Occupy Wall Street Protest Escalates On Eighth Day (VIDEO) This is Just Phucked up 'America'

Tensions are rising at the Occupy Wall Street protest, currently in its eighth day, as organizers for the protest claim that 80 have been arrested.Eyewitness accounts report that "dozens" have been arrested. Police would not confirm the exact number. Videos and eyewitness accounts show violent clashing between protesters and the police.

WNYC reports that "of the dozens arrested, most were for disorderly conduct, obstructing vehicular and pedestrian traffic, resisting arrest and, in one case, assaulting a police officer, the police said."

The skirmish escalated in Union Square Saturday afternoon, as Twitter users report a huge influx of police officers. This video, below, appears to show female protesters being penned and maced by police officers: 

And others:

Violent clashes at Union Square: 

As of late Saturday afternoon, the protest moved downtown to Liberty Park. See the live feed of the protest here: 

Watch live streaming video from globalrevolution at livestream.com

Saudi Women Can Vote In National Election, King Says

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi King Abdullah has given the kingdom's women the right to vote for first time in nationwide local elections, due in 2015. The king said in an annual speech on Sunday before his advisory assembly, or Shura Council, that Saudi women will be able to run and cast ballots in the 2015 municipal elections.

Abdullah says women will also be appointed to "join the all-male" Shura Council, which is selected by Abdullah.

Saudi Arabia held its first-ever municipal elections in 2005.

The kingdom will hold its next municipal elections on Thursday, but women are not able to vote or run at this time.

Obama Congressional Black Caucus Speech: Stop Complainin' And Fight

WASHINGTON — In a fiery summons to an important voting bloc, President Barack Obama told blacks on Saturday to quit crying and complaining and "put on your marching shoes" to follow him into battle for jobs and opportunity.

Palestinian Leader Pushes For Statehood At U.N.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) – The Palestinian president on Friday formally asked the United Nations to recognize a state of Palestine, defying U.S. and Israeli opposition.

The application for full U.N. member sidesteps nearly two decades of troubled negotiations and risks a threatened American veto.

Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr. On Racism in Hollywood

At an event the Congressional Black Caucus put togetherto honor the Tuskegee Airmen and to promote George Lucas’s new movie about them, Red Tails, the movie’s stars, Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding, Jr., had some pointed things to say about the way Hollywood approaches black actors and directors. Howard said that Lucas had put together the movie with his own money, and that it would be a critical litmus test for a system that systematically devalues black actors and black stories:

Tea Party House Republicans Sell Their Principles For Gimmicky $100 Million Cut

On Wednesday night, House Republicans failed to passa continuing resolution to keep the government funded beyond Sept. 30, as 48 Republicans cut ranks with their leadership and voted against the measure (as did all but six Democrats, who object to the bill’s level of disaster aid and cuts to a clean vehicle manufacturing program). House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) was reportedly incensed at the members who abandoned him on the vote, deriding them as “know-it-alls who have all the right answers.”

Republicans Bash No Child Left Behind, Then Bash Obama For Trying To Unravel It

Last night’s Republican debate in Florida was filled with candidates’ tirades about the federal government’s role in education. No Child Left Behind, the sweeping and unpopular education law signed by President George W. Bush, was singled out for criticism, with Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) saying they’d do away with it altogether.

CERN: Light Speed May Have Been Exceeded By Subatomic Particle

GENEVA — One of the very pillars of physics and Einstein's theory of relativity – that nothing can go faster than the speed of light – was rocked Thursday by new findings from one of the world's foremost laboratories.

European researchers said they clocked an oddball type of subatomic particle called a neutrino going faster than the 186,282 miles per second that has long been considered the cosmic speed limit.

Morgan Freeman: Tea Party Is Racist, They're Out To Get Obama

Morgan Freeman laid down the chips on the Tea Party in a new interview with Piers Morgan that is due to air Friday night.

Unemployment: Older Jobless Twice As Likely To Become 99ers

WASHINGTON -- Older workers are less likely to lose their jobs than younger workers, but once they do, they're more than twice as likely to be out of work for 99 weeks or longer.

The Youngest Person Executed in the United States in the 20th Century

One June 16th, 1944, the United States executed a 14 year old boy. His name was George Junius Stinney Jr.

There is good reason to believe Stinney’s confession was coerced, and that his execution was just another injustice blacks suffered in Southern courtrooms in the first half of the 1900s.

The 15 Most Disgusting Twitter Responses To Troy Davis

The outpouring of support and grief for Troy Davis was visible across tv screens and the web in the last few weeks.

Vast Majority Of Americans Say Great Recession Is Not Over, New Gallup Poll Shows

A shortage of jobs and falling incomes have left an overwhelming share of Americans convinced that the Great Recession is not over, according to a Gallup Poll released Wednesday.

Eight in 10 Americans believe that the nation's economy is not growing and that the recession is an ongoing problem, the poll found. Nearly 75 percent of those polled also described the nation's economy as virtually unchanged since last year.

Rick Perry Rewrites His Own History Again, Claims He Never Considered Secession

Before he announced his presidential bid, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) was commendably honest about his radical view of the Constitution. Perry repeatedly and proudly called Social Security and Medicare unconstitutional — even doing so on videoat least once. Now that Perry wants to be president, however, he has unleashed a blizzard of falsehoods, claiming untruthfully that he never said Social Security andMedicare are unconstitutional.

CARTER: ‘THE DEATH PENALTY SYSTEM IN OUR COUNTRY IS UNJUST AND OUTDATED’

In a statement on Troy Davis’ execution last night, Georgia Democrat and former President Jimmy Carter said “this tragedy will spur us as a nation toward the total rejection of capital punishment.” He added, “If one of our fellow citizens can be executed with so much doubt surrounding his guilt, then the death penalty system in our country is unjust and outdated.” Media Matters’ Simon Maloy urges Fox to question the GOP candidates tonight about whether they can support a system with a margin of error.

