod? Nazi or Commie? Can't have it both ways now... "Dontcha Know?" (in my best Palin voice)

I just love playing Jenga..... Kerplunk!

Generation We- The Best Greatest Hope For The Future Of America

2010-10-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see." John W. Whiteside, Founder, Rutherford Institute

I came across a post and video today on one of the numerous blog and news sites that I frequent ( actually one of my favorites called the Immoral Minority ) entitled "My little girl and the power of tomorrow".

The post was made by the owner of the blog named Gryphen and detailed how his daughter was responsible for his coming to be a blog master some 6 years previously but had never really been interested in the blog itself. He goes on to to mention that she is the one who found this video and insisted he post it.

Generation WE: The Movement Begins... from Generation We on Vimeo

The pride he has in his child, her hopes, dreams and accomplishments resonated very strongly with me as I am also a parent of 2 Generation We children.

I have watched this phenomenon of social responsibility bud very early in my kids as well as others to a degree I didn't think was normal considering I didn't become politically active till I was well in My late 20's or even early 30's. I just really didn't think it was as wide spread as this video depicts.

This got me to thinking. Was this just because of the Nature/Nurture theory that children are products of their environmental support structure? If so it holds that many of our parents did a bang up job raising us so in turn we did even better with our own kids. At least I hope that is the case and if so then I (as Gryphen said) would like to give myself a little pat on the back and my parents a big hug for what they did for me.

No matter what the cause is the effect remains that for the most part kids today are setting goals we could have never fathomed let alone attained. They are beginning young to be politically aware and as they are reaching voting age they are and will increasingly be the deciding factor on how our cities countries and world will be shaped. By all that I have seen the majority of them will do far better than we have done so far and at an earlier age.

So here is where I throw the monkey wrench into the machine and muck it up.

Gryphen points out for just these reasons he made and I also write about here the republican machine and its evil spawn the Tea buggers are running scared thinking their days are numbered.

They are wanting to legislate all areas of the family, in that they want to control a woman's right to choose whether to have children and how she goes about it. We all know that the extreme right tend to have far more kids than the mid to left political minded. Much of the funding for the elections today by the industrial complex are to push back many of these same social reforms that have caused this paradigm shift we see in our own children back to a day of social slavery.

With the degree of fear, greed and narcissistic selfishness prevalent in the political arena how is this affecting the views and opinions of the children whose parents of the extreme right?

When thinking on this the only person that came to my mind was the queen bee her self Sarah Palin. I am not one to often comment on how a person raises their children in public but this issue really needs to be talked about.

All of America and the world has been witness to her rants as well as those of many of the people she supports. The corruption and greed that they vehemently deny, as well as the lies and machinations they spread have to be seen to an exponentially greater degree by her children. Whether they are too young to recognize it or not, it must surely be to a point detrimental to their development.

I think in all honesty this hypothesis is born out by the frequency, level and degree of dysfunctional behavior exhibited in the past.

Does this mean that not just the Palins but many of the like minded families, because of the simple fact that they breed more could usurp much of the Generation We kids momentum to building a better world?

I don't know a whole lot about the Palins in particular but Gryphens' blog is based out of Alaska and I would like to know from some of his posters if they could confirm that the run ins with the law, teen pregnancy and alcohol abuse extend to other members of the family and not just Bristol.

I am hoping that for all of our kids sake I am dead wrong and that even the Palin kids and others like them can rise above their parent hate and prejudices and choose the better angles of their own nature.

Wake Up Sarah. Today seems rosy and dollar filled but if your kids turn out to buck your beliefs and become part of Generation We they might not be so proud of Mommy Warbucks anymore.

But since we cant count on Sister Sarah to do the right thing and be considerate to her kids and ours all we have left is the power of the vote to make sure there are people other than the corporate hate mongers to preserve what is left for Generation We.

Lawrence O'Donnell and Chuck Todd Review the Reed / Angle Debate

2010-10-17T10:17:00.000-07:00

O'Donnell: "What Happens in Vegas Doesn't Stay in Vegas Tonight"

Lawrence O'Donnell and Chuck Todd review the debate between current Senator Harry Reed of Nevada and Sharron Angle in their closely contested contest to see who will become the next Senator for that State.

Nevada currently leads the U.S. in the highest unemployment rates and most home foreclosures.

