Private Prison Charges Inmates $5 A Minute For Phone Calls While They Work For $1 A Day

Last year the Corrections Corporation of America(CCA), the nation’s largest private prison company, received $74 million of taxpayers’ money to run immigration detention centers. Their largest facility in Lumpkin, Georgia, receives $200 a night for each of the 2,000 detainees it holds, and rakes in yearly profits between $35 million and $50 million.

Ex-Convicts Find It Hard To Vote, But Easy To Get Guns

In most states, ex-convicts have to wait years after their release to have their voting rights restored, and many are disenfranchised for life. Yet they often have their right to bear arms automatically reinstated when they leave prison, with little or no review by judges. A New York Times examinationreveals that the gun lobby and their Republican allies have successfully eliminated hearings and common-sense restrictions on ex-cons’ ability to immediately reclaim their guns, with deadly consequences:

Occupy Cleveland Saves Woman’s Home From Imminent Foreclosure

Last week, Occupy Atlanta encamped at the Snellville, Georgia home of a Gwinnett County police officer in an attempt to save his family’s home from foreclosure. At the time, Occupy Atlanta organizer Tim Franzen said that he hopes this tactic spreads nationwide.

Bachmann: Obama Favors American Protesters Over Israel

During tonight’s national security and foreign policy GOP presidential debate on CBS, Rep. Michele Bachmann (MN) said that President Obama favors Americans protesting against income inequality over Israel, the U.S.’s chief ally in the Middle East. Bachmann said:

KOCH-FUNDED SCIENTIST WHO BELIEVES IN GLOBAL WARMING IS COMING TO CONGRESS

 Richard Muller, the contrarian physicist who led a Koch-funded study that confirmed the accuracy of temperature records smeared by “Climategate,” is presenting his results at aCongressional briefing on Monday, November 14. The briefing has been organized by the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep Ed Markey (D-MA). Markey was the chair of the House global warming special committee, established by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and disbanded by Speaker John Boehner (R-OH). Also appearing are leading climate scientists Ben Santer, research scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and William Chameides, Dean of Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and Vice Chair of the National Academies’ Committee on America’s Climate Choices.

Fox Panel Bashes OWS As ‘Toxic,’ ‘Marxist,’ ‘Anti-Democratic And Un-American’

This morning on Fox News Sunday, conservative panelists did their best to smear and discredit the 99 Percent Movement. Pundit Bill Kristol called the protests “un-American” and “fundamentally undemocratic,” despite the fact that recent polls show that they are supported by a majority of Americans. Kristol even complained that the world “occupy” was itself Marxist.

Over Half of All U.S. Tax Subsidies Go to Four Industries. Guess Which Ones?

Citizens for Tax Justice has analyzed corporate tax rates from 2008 to 2010. The report [PDF]examines over half of the Fortune 500 companies

Harvard Law Professor Criticizes ‘Homeland Security Feel’ Of ‘Overreaction’ To Occupy Harvard

In a letter to the president of Harvard University, Harvard Law School professor Duncan Kennedy criticized the lockdown of Harvard Yard against the 99 Percent movement. On Wednesday night, hundreds of Occupy protesters marched from a rally at Harvard Law School to enter the heart of the world’s most prestigious university, blocked by Harvard security forces who began closing the iron gates that are normally kept open 24 hours a day. Harvard students, allowed in after showing identification, set up about 20 tents in the yard with the help of other students who joined when word went out about the lockdown. Harvard Yard remains closed to people without university IDs.

Penn State Scandal: Sandusky Had Access To Vulnerable Kids Via Charity

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Over the past 30 years, politicians, sports stars and community leaders heaped praise on Jerry Sandusky and the charity he founded for troubled youngsters, The Second Mile. It was a model program, and the acclaimed football coach was its driving force.

Slave Cemetery Uncovered On Florida Island

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A 19th-century cemetery, believed to hold the remains of slaves, has been uncovered at a former cotton plantation in Florida, archaeologists announced Thursday.

Obama’s Foreign Policy Successes

The Republican candidates for president haven’t talked about foreign policy too much. Given that economic issues have been dominating the campaign narrative, it’s perhaps understandable that national security is largely absent from the debate. But also, the Republicans don’t really have much to criticize. Indeed, foreign policy has received scant attention during the televised GOP presidential debates. But that’s about to change. This Saturday, Nov. 12, CBS News and the National Journal will host the first debate focused solely on foreign policy at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC. (CNN, Heritage and AEI will hostanother one on Nov. 22).