The Right’s Latest Anti-Abortion Gimmick: Performing Ultrasounds On Capitol Hill

Radical anti-abortion groups including the Christian Defense Fund have come up with another over-the-top spectacle to try to shame pregnant women and make anti-choice legislators feel self-righteous. This time they’ve chosen Capitol Hill as the venue for the stunt, called “Voices from the Womb,” where the public and all 535 representatives are invited to the Capitol Visitors Center Auditorium to witness the groups performing live ultrasounds on pregnant women.

Park 51 Islamic Community Center Maligned As ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ Opens Without Controversy

Last year, Islamophobic activists, allied with a number of right-wing politicians, attacked the construction of the Park 51 Islamic community center, maligning the project as a “Ground Zero Mosque” being built blocks away from the site of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City.

Rep. Joe Walsh: Media Will Protect Obama In 2012 Because He Is Black (What!)

Media hound Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) has harsh praise for the company he seeks — particularly when it comes to coverage of President Obama. He is a firm believer in the idea that the media and liberals’ collective “white guilt” rocketed an “articulate” black man to the presidency. Now, Walsh is convinced the media will go to great lengths to protect their chosen black hero.

Clinton: ‘There Is Not A Single Solitary Example’ Of A Country That Has Succeeded With A Tea Party Philosophy

Former President Bill Clinton blasted the “non-fact-based political debate” surrounding the Republican primary race and Tea Party economic policies which advocate for limited government services and low taxation.

Memo To GOP Candidates: Even Majority Of Republicans Support Obama’s Economic Plan

The GOP presidential field will trot out for yet another debate in Orlando, FL tonight. Between taking pot shots at each other, the candidates have predictably come out against President Obama’s economic plans to create jobs and reduce the deficit with infrastructure investments, more progressive tax rates, and the elimination of corporate tax loopholes. On cue, the candidates are bringing back talking points from the dead — falsely insisting that Obama’s plans will destroy small businesses and job growth.

Conservative California Councilman Names Dogs ‘America’ And ‘Muhammad’: ‘Muhammad Is The Bitch’

A freshman San Juan Capistrano, California city councilman is under fire after mentioning in a public meeting that he named one of his dogs Muhammad, after the Muslim prophet, in order to “make a political statement.” Dogs are considered unclean to devout Muslims. In a blog post on Patch.com, which has since been deleted, councilman Derek Reeve added that his other dog is named “America,”writing:

Ohio Becomes First State To Sell Off A Prison, Giving It To Prison Director’s Former Private Employer

After John Kasich won the Ohio gubernatorial election last fall, one of his first appointments was Gary Mohr to be the state Director of Rehabilitation and Corrections. Prior to his appointment, Mohr worked as managing director for the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), a company that not only pushes states to build moreprivate prisons, but also lobbies lawmakers to put more people in jail in order to fill the new supply of prison beds.

Three Years After The Financial Crash, GOP Candidates Revive Desire To Privatize Social Security

Since jumping in the race, GOP presidential front runner Gov. Rick Perry’s (TX) radical views on Social Security have garnered the most attention. And for good reason, as Perry lands far to the right of even his most right-wing opponents in calling the entitlement program a unconstitutional “Ponzi scheme.” A fan of secession, Perry even suggested letting individual states “secede” from Social Security altogether.

Experts: Bachmann’s False HPV Comments Could Do Real Damage To Public Health

Presidential contender Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has been on the defensive ever since suggesting last week that the HPV vaccine, which prevents cervical cancer, may cause mental retardation. Her completely bogus charge was immediately debunked by public health experts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Yahoo Appears To Be Censoring Email Messages About Wall Street Protests (Updated)

Thinking about e-mailing your friends and neighbors about the protests against Wall Street happening right now? If you have a Yahoo e-mail account, think again. ThinkProgress has reviewed claims that Yahoo is censoring e-mails relating to the protest and found that after several attempts on multiple accounts, we too were prevented from sending messages about the “Occupy Wall Street” demonstrations.

Texas GOP Rep On Cuts To Family Planning: ‘Of Course This Is A War On Birth Control’

The GOP’s concerted campaign against women’s health has resulted in about 1,000 anti-abortion bills in state legislatures across the country and numerous federal attempts to eradicate a woman’s right to choose. The extremity of the efforts include attempts to redefine “personhood,” put warning labels on contraception, and criminalize birth control altogether. But while they smother women’s rights with one hand, Republicans insist “we are not attacking women” on the other. “This is not a war against women,” said Republican founder of WomanTrend Kellyanne Conway.

VIDEO: Message Discipline — The GOP Wages ‘Class Warfare’

Yesterday, President Obama put forward a new plan to reduce the federal deficit by $3.2 trillion over the next decade. One highlight of the plan — along with the expiration of the Bush tax cuts for the top two tax brackets — is a new minimum tax for millionaires. This has been termed “the Buffett rule,” in honor of billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who often highlights the injustice of our current tax code with the example that he pays a lower tax rate than his secretary.

More Zombie Lies: GOP Candidates Bring Back False Claim That Higher Tax Rates On The Rich Destroy Jobs

Yesterday, President Obama offered a deficit reduction plan that aims to save $3 trillion over the next 10 years. Half of those funds will be revenue raised from a return to the Clinton administration’s tax rate on those in the top two income tax brackets, as well as the new “Buffett rule” — a minimum tax on those making over $1 million, named after billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who continually notes that he pays less in taxes than middle-class Americans. Heading off the GOP’s new talking point, Obama noted that this tax policy “is not class warfare. It’s math.”

Fact-Checking The Fact-Checkers: The AP Releases Misleading Analysis Of Obama’s Tax Plan

As part of his deficit reduction plan, President Obama has proposed some tax increases on the wealthiest Americans, which would come via allowing the Bush tax cuts for the two highest tax brackets to expire and implementing the “Buffett rule,” which stipulates that millionaires and billionaires shouldn’t pay a lower tax rate than middle-class Americans.

What If The Tea Party Wins?