Most news agencies score this debate between the candidates as either a draw 65-55% for Angle but I have to disagree. Besides her vague answers to the moderators questions, outlandish policy ideals and utter lack of understanding on how to properly debate there is just something that sets me on edge about Angle. I often wonder if she has 3 or 4 shots of Grey Goose before appearing on camera but every time I hear her voice and how she speaks it makes me want to buy a Milton Bradley Home Castration Game and play it with myself. If this is (by her own account of being a career teacher) the quality of educators they have in Nevada then there is no reason it is in trouble.

In video #2 Lawrence interviews the current Tea Party candidate Scott Ashjian that was left out of this exchange, and in video #3 he speaks to is former Senatorial candidate Sue Lowden who if not having made the infamous "chicken for health care" remark could have by most accounts handily defeated Reed.

On A side Note:

Special Congrats to Lawrence for landing the 10pm slot and getting The Last Word.

I have been a long time fan of his style and intelligence not only as a journalist but as an author, actor, politician and TV/Movie Producer. I often watched nightly hoping that Chris Mathews, Rachael Maddow or Kieth Olberman would need a day off and Lawrence would be subbing for them.

Again, Congratulations Lawrence. It couldn't have happened to a better person. I am already a regular viewer .

2010-10-16T22:10:00.003-07:00

NewsCorp and Rupert Muroch grilled by stock holders due to over $1.25m+ in donations to GOP!!!

2010-10-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

The Arrogance of a Fox!

Rupert Murdoch and the board of News Corp faced tough questions from their share holders today who were concerned over the large donations made to the GOP for the 2010 mid term elections.

Mr Murdoch reasoned that the doanations would be in the best interest of the company as well as the nation to promote the changes in policy made by the current administration led by President Obama.

When asked if they would from this time forward inform and make transparent further contributions to share holders in advance he responded a resounding "No, you have the right to vote us off of the board if you don't Like it".

Chris Hayes from The Nation and Keith Olberman take on Mr Murdochs arrogance:

A more detailed audio transcript is available at the Media Matters website as Chris Hayes said HERE.

Brett Farve Sexting Scandal...

2010-10-16T18:49:00.000-07:00

Viewer Discretion Advised !!!
Adult Content !!!

What more I could say that Bill Maher hasn't on this subject need not be uttered.

So just how big will the November losses for Democrats really be?

2010-10-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

As Democrats' Message Lags, GOP Poised for Huge Wins in House and Senate

Source: Huffington Post

Post Date: 10-16-2010

Read Full Article

WASHINGTON — Two weeks before Election Day, Democrats fear their grip on the House may be gone, and Republicans are poised to celebrate big gains in the Senate and governors' mansions as well.

Analysts in both parties say all major indicators tilt toward the Republicans. President Barack Obama's policies are widely unpopular. Congress, run by the Democrats, rates even lower. Fear and anger over unemployment and deep deficits are energizing conservative voters; liberals are demoralized.

Private groups are pouring huge sums of money into GOP campaigns. An almost dizzying series of Democratic messages has failed to gain traction, forcing Obama to zigzag in search of a winning formula.

With early voting under way in many states, Democrats are trying to minimize the damage by concentrating their resources on a dwindling number of races.
"The poll numbers and the enthusiasm on the right versus the lack of the enthusiasm on the left suggest a pretty big Republican night," said former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey, who once headed the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

With Democrats in power while the unemployment rate stands at 9.6 percent, "it's difficult to say, 'Well it could have been worse,'" Kerrey said.

Polls, campaign finance reports and advisers in both parties indicate that Republicans are in line to seize on a level of voter discontent that rivals 1994, when the GOP gained the House majority for the first time in 40 years. Democrats are embattled at every level.

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Joel Burns A GAY American Hero

2010-10-16T13:53:00.000-07:00

Fort Worth city councilman talks about painful past and tells suicidal gay teens that "it gets better."

Post Date: 10-15-2010

by: Gryphen at the Immoral Minority

Read Full Post Here

I am going to forewarn you that I watched this on Lawrence O'Donnell's "The Last Word" yesterday and found myself overcome with emotion several times.

However it is a VERY important speech for people to hear in order to help us understand the pain these young men and women are going through. And since Joel Burns bravely told his extremely painful story to the world in order to help these kids, the least we can do is give him twelve minutes of our day to listen.

I have to say that I am not someone easily moved to tears from a video but when I read Gryphens post and watched this video I literally cried like a child.

I along with many other posters at the Immoral Minority all agree that this young man epitomizes the word hero in all senses of the word.