Homeless Veterans, By The Numbers

Today is Veterans Day, a day to honor the men and women serving in the U.S. armed forces. Sadly, this year’s Veterans Day falls on the same week as the release of a new study showing that veterans not only make up a disproportionate percentage of the homeless population, but also stay homeless for longer. In fact, “on average, veterans were homeless for 5.7 years while others reported that they were homeless for 3.9 years.”

Five Reasons Why Veterans Are Part Of The 99 Percent

The 99 Percent Movement has attracted students, labor unions, unemployed workers, teachers, artists, singers, writers, former real estate brokers, political activists, people who have given up on the traditional political system, and thousands more. But a growing contingent seen at Occupy Wall Street solidarity protests all across the country are veterans.

10-year-old Mexican girl gives birth to baby boy after 31-week pregnancy

A 10-year-old Mexican girl has given birth to a baby boy after a 31-week pregnancy, according to reports.

The premature infant, which weighed 3.3 pounds, was born by Caesarian section at the Women’s Hospital in the city of Puebla and is in the intensive care unit recovering from pneumonia.

You don’t have to take our word for it, here’s how Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) described his priorities:

The Shame Of Joe Paterno

Towards the end of the immortal baseball movie Bull Durham, Annie Savoy reflects that “Baseball may be a religion full of magic, cosmic truth, and the fundamental ontological riddles of our time, but it’s also a job.” What she meant is that for the men who play it, the game can be mundane, difficult, frustrating, and an obligation more than it is a joy. But watching the story of Penn State football coach Joe Paterno’s insufficient action when he learned that his former defensive coordinator and coach emeritus of the team had assaulted a child in Penn State facilities unfold, culminating in his firing late last night, I’ve been reflecting on another sense of that statement. No matter how important the work of sports is, whether economically to schools and regions, or emotionally to fans, it’s work. And if you’re incapable of performing it in ways that comport with the law, the ethics of your profession, and basic decency, it should be totally uncontroversial for you to be dismissed.

GOP Candidates: Federal Student Loans Are ‘An Absurdity,’ ‘A Total Failure’

Outstanding student loan debt is projected this year to hit $1 trillion for the first time, while the average college student now graduates with more than $25,000 in debt. Federal student aid has failed to keep pace with theskyrocketing cost of tuition, even as the U.S.’s educational attainment begins to trail that of other developed nations.

STATE DEPARTMENT PUTS BRAKES ON KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE

The Department of State is planning to put the brakes on the controversial Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, Reuters reports. After seeming to be a foregone conclusion, approval by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama of the $7 billion Canada-to-Texas pipeline hit a wall of popular opposition and scandal. Climate activists mobilized across the nation, risking arrests in acts of civil disobedience, to raise the alarm about the civilizational risks of mining the tar sands. Nebraskans of all political stripes united in opposition to the foreign oil company TransCanada’s abusive practices and plans to cut across the state’s most valued ecosystems. State’s decision to reconsider its draft impact statementsto evaluate alternate routes means possible final approval, originally expected this year, will be delayed at the minimum by several months.

VIDEO: Debunking The Right-Wing Meme That The Obama Administration Is Anti-Business

From GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney and Tea Party Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) to Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly, a general consensus has emerged that the Obama administration is “anti-business.” Yet any actual evidence of an effect from this putative bias has failed to materialize. ThinkProgress has compiled a video report. Watch it:

Gitmo Is The World’s ‘Most Expensive Prison’ At $800K Per Detainee Per Year

As lawmakers on Congress’ deficit reduction super committee look for places to cut the federal budget ahead of their upcoming deadline, they may want to look at the prison camp at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The facility is “arguably the most expensive prison on earth,” according to a new report from the Miami Herald. With a budget of $139 million last year to house just 171 detainees, it costs more than $800,000 to keep each prisoner for a year — more than 30 times the average cost of a traditional prison. The report is based on a “secret study” conducted by the camp’s former deputy commander, a money manager by training, who calls the facility “expensive” and “inefficient”:

Happy Birthday Carl Sagan (VIDEO)

Dear Dr. Carl Sagan,

You captured my imagination when I first read The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark about ten years ago. I was too young to watch the Cosmos series when it originally aired on PBS. Today, thirty years later, your elegant scientific prose remains not only relevant, but unparalleled in its breadth and power to inspire.