This weekend, the Constitution celebrated its 224th birthday. Yet, despite the fact that our founding document has served America well for more than two centuries, the Tea Party now wants to cast its principles aside and replace them with a radical anti-government manifesto. Despite the fact that the Constitution has been amended many times to make America moredemocratic and more responsive to We the People, the Tea Party believes that we have an authoritarian constitution that prohibits everything they disdain and requires nearly everything that they support.

THE END OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE: Last April, the House GOP voted almost unanimously to phase out Medicare and shift crippling medical costs onto seniors and their families. Yet this slow death of Medicare appears downright moderate compared to the Tea Party agenda of simply declaring our entire safety net for America’s seniors unconstitutional. Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) claims Medicare and Social Security “contradict the principles of limited, constitutional government that our founders established to protect us.” Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) mocked President Franklin Delano Roosevelt for calling upon the federal government to provide “a decent retirement plan” and “health care” because “the Constitution doesn’t give Congress any of those powers.” Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), who engineered the House of Representatives’ dramatic reading of the Constitution earlier this year, claimed that Medicare and Social Security are “not in the Constitution” and are only allowed to exist because “the courts have stretched the Constitution to say it’s in the general welfare clause.” And Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) believes that Medicare is “a family responsibility, not a government responsibility.”

THE WAR ON WORKERS: The Tea Party’s vision of the Constitution wouldn’t just leave America’s seniors out in the cold, it would force American workers to compete with their adolescent children for sub-minimum wage jobs. Lee believes that we should return to a misguided era when federal child labor laws were considered unconstitutional because the Constitution “was designed to be a little bit harsh.” Perry believes all “national labor laws” including child labor laws, the minimum wage, overtime laws, and laws protecting workers’ right to organize, are unconstitutional. And Justice Clarence Thomas embraces a vision of the Constitution that would eliminate all these laws and take out workplace discrimination laws in the process.

JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG: Sadly, this wholesale assault on workers and the elderly is merely one small part of the Tea Party’s vision of the Constitution. It’s difficult to count how many laws would simply cease to exist if the Tea Party wins its fight to re-imagine our founding document, but a recent Center for American Progress white paper lists not just Social Security, Medicare, and basic workplace protections, but also all federal health care, education and antipoverty programs, federal disaster relief and food safety programs, and most national civil rights laws. In other words, the Tea Party’s agenda is nothing short of a wholesale repeal of the 20th Century, and a return to the era when families mortgaged their home to pay for their mother’s end-of-life care, higher education was a luxury reserved almost exclusively to the very rich, and rotten meat shipped to supermarkets nationwide without a national agency to inspect it.

While Lobbying For Huge Tax Giveaways, Corporations Hoard Record Amounts Of Cash Instead Of Hiring

American corporations are holding more cash on their balance sheets than at any time in nearly a half century, as they continue to save instead of investing or hiring workers, according to a Federal Reserve report released Friday. At the same time, Republican presidential candidates and corporate leaders continue to lobby for lower corporate tax rates and huge corporate tax giveaways under the guise that they will lead to higher rates of job creation.

FLORIDA COMPANY OFFERS FREE AK-47S FOR CUSTOMERS WHO OPEN NEW ACCOUNTS

One Florida company has found a novel way of enticing new customers to open accounts that takes advantage of America’s lax gun laws: offering people free AK-47 assault rifles! The Broward Palm Beach New Times reports that MerchantService.com, a Sarasota-based company that provides the equipment and processing for businesses’ credit card transactions, announced its “Free AK-47 Giveaway” last Thursday. Based on the size of their order, customers can redeem a voucher for an AK-47 worth up to $750. Their website features a “God, Guns & Guts” banner as part of its “No Victims” campaign that promotes carrying assault rifles to protect against robberies and other crimes. “One of the most important steps toward ensuring you and your businesses well being is deciding to not be a victim,” the website explains.

Zombie Lies: Republicans Revive False Claim That Obama Tax Hikes Would Hurt Small Businesses

During the 2010 debate over the expiration of the Bush tax cuts, Republicans continually claimed that allowing tax rates for the richest two percent of Americans to go back to where they were under the Clinton administration would disproportionately affect small businesses. The claim wasn’t true then — as just 3 percent of people with any business income at all, from a business large or small, would be affected if the top two tax rates increase — but that didn’t stop the GOP from parroting it over and over.

INDONESIAN WOMEN: ‘DON’T TELL US HOW TO DRESS, TELL THEM NOT TO RAPE’

After a politician in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, said women should dress more modestly to avoid rape, women dressed in miniskirts took to the streets and protested for more protection for women and better aid for sexual assault victims. The women carried signs that said: “Don’t tell us how to dress, tell them not to rape,” and “My body is not porn, instead it’s your dirty mind.” Indonesia’s National Commission for Women’s Affairs said there have been more than 100,000 cases this year in Indonesia of violence directed at women.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAYS TEXAS REDISTRICTING MAP VIOLATES VOTING RIGHTS ACT, DISCRIMINATES AGAINST MINORITY VOTERS

The Department of Justice weighed intoday on the controversial Texas redistricting map that Gov. Rick Perry signed in May and civil rights groups argue intentionally weakens the Latino vote to benefit Republicans. The DOJ signaled their concern that the map discriminates against minorities and therefore violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The DOJ would usually have to “pre-clear” such changes to make sure they don’t unfairly affect minority voters, but Texas chose to skip that process, putting the fate of the new congressional map in the hands of a three-judge panel. In their court filing, the DOJ “den[ies] that the proposed Congressional plan complies with Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act” because it does not “maintain or increase the ability of minority voters to elect their candidate of choice in each district” compared to the benchmark. However, the DOJ also sides with the state of Texas on several charges and agrees that some parts of the new plan do not violate the VRA.

Paul Ryan Endorses ‘Unemployment Reform’ That Asks The Jobless To Work More For Less

In an interview yesterday with Fox News’ Chris Wallace, House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) had almost nothing but criticism for President Obama’s jobs plan. “This looks like to me not a very good sign, because it looks like the president wants to move down the class warfare path,” he commented. Ryan did, however, express his support for a program that asks the unemployed to work for no wages while receiving unemployment benefits.