My hat is off to you Mr. Joel Burns.

Will Nov. 2nd find Michael Steele to be just another statistic in the unemployment index?

2010-10-16T13:07:00.000-07:00

Michael Steele Challenges the Democrats: "Put up or shut up!".

Full Story from the Huffington Post 10-15-2010

Read Full Story Here

Quite Honestly Mikey old sod it seems that Keith and Mr. Kaine have answered your question quite well. Let alone what President Obama has said about the issue of how the RNC has been funded since the politically polarized decision that was ramrodded through the SOTUS by Chief Justice Roberts for his industrial complex cronies.

You know I have a hard time believing that you have made it this far with the RNC after the degree of embarrassment you have heaped on them. But after all you were only appointed as Chairman to be an Uncle Tom for the white members of the party and perhaps stem the tide of popularity of our legitimately elected Afro American President.

Sorry, and for all of the good it did (which was little), I have the feeling that Mr Rove the puppet master is warming the seat you now occupy for someone who is a little lighter if they happen to prevail the day come Nov. 2nd.

I wonder when the wash actually airs out to how big of a scandal this really is if the culpability could even extend to you. Don't forget that for every good con game that gets busted there has to be a fall guy to take the blame (don't think for a minute that Karl will man up for you) and a black man has more than once been found to be the best patsy in the patch.

Michael also remember that soon you will be just another black man looking for a job in a struggling economy. What you say now and how you leave will be the deciding factor how the rest of your own race views you for the remainder of your life as well as how you see your self in the mirror every morning.

But then maybe you aren't too worried about looking yourself in the eye, heaven knows you have done pretty well over the last few years avoiding any kind of conscience pangs.

Perhaps you can look up Sarah, Todd and Joe maybe they have a spare bedroom or a scrap to throw you. After all we know her depth of Christian charity for those who are of another ethnicity.

OK Tea Party what about States rights when it comes to Marijuana?

2010-10-16T08:33:00.000-07:00

Tea Party Hypocrisy Over Marijuana in California...

Do you remember a few months ago when Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed State Bill #1070 that eclipsed and superseded the authority of the federal governments laws on the prosecution of illegal immigrants in Arizona and to go so far as to require the carrying of documentation you are here legally or risk imprisonment?

I darn sure do and I also remember the rants from the likes of the half term quitenator ( hey if she can make up her own language so can I... ) to the tanned one Congressman Boehner and every other wack job Tea Partier that decided to get into politics this year who cried how these actions were in no way against the Constitutional rights of the citizens in Arizona and that in fact the Constitution mandates the states to have that authority and not the Federal Government.

The princess of the GOP Michelle Bachman said that the Attorney General had no business telling the State of Arizona what they should or should not do when it comes to handling immigration and Sharron Angle said that Sheriff Joe Arpio with his get tough attitude was a national hero and that if the government intervenes citizens might be well within their rights to take up arms to defend their rights.

Well I would like to let you all know that that fella Eric Holder is at it again telling another state how to govern itself. Seems that the state of California is holding a vote this election to see if the majority of its citizens think that Marijuana should be made legal in their state and that rascal Holder has vowed that if they do make it legal the Federal Authorities will continue to prosecute the growers and sellers no matter what the citizens say.

The Justice Department remains committed to enforcing the Controlled Substances Act in all states, Holder said.
"We will vigorously enforce the CSA against those individuals and organizations that possess, manufacture or distribute marijuana for recreational use, even if such activities are permitted under state law," he wrote.

Yep sounds to me like that guy is more than a little serious. I think it is once again time for all of the Tea Partiers to band together like they did in Arizona and run on over to California's aid against this intrusion by the Federal Government on what is clearly a State issue.

Ok Michell you grab Rush and I will pick up Sharron and her shotgun and meet you there I am sure that Sarah will bring that darling son of hers Trigg . After all that poor state is only trying to be fiscally responsible and balance its budget and create a new industry. So what if it is based on a tax look who it is dope smoking hippies. While we are there maybe we can all join a march to allow same sex marriage since that is also within the right of the state to mandate.

Ummmmm Whats that? Oh I see you only will support agendas that fall into line with your ideals of morality and religious beliefs. Sorry guys you can't have it both ways if you want to support the rights of states to set their own mandates you cannot legislate morality on them when it doesn't meet with your approval.

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2010-10-15T21:39:00.000-07:00