Penn State Scandal Timeline: Key Dates In The Jerry Sandusky Sex Abuse Case

A chronological look at the case against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, based on a grand jury report in Pennsylvania state court. Some key dates in Penn State football history are included. Sandusky has been charged with 40 criminal counts, accusing him of serial sex abuse of minors.

Progressives Win Big In Ballot Measures Nationwide

WASHINGTON -- Tuesday's elections saw big wins for progressives around the country, who blocked right-wing measures on issues of voting, labor, immigrant and women's rights.

40,000 Americans Joined Credit Unions On ‘Bank Transfer Day,’ 24 Times The Usual Rate

ThinkProgress reported last week that 650,000 Americans joined credit unions over the past month, more than in all of 2010 combined. On Saturday, activists across the nation rallied Americans to move their money from the nation’s big banks to community banks and credit unions.

McCain Wants A Corporate Tax Holiday So Corporations Can ‘Buy More Yachts And…Corporate Jets And All That’

A slew of multinational corporations, joined by their allies in Congress, have been pushing for the enactment of a tax repatriation holiday, which would allow companies that have stashed money overseas to bring it back to the U.S. at a tax rate far below the usual 35 percent corporate income tax rate. Sen. Johm McCain (R-AZ) and Kay Hagan (D-NC) have proposed a plan under which corporations could repatriate money at an 8.25 percent tax rate, which would be lowered to 5.25 percent if they use the money to create jobs.

275,000 PEOPLE WANT MSNBC TO FIRE PAT BUCHANAN

MSNBC contributor Pat Buchanan has made a career out of bigotry. His thoughtful contributions include calling gays satanists, praising the Nazis and the KKK, decrying Dr. Martin Luther King as a fraud, and telling African Americans that they should be grateful for slavery. While touring the networks to promote his latest book,Suicide of a Superpower: Will America Survive to 2025?, he stopped by a white nationalist radio program The Political Cesspool which was only too happy to advertise his theories. In response, African-American civil rights organization ColorOfChange.org and CREDO Action gathered 275,000 people who are demanding that MSNBC President Phil Griffin fire Buchanan immediately. The ColorOfChange.org petition reads, “Buchanan has a long and consistent history of peddling white supremacist ideology as legitimate political commentary, on your network and elsewhere.” Noting that Buchanan has the right to express his views, the petition says “he’s not entitled to a platform that lets him broadcast bigotry and hate to millions. If MSNBC and NBC want to be seen as trusted, mainstream sources of news and commentary, you need to fire Buchanan now.” Buchanan has not appeared on MSNBC since he began promoting his book on Oct. 22.

The Top Twelve Reasons Why So Many Good Black Men Are Still Single

Television, radio, and the Internet have been buzzing nonstop for years about the plight of single, black women looking for love, but what about all the single, black men? Nobody's been bold enough to take a stand and speak out on behalf of all the good, single black men out there looking for love too. However, now, that's all changed. The Victory Unlimited Show (http://www.victoryunlimitedshow.com) attacks this issue with the kind of guts, gusto, humor, and controversy that's rarely heard in the mainstream media.

Legendary Boxer Smokin’ Joe Frazier Dead At 67

PHILADELPHIA — Joe Frazier had to throw his greatest punch to knock down “The Greatest.”

A vicious left hook from Frazier put Muhammad Ali on the canvas in the 15th round in March 1971 when he became the first man to beat him in the Fight of the Century at Madison Square Garden.

Wow, African-American buying power nears $1.1 trillion

WASHINGTON (Special from the Final Call) — Black buying power is expected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2015, according to The State of the African-American Consumer Report, recently released, collaboratively by Nielsen, a leading global provider of insights and analytics into what consumers watch and buy, and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a federation of more than 200 Black community newspapers across the U.S.

Rapper Heavy D Dead At Age Of 44 (Rip Heavy)

LOS ANGELES– Heavy D, the self-proclaimed “overweight lover” of hip-hop who became one of rap’s top hit-makers with wit, humor and a positive vibe, has died. He was 44. Lt. Mark Rosen of the Beverly Hills police said Heavy D died in a Los Angeles hospital Tuesday after collapsing at his condominium building.