WWJD? Not Let The Uninsured Die

Conservative Christians Rebuke Tea Party Extremists

ThinkProgress traveled to Liberty University, one of the most conservative Christian universities in the country, earlier this week to cover a speech by Texas Governor Rick Perry. Following Perry’s speech, we asked students to comment on the shocking moment during this week’s GOP presidential debate when the Tea Party crowd cheered for the death of an uninsured man.

Check out the video from ThinkProgress’ Scott Keyes:

Mitch McConnell Doesn’t Have ‘Any Particular Reaction’ To Tea Party Audience Cheering For Death

Rather than take a moment to condemn GOP debate audiences that cheered for executions and to leave a man to die, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said he didn’t have “any particular reaction.” When host David Gregory asked McConnell on Meet The Press if the cheers troubled him as a Republican, McConnell deferred, saying there would be lots of debates and audience reactions during the campaign. Watch it:

POLL: MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE PRO-CHOICE, DESPITE GOP PUSH TO BAN ABORTION

A new CNN poll finds that an overwhelming majority of Americans still believe in a woman’s right to choose, with 78 percent of respondents saying that they want abortion to remain legal under any circumstances or under certain circumstances. Just 21 percent said they would support outlawing abortion under all circumstances. The numbers are almost unchanged from a year ago — despite the concerted efforts of conservatives to severely restrict access to abortion on the state level. Seventy-seven percent of Americans identified themselves as pro-choice in in 2009 and support has remained consistent over the last five years.

Rep. Steve King: Unemployment Insurance Has Created ‘A Nation Of Slackers’

Tea Party Rep. Steve King (R-IA) took to the House floor yesterday to give a diatribe against large swaths of of the social safety net, from food stamps to heating fuel subsidies, but reserved particular disdain for unemployment insurance, which he dismissed as “welfare for people that won’t work.” ViaPolitical Correction:

Bachmann Claims Wall Street Reform Is ‘Killing The Banking Industry’ As Banks Post Record Profits

Three years ago this week, the financial crisis began in earnest with the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the $85 billion bailout of mega-insurer American International Group. However, during Monday night’s GOP presidential primary debate, the candidates proved that they have no interest in learning the lessons of that crisis, as they called for the repeal of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law in order to “free up” Wall Street.

House GOP Rejects Tax Cuts For Middle Class

In a sudden move, House Republicans rejected President Obama’s week-old jobs plan, including about $240 billion in payroll tax cuts. In a memo to their caucus, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), and other leaders dismissed the bill’s largest spending and tax cutting portions, leaving little of the bill intact. In the memo, the leaders explained their concerns on the tax:

Georgia Works: Obama Plan To Let Jobless Work For Free Gets Key Backing From Paul Ryan

WASHINGTON -- While major parts of President Barack Obama's jobs plan are being met with hostility on Capitol Hill, at least one element was welcomed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), chairman of the House Budget Committee, on Sunday. That's the president's plan to allow businesses to hire the long-term unemployed for a limited period of time for free.

Sunday September 18th 2011 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

Paul Ryan is here to soothe us with his haircut, and Herman Cain -- who seems to have peaked as a candidate -- gets to have a one-on-one interview with Chris Wallace. Plus did you know there's another debate this week?! It's obviously good for America that we have debate every week until we die.

MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE WANTS TO CAP THE NUMBER OF MUSLIMS ALLOWED INTO AMERICA

Businessman Peter Konetchy, one of five Republicans running to face Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) in 2012, told attendees at a forum today that he supported capping the number of Muslims allowed to immigrate to the United States, the Grand Rapids Press reported. “The Muslims are setting up their own little groups that don’t want to assimilate,” Konetchy said. “Right now, we’re at war with Islam.”

With Record Number Of Americans Falling Into Poverty, Rand Paul Says The Poor Are Getting Rich

Census data revealed today that a record 46.2 million Americans were living in poverty in 2010. But in an aptly-timed hearing entitled “Is Poverty A Death Sentence,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) flat out rejected the idea that poverty in the U.S is worrisome. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Health subcommittee, Paul offered a dissertation-length statement on how the correlation between poverty and death is only found in the Third World and to claim such a connection within the U.S. is nothing more than “socialism” and “tyranny.”

Bankruptcy among college grads grows

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Bankruptcy has gotten more educated over the past five years, as financial distress spread to more of the population with college degrees, according to study results released Tuesday.

CNN Tea Party Debate (Posted this for Shyts and Giggles only, mostly Shyts)

9:53: Asked what he’d bring to the White House, Cain said: “I would bring a sense of humor to the White House because America is too uptight.”

9:52: This would have been a good time for Newt to scold the media for asking stupid questions.

9:50: Wolf Blitzer asks the candidate a vapid question about what they would change in the White House. If Rick Santorum was president, he would expand the White House — not for government, but for his seven children who would need lots of bedrooms.

'Black Man' Cookies Are Big in Romania?

Fox Host Suggests Serena Williams’ Outburst Had A ‘Racial Undertone,’ Says It ‘Is What’s Wrong With Our Society’

After suffering from a career-threatening foot injury and subsequent life-threatening blood clots, rant-prone tennis player Serena Williams waged a serious comeback in pursuit of her 14th grand slam title at the U.S Open this year. But Williams not only lost her finals match yesterday — she lost her temper. Down a set, Williams ripped a forehand in the first game of the second set that she thought was a winner and yelled, “Come on” before the ball reached her opponent Samantha Stosur. Umpire Eva Asderaki invoked the hindrance rule and awarded the point to Stosur, giving her the game.

Cantor Voted For Billions To Rebuild Schools In Iraq, Now Opposes Funding School Construction In America

Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) voted for over $120 billion to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan, funds that were used to construct and repair schools, roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure.

Now, Cantor is opposing President Obama’s proposal to spend $30 billion to modernize 35,000 American schools. Reuters has the story:

NRA Bill With 243 Sponsors Would Create Race To The Bottom On Concealed Handguns

The NRA is pushing a sweeping new bill to radically weaken the nation’s gun control regime. Already co-sponsored by 243 members of the House, the legislation would force any state to recognize a concealed weapons permit issued by any other state:

Despite 600,000 Public Sector Layoffs, Darrell Issa Says Government Shouldn’t Try To Prevent Teacher Layoffs

At least 600,000 government workers have lost their jobs since the recession began, but Republicans nevertheless keep scapegoating public employees who have shouldered more than their fair share of economic pain. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, became the latest lawmaker to join in this trend during an appearance today on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, where he said that government shouldn’t try to save teachers’ jobs because that would be like another stimulus package:

New York GOP Exploits 9/11 Anniversary, Sends Islamophobic Mailer To Voters In NY Special Election

Today, the nation gathers together in memorium of the countless Americans from all walks of life who lost and gave their lives on — and after — 9/11. In anticipation of this somber day, the New York GOP sent out “a kitchen-sink mailer in the hotly-contested Queens congressional special election depicting a mosque superimposed over the scarred Ground Zero site on one side, and Democrat David Weprin alongside President Barack Obama on the other.”

Bill Maher Has Advice For President Obama On Leno (VIDEO)

Bill Maher has never been one to keep his opinions to himself, and during an appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Friday, he had one takeaway piece of advice for President Obama: "Stop trying to make everyone like you."

Cargill Turkey Recall: Salmonella Found In Batch Of Ground Turkey

WASHINGTON -- Minnesota-based Cargill Inc. recalled more ground turkey products Sunday because a test showed salmonella in a sample from an Arkansas plant less than a month after production resumed following an earlier recall and shutdown.

The $1.2 Trillion Trap: What America Gave Up For 10 Years Of War Since 9/11

Today is September 11th, the tenth anniversary of the horrific and inhumane Al Qaeda-led terrorist attacks that killed approximately 3,000 innocents. As Americans pause and reflect on how these attacks changed our country and the world, we should reflect upon one of deceased terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden’s primary goals: bankrupting America. In an audio tape from 2004, Bin Laden explained that Al Qaeda had adopted a “policy” of “bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy” through provoking it into engaging in perpetual warfare in the Middle East and South Asia.

McCain Falsely Claims All ‘Military People’ Support Large U.S. Troop Presence In Iraq Past 2011

Various media outlets reported last week that the Obama administration plans on keeping only 3,000 troops in Iraq past 2011. While top officials denied that a decision has been made, and the Iraqis have yet to agree to any U.S. troop presence in to 2012, the Iraq war cheerleaders came out swinging, calling the reported decision a “boon to the Iranians,” and a “political decision being managed out of the Chicago campaign headquarters.”

Pass This Jobs Bill Now

The Reviews Are In

Last night, President Obama announced the American Jobs Act, an ambitious $447 BILLION proposal to tackle our nation’s job crisis; modernize our crumbling roads, bridges, and schools; and help lay a foundation for a stronger, more competitive American economy. In addition, the president announced that housing regulators are moving toward a plan that could allow millions of homeowners to refinance their government-backed mortgages at today’s historically low interest rates.

Disrespectful! Republican Brings “Drill” Sign To Obama’s Job Speech

WASHINGTON — Rep. Jeff Landry knew not to yell at President Barack Obama during his jobs address Thursday night to Congress. That move made Rep. Joe Wilson famous a couple of years ago, and not necessarily for the better. Instead, Republican leaders urged their members to show up, keep an open mind and be polite — voters were anxious and Congress’ bickering had angered large majorities of them.

Jackie O. Called MLK 'Phony' and 'Tricky'

JFK's widow says civil right leader mocked her husband's funeral

Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy didn't think too highly of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when they were both alive. In a new book titled "Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy," ​Jackie O. says that MLK found the part where the pall bearers almost dropped the casket to be mildly entertaining.

Indiana Knife-Slashing Attack A Hate Crime, Witnesses Say (VIDEO)

Most Compelling 9/11 Conspiracy Theories

Many 9 11 conspiracy theories surfaced shortly after the September 11th attacks, some bringing compelling arguments, and some not holding up at all. Theorists believe that the World Trade Center buildings were demolished by bombs, phone calls from the planes were made up, and the former President George W. Bush secretly profited from the attacks.

On Eve Of 9/11 Anniversary, Cantor Insists On Massive Cuts To First Responders In Exchange For Emergency Disaster Aid

Yesterday, President Obama requested $5.1 billion to provide disaster relief to communities struggling to recover from recent hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and wildfires. The request includes $500 million in emergency funds FEMA needs to continue to operate effectively through the end of September.

Terrorism Expert: Since 9/11, Only 33 Deaths From Muslim Terrorism Vs. 150,000 Deaths From Murders

Charles Kurzman, a University of North Carolina professor of sociology, is the author of a new book titled The Missing Martyrs: Why There Are So Few Muslim Terrorists. Seeking to “turn down the volume on terrorism debates,” Kurzman argues Al Qaeda and its affiliates have “failed so dismally” because they have been unable to attract large numbers — particularly Muslim American recruits — to their cause.

Top Seven Progressive Policies That Strengthen The National Football League

As the NFL begins a new season this weekend, America will celebrate the sport not just as a wonderful national pastime, but also as a prime example of progressive policies in action. We’ve cataloged seven unique ways in which the NFL is strengthened by its progressive approach to the sport, including equality, fairness, and diversity:

Anti-Immigrant New Mexico Governor Reveals Her Grandparents Were Undocumented Immigrants

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) has long been known for her vitriolic rhetoric against undocumented immigrants. Just this week, sheslammed presidential contender Rick Perry (R-TX) for once supporting the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform. “It is not comprehensive reform to put people who are here illegally, who violated the law, and put them in front of the line for those folks who have been waiting and doing all the right things to come to the United States,” she said.