POLL: 99 PERCENT MESSAGE NEARLY TWICE AS POPULAR AS TEA PARTY GOP MESSAGE

A new NBC-Wall Street Journal poll out last night found that a whopping 60 percent of Americans strongly agree with the basic sentiment of the 99 Percent Movement, as expressed in the statement below:

BANK OF AMERICA MUST PAY $410 MILLION IN SETTLEMENT FOR CHARGING EXCESSIVE OVERDRAFT FEES

The Associated Press reports that a U.S. District judge in Miami has approved a $410 million settlement against Bank of America for charging their customers excessive overdraft fees. The settlement in the class-action lawsuit affects more than 13 million current and former bank customers who used debit cards over the past decade, but most will get only a fraction of the overdraft fees they paid. In fact, an attorney for customers who objected to the deal calculated that Bank of America made $4.5 billion through the overdraft fees, and are repaying less than 10 percent. The average customer had $300 in overdraft fees but is only eligible for a $27 reward in the settlement.

Occupy Atlanta Encamps In Neighborhood To Save Police Officer’s Home From Foreclosure

Occupy Atlanta has repeatedly run into hurdles, as it has been evicted from Woodruff Park in Atlanta multiple times by the city’s unsympathetic mayor, Kasim Reed. Yet the group was invigorated yesterday as it moved to a new location to take action for economic justice.

Leading Conservative Federal Appeals Judge Says Case Against Health Reform Has No Basis In ‘The Text of the Constitution’

When the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit announced two of the three judges who would hear a challenge to the Affordable Care Act — conservative icons Laurence Silberman and Brett Kavanaugh — the law’s supporters turned white. Silberman is a close ally of Justice Clarence Thomas, a former official in the Nixon, Ford and Reagan Administrations and the author of the lower court decision overturning the District of Columbia’s handgun ban. Kavanaugh is a former Associate Counsel under Clinton inquisitor Ken Starr and a leading attorney in the George W. Bush White House. If anyone would be sympathetic to the case against health reform, these two men were first on the list.

Cain And Perry’s Tax Plans Would Disproportionately Hurt Women

GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain has been in hot water in recent weeks over allegations that hesexually harassed or assaulted at least four women in his employ. But it’s not just Cain’s personal behavior that’s hurting women. According to analysis and expert interviews by the American Independent, the tax plans offered by both Cain and Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX)disproportionately disadvantage women:

Conservatives Pushing End-Run Around Mandated Military Spending Cuts If Super Committee Fails

In reaction to the looming deadline on the super committee — potentially triggering $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts if the group fails to make a $1.5 trillion dent in the deficit by Thanksgiving — military spending boosters are devising a plan to avoid triggered cuts to defense budgets. Here’s how it would work: 1) Hope for the super committee to fail, 2) Push doomsday warnings about mandated defense “sequestration,” 3) Get Congress to pass a new law negating the automatic cuts.

Hillary Clinton Commits U.S. Government To Ushering In ‘An AIDS-Free Generation’

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on the United States and her allies to scale up their funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment to “change the course of this pandemic and usher in an AIDS-free generation,” during a speech at the NIH this morning. “I want the American people to understand the irreplaceable role the U.S. has played in the fight against HIV/AIDS, it is their tax dollars, our tax dollars that have made this possible and we need to keep going,” she said before announcing, “creating an HIV-free population has never been a government priority until today. Today it is possible because of scientific advances largely funded by the United States.” Watch a compilation of the speech:

MISSISSIPPI GOP GOV. NOMINEE TELLS RAPE VICTIM ‘SATAN WINS’ IF PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT FAILS

Mississippi voters head to the polls today to consider a radical anti-abortion measure that equates abortion with murder and would outlaw some forms of birth control, but Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant (R) warned yesterday that if the personhood amendment fails, “Satan wins.” “This is a battle of good and evil of Biblical proportions,” Bryant, who is also the GOP nominee for governor, told a crowd in Tupelo, Mississippi. Bryant was responding to a question from Cristen Hemmins, who was raped and shot twice during a kidnapping as a college student. The personhood amendment would make all abortions illegal, even in cases of rape or incest. “Why can’t you men have any sympathy for women like me?” she asked Bryant. “Bryant is heavily favored to win the governor’s race,” which is also taking place today.