GOP Derides Obama Jobs Plan As ‘Second Stimulus,’ Ignoring Success Of The First

Last night, President Obama rolled out a $450 billion job creation package before a joint session of Congress, calling for a plan that includes a payroll tax reduction, money for infrastructure and school modernization, as well as help for homeowners and reforms of the unemployment insurance program. “This plan is the right thing to do right now. You should pass it,” Obama said.

Bush Credits ‘The Work That Was Done’ During ‘My Presidency’ For Osama Bin Laden’s Death

President Bush sat down with USA Today to discuss the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and his role in shaping U.S. policy in their aftermath. During the interview, Bush thought he’d take the opportunity topat himself on the back for Osama bin Laden’s death:

GOP Rep. Brooks Claims ‘Evicting All Illegal Aliens’ Would Create ‘Millions Of Jobs For Americans’

Americans have been flooded with new jobs plans over the last week, with presidential candidates presenting their ideas and President Obama providing an outline of his version in a prime-time address to Congress last night. But hours before Obama’s speech, Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks (R) took to the House floor to tell both Republicans and Democrats that they were overthinking the jobs issue. Brooks’ “surefire” plan to jumpstart the economy, he said, was to kick out all undocumented immigrants so Americans can have their jobs.

BROOKS: There is a surefire way to create jobs now for American citizens: evict all illegal aliens from America and open up millions of jobs for American citizens. That also forces blue-collar wages up, helping American families afford and pursue the American dream. Unfortunately, the White House chases a different dream — a nightmare that pits unemployed Americans against illegal aliens in a competition for scarce jobs.

Watch it, courtesy of Media Matters:

The math behind this plan is simple, Brooks argued. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, there were 8.3 million undocumented immigrants working in America in 2008, and there are currently about 14 million unemployed Americans. The problem is, the math doesn’t work the way Brooks assumes it does. In fact, economists and labor market experts have reached a consensus that immigrants create at least as many jobs as they occupy and are actually a net benefit to the economy, as the money they make and goods they buy leads to economic growth, a fact acknowledged by former President George W. Bush. According to the Economic Policy Institute, immigrant workers actually have a “small but positive” effect on the wages of native born workers.

Unemployed Alabamians, of which there are plenty, didn’t fill thousands of jobs left open when immigrants fled the state after it passed the nation’s most radical anti-immigration law. Instead, Alabama’s agricultural and construction industries have reported drastic labor shortages, leading to financial problems in agriculture and delays in disaster relief due to construction shortages. But the fact that his discriminatory and xenophobic jobs plan wouldn’t work doesn’t matter to Brooks, an anti-immigration radical who earlier this year said he would “do anything short of shooting” immigrants to keep them out of Alabama.

GOP Policy Chairman Tom Price: Obama’s Payroll Tax Cut For Working Families Is ‘Class Warfare’

Last night, President Obama unveiled his new jobs agenda, which includes an extension of the payroll tax holiday for workers and employers, as well as a temporary payroll tax reduction as an incentive for businesses to hire more people. As the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and otherexperts have found, payroll tax cuts are far more stimulative than many of the other tax cut proposals currently on the table.

TWITTER BERATES GOP REP. FOR SKIPPING OBAMA JOBS SPEECH TO HOLD TWITTER TOWN HALL

Despite jobs being their constituents’ number one concern, a few Republican lawmakers served up a smorgasbord of excuses for intentionally skipping President Obama’s jobs address last night — roundtables, football, and of all things, Twitter. Georgia Rep. Paul Broun (R)declared this week that he would not physically enter the House Chamber, but would instead live tweet it from his Capitol office, holding what he dubbed a “Twitter town hall.” But as Politico reports, “most of the hundreds” of Twitter followers who participated in his town hall berated him for skipping the speech. “Show some respect to the office,” one said. “Do this later.” When Broun tweeted during the speech that “this is obviously political grandstand,” followers blasted him for doing just that. “Yes, we know about your tweets…now what about the speech,” one person responded. Several participants “suggested to Broun a special jobs plan of their own: get out of Congress.” “If you resigned from office, that would create at least one opening,” said a follower. “I’m embarrassed by you.”

GOP Legislator: Homosexuality Is ‘More Dangerous’ Than Terrorist Attacks Because We Have To Deal With It Every Day

Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern (R) first becameinfamous on the national stage when she said that blacks “don’t work as hard” as white people. The Oklahoma House finally reprimanded her for those statements, but Kern has yet to answer for a number ofderogatory remarks she’s made about gay men and women.

REPORT: As Their States’ Bridges And Roads Crumble, GOP Leaders Remain Opposed To Infrastructure Investment

President Obama’s plan to kickstart the economy and put the American people back to work includes investing in the nation’s rapidly deteriorating infrastructure, which, as studies have shown, is in need of as much as $2 trillion in immediate investment just to bring it up to date. In the past, Republicans have agreed that infrastructure improvements are needed, but in the context of economic stimulus and in their effort to remain opposed to anything Obama offers, they have chosen to ignore the nation’s infrastructure and jobs crises. Unfortunately, that approach doesn’t mean either crisis will go away.

Cheney Claims Waterboarding ‘Produced Phenomenal Results’

Dick Cheney wrapped up his book tour on home turf this morning at the American Enterprise Institute. The Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes — the official Cheney biographer and famous peddler of the false “connection” between Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and al Qaeda — moderated the event and eventually got to the sticky topic of torture. In what he called “a thoughtful critique,” Hayes asked Cheney to respond to those who argue “the things that we did amounted to torture and the sense that maybe the moral position of the United States was eroded because of the things that we did here in this country.”

GOP Reps. Dismiss Tax Cut For Working Americans In Favor Of Giveaways To Corporations

Despite their professed devotion to tax cuts, a surprising number of Republican lawmakers are less than thrilled with President Obama’s proposed extension of temporary cuts to the payroll tax as part of his jobs package unveiled last night. While the tax holiday for middle- and working-class Americans is one of the most effective ways to stimulate the economy via tax policy, these conservative lawmakers prefer tax breaks go to those who need them least: corporations and the wealthy.

WORKING AGE ADULTS MAKE UP A RECORD SHARE OF THOSE IN POVERTY

New Census figures show that “the new working-age poor represent nearly 3 out of 5 poor people, the highest share on record. They include adults 18-64 who were laid off in the recent recession as well as single twenty-somethings still looking for jobs.” The Associated Press noted that the “now-weakened economy and limited government safety net for workers are playing a factor” in pushing working age Americans into poverty.

Poll: Two-Thirds Of Republicans, Tea Partiers And Fox News Viewers Think Islam Is Incompatible With American Values

According to a poll of American attitudes released today by the Brookings Institution (PDF), conservatives, Republicans, and Fox News viewers are more likely than other Americans to hold views widely considered to be Islamophobic. The study, “What It Means To Be American: Attitudes In An Increasingly Diverse America Ten Years After 9/11,” tracks views of Muslims and disaggregates them by political affiliations and views.

SENATE CONFIRMS FIRST NEW COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE IN NEARLY FOUR MONTHS

The Senate just confirmed Judge Bernice Donald to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit — making her the first court of appeals judge confirmed in nearly four months. The last circuit court confirmation, Judge Susan Carney of the Second Circuit, was confirmed on May 17. By contrast, the Senate confirmed five court of appeals judges — Consuelo Callahan, Michael Chertoff, Steven Colloton,Allyson Kay Duncan, and Richard Wesley — during the exact same period in George W. Bush’s presidency.

REPORT: The American Middle Class Was Built By Unions And It Will Decline Without Them

Today is Labor Day, a federally recognized holiday that most Americans likely think of as a well-deserved day off. Labor Day was first celebrated in the late 1880′s as labor activists from the American Federation of Labor (which later formed part of the basis for the AFL-CIO) and other unions rallied around a day to celebrate organized labor and to take a day off. In 1887 Oregon started a formal “Labor Day” and by 1897 President Glover Cleveland made it a federal holiday, reacting to pressure from unions following the contentious Pullman Strike.

Unemployed Workers Face Tough Competition: Underemployed

WASHINGTON -- The job market is even worse than the 9.1 percent unemployment rate suggests.

America's 14 million unemployed aren't competing just with each other. They must also contend with 8.8 million other people not counted as unemployed – part-timers who want full-time work.

Officer Fired For Having Sex On Car (GRAPHIC PHOTO)

SANTA FE, N.M. — A New Mexico state police officer has been fired after security cameras caught him having sex with a woman on the hood of a car.

Lab Chimps See Sunlight For The First Time (VIDEO)

If this doesn't make your eyes mist up a little, there might be something wrong with you.

RTL, a German television station, provided this tearjerking footage of lab chimps taking their first steps of freedom outdoors and into the sun.

Apple Blocks Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 In Germany

SEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co has stopped promoting its new tablet computer at Europe's biggest consumer electronics fair after a court-ordered sales injunction in Germany, the latest setback in its global patent battle with Apple Inc.

Postal Service Is Nearing Default as Losses Mount

The United States Postal Service has long lived on the financial edge, but it has never been as close to the precipice as it is today: the agency is so low on cash that it will not be able to make a $5.5 billion payment due this month and may have to shut down entirely this winter unless Congress takes emergency action to stabilize its finances.

Obama Presses Congress On Quick Jobs Action Ahead Of Speech: White House

NEWARK, N.J. -- The White House says President Barack Obama hopes that when Congress returns this coming week from its summer break, lawmakers will share his sense of urgency in taking steps to create jobs and help the economy.

Long-Term Unemployment: States Search For Strategies To Counter Joblessness

WASHINGTON -- When Steve Clark of St. Louis, Mo., lost his IT job in 2009, he intuitively knew that as someone older than 60, he'd have a tough time getting back to work. So he scrambled, compiling all of his professional contacts, drafting 13 different versions of his resume and meeting with anyone he could.

Cheney Won’t Take Anything Back, Laughs At War Crimes Accusation

Former Vice President Dick Cheney, continuing his “heads exploding” book tour, pushed back against criticisms of his book by former Secretary of State Colin Powell that the book contained, “cheap shots that he’s taking at me and other members of the Administration who served to the best of our ability for President Bush.”

Perry Courts Radical Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Continues Rightward Move On Immigration

During his time as the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry has staked out one of the most reasonable and moderate positions on immigration reform in the entire Republican Party. He signed the Texas version of the DREAM Act, guaranteeing graduates of Texas high schools in-state tuition at Texas universities regardless of their immigration status. He has indicated support for a path to citizenship and criticized the idea of building a border fence.

Democrats Want Obama To Stop Compromising With GOP

WASHINGTON — The tiff over the timing of President Barack Obama’s jobs speech to Congress offers little hope that Republicans and the White House will now find common ground on how to reduce the nation’s painfully high unemployment. In fact, some Democrats say it’s time Obama stopped trying so hard to negotiate.

Why You Can't Find "I Have a Dream" on YouTube

If you weren’t alive to witness Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech on the Washington Mall 48 years ago this week, you might try to switch on the old YouTube and dial it up. But you won’t find it there or anywhere else; rights to its usage remain with King and his family.

Top 10 Richest Gangsters Of All Time

Even though they say crime doesn’t pay, several rich gangsters prove otherwise. While most end up dead or in jail, a very lucky few get to spend their money. In the early part of the 20th Century, gangsters made a lot of money selling liquor during prohibition. In the seventies many gangsters made a killing off heroin. Nowadays, the richest gangsters make their money from importing cocaine from Colombia through Mexico and into the U.S. While it is hard to determine the exact wealth of these masterminds, here are the 10 richest gangsters of all time:

Conservatives Already Upset Over Sharpton Show. Updated: See How Sharpton Tries To Get To The Bottom Of The Holder Contempt Charges By Republicans, Yet He Is Met With Deflections and Distortions By Rep. John Mica

It was bound to happen. It was clear that that the vintage and vocal Al Sharpton was going to emerge as soon as he inked a deal with MSNBC.

African-American Unemployment Rate Climbed in August (2011)

The Labor Department has released the August jobs report and the unemployment figured was unchanged from July's 9.1 percent. In addition, the economy added only 17,000 new jobs. The African-American jobless rate climbed from 15.9 to 16.7, which only strengthens the argument of Black lawmakers that there is a critical need to specifically address this problem.

Economy Added Zero Net Jobs In August, Unemployment Rate Stays At 9.1 Percent

According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the economy added zero net jobs in August, with the unemployment rate remaining unchanged at 9.1 percent. The private sector added 17,000 jobs, while the public sector continued to shrink, losing 17,000 jobs.

Contrary To GOP Claims, Small Businesses Say Taxes And Regulation Aren’t Holding Back Hiring

Predictably, Republicans reacted to today’s dismal jobs number — which showed that zero net jobs were created in August — by blaming the supposed avalanche of taxes and regulations put in place by the Obama administration. “Private-sector job growth continues to be undermined by the triple threat of higher taxes, more failed ‘stimulus’ spending, and excessive federal regulations. Together, these Washington policies have created a fog of uncertainty that’s left small businesses unable to hire and American families worried about the future,” said House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) in a statement today.

Rick Perry’s Execution Record Includes The Deaths Of Juveniles And The Mentally Disabled

The amount of executions held in Texas during Gov. Rick Perry’s (R) 11 years in office has come under scrutiny in the early stages of his presidential campaign, most notably for the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was convicted of murdering his three daughters and put to death despite evidence showing that he was likely innocent of the crimes. But even as the Willingham case receives the most notice, many of Perry’s decisions regarding execution have begun to garner attention.

Holiday Inn Responds: Liberal Protesters Against Cantor Were A Security Threat

As ThinkProgress reported Thursday, a Richmond, Virginia-area Holiday Inn abruptly canceled room and event ballroom reservations made by progressive groups that had planned to hold a “jobs rally” countering House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s (R-VA) event at the same hotel Wednesday evening. After they were removed, the groups held a protest outside the hotel. Holiday Inn’s corporate owner, Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG), did not comment on the incident before publication yesterday, but today IHG responded, saying the protesters were removed from Holiday Inn property out of concerns for employee and guest safety:

WIKILEAKS REVELATION DAMAGES U.S.-IRAQ TALKS ON KEEPING AMERICAN TROOPS PAST 2011

McClatchy reported earlier this week that a recently released U.S. diplomatic cable made public by WikiLeaks shows evidence that U.S. troops executed at least 10 Iraqi civilians in 2006, including a woman in her 70s and a 5-month-old infant, and “then called in an airstrike to destroy the evidence.” The Iraqi government said today that it will revive the stalled investigation into the allegations. The AP also reports that “some officials said that the document was reason enough for Iraq to force the American military to leave instead of signing a deal allowing troops to stay beyond a year-end departure deadline.” “The new report about this crime will have its impact on signing any new agreement,” said Sunni lawmaker Aliya Nusayif.

GOP Rep. Declares War On Peace Corps, Demands End To Program In China

After a recent trip to China, Republican Rep. Mike Coffman (CO) came across what he saw as a shocking number of government-funded Americans wasting taxpayer money on a Chinese demographic already flush with funds. These Americans, Coffman said, are “symbolic of the arrogance and carelessness in how our tax dollars have been handled by Congress and the Obama administration.” These Americans, incidentally, are Peace Corps volunteers.

Case Study: How One New Yorker Got Texas And Other States To Push Anti-Sharia Legislation

In the last few years, we’ve seen a rash of “anti-Sharia” bills pop up in state legislatures across the country. Lawmakers from Alaska to Texas to South Carolina have introduced legislation to combat the fictitious threat of Sharia law taking over the American judicial system.

In Same District Where Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Was Shot, GOP Auctioning Off A Glock .45 At Fundraiser

The Pima County GOP — which is in the same district where Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was shot early this year — is holding a very insensitive fundraiser this week. The party is holding araffle fundraiser, and the prize is a Glock handgun, the same category of weapon that was used to shoot Giffords:

REPORT: America’s Top 5 Most Conservative Colleges

With the start of a new school year, online publications are rushing to print superficial lists ranking America’s colleges and universities. ThinkProgress has compiled a far more useful list of the top five most right-wing places of higher learning:

Holiday Inn Abruptly Ejects Progressive Groups Who Reserved Space For Jobs Rally In Same Hotel As Cantor Event

Progressive groups organizing a rally at the same Richmond-area hotel where House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) was holding an event Wednesday were abruptly kicked out of the hotel and told by hotel management to remain off of its property during Cantor’s event.

WHITE HOUSE WILL CONSIDER ANY ONLINE PETITION THAT GETS 5,000 SIGNATURES.

Politico reports: “The idea behind ‘We the People’ – as the new program will be known – is that anyone with an idea or cause can go to the White House’s website, and make a public pitch for support. If the idea gets 5,000 backers within 30 days, said White House spokeswoman Sandra Abrevaya, a ‘working group of policy officials’ will respond.” You can check out the White House website HERE.

Florida Republicans Fight To Keep ‘Cohabitation’ Of Unmarried Couples Illegal

Thousands of unmarried couples who are living together in Florida may be surprised to learn that they are actually breaking the law. Under outdated and rarely enforced state laws that have been on the books since the late 1800s, “cohabitation” is actually a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by $500 or up to 60 days in jail. The same penalty applies to adultery – which one Florida woman tried to have enforced for her cheating husband in 2006.

After Aggressive Lobbying From Health Insurance Industry, Premium Rate Regulation Bill Is Dropped In California

In California, Democrats in the legislature proposed a bill to add greater oversight over the health insurance industry. The rate regulation bill, proposed by Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), would have allowed the Insurance Commissioner to review rate hikes proposed by insurers, and block hikes if they are without justification.