Whole Foods Accused Of Harassing Muslim Employee, Forcing Him To Pray By The Dumpster

Yuppy-haven supermarket Whole Foods has always carefully maintained a public image of embracing diversity. That polished exterior was tarnished in August when the corporation caved to the Islamophobic rants of conservatives, and told all its U.S. stores not to promote Ramadan this year.

OHIO DEFEATS OHIO’S ANTI-LABOR LAW SENATE BILL 5

The Associated Press reports that Ohio voters have resoundingly defeated Gov. John Kasich’s (R) anti-labor law Senate Bill 5, delivering a significant blow to the beleaguered governor in his first year of office. The rejection marks a victory for Ohio’s teachers, firefighters, police, and veterans whose collective bargaining rights were stripped by the law. On MSNBC’s Ed Show, state Rep. Nina Turner (D) demanded that Kasich apologize to Ohioans for attacking workers’ rights instead of focusing on jobs.

Wall Street Traders Have Profited More Under Obama Than In Eight Years Under Bush

As protesters around the country take to the streets to protest the excesses of Wall Street banks that benefited from a federal bailout and quickly returned to profitability, new data from the financial industry has shed light on just how profitable those banks have been since the financial crisis brought the American economy to its knees three years ago.

Defense Contractors Pay Little To No Corporate Income Tax While Earning Billions

Last week, Citizens for Tax Justice released a report showing that 30 major corporations have paid no income taxes for the last three years, as they made $160 billion. CTJ looked at 280 companies in the Fortune 500, and found that “while the federal corporate tax code ostensibly requires big corporations to pay a 35 percent corporate income tax rate, on average, the 280 corporations in our study paid only about half that amount.”

FLORIDA GOP SENATE CANDIDATE TO 99 PERCENT: ‘GET OFF YOUR ASS AND GO GET A JOB’

Speaking at a Tea Party convention in Florida this weekend, GOP Senate candidate Craig Miller said Occupy Wall Street protesters should “get off your ass and go get a job.” Miller is the former CEO of Ruth’s Chris steakhouse and was the president of the National Restaurant Association a few years after GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain left the organization. Last month, Adam Hasner, who is also running for the Republican Senate nomination from Florida, called Occupy Wall Street supporters “anarchists,” “extremists,” and “thugs.” As the Florida Independent points out, just 12 percent of protesters are unemployed, according to Fast Company.

INSPECTOR GENERAL LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO KEYSTONE XL APPROVAL PROCESS

In response to a congressional request, the State Department’s Office of the Inspector General has launched a review of the Keystone XL pipeline approval process. The State Department is tasked with conducting the environmental review of TransCanada’s proposed tar sands pipeline from Canada to Texas for a Presidential Permit decision. Beginning with the Bush administration, the process has been largely outsourced to a contractor chosen and paid for by TransCanada, with only asingle staffer overseeing the work. Meanwhile, lobbyists with close ties to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have aggressively pushed for approval on behalf of the foreign oil company. The request for an investigation was made by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and eleven Democratic members of the House of Representatives.

FINANCIAL INDUSTRY COLLECTS THE MOST GOVERNMENT TAX SUBSIDIES

A new Citizens for Tax Justice report detailing how little corporations pay in federal corporate income tax also noted that financial firms receive the highest percentage of federal tax subsidies, collecting nearly 17 percent of the tax largesse that the government hands out. The largest single recipient of federal tax subsidies over the last three years was mega-bank Wells Fargo.

Federal Workers Are Underpaid Compared To Their Private Sector Counterparts, Despite GOP’s Assertions

To hear Republican presidential primary candidates tell it, the federal workforce under President Obama has experienced ballooning job growth and huge wage increases. Such claims are a staple of Rep. Michele Bachmann’s (R-MN) stump speeches, and for months, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) has promised to bring the rest of the workers’ pay into line with comparable employees in the private sector.

12,000 ENCIRCLE WHITE HOUSE IN PROTEST OF KEYSTONE XL TAR SANDS PIPELINE

Today, more than 12,000 people from across the United States and Canada gathered at the White House to call on President Obama to stop the TransCanada Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.  After a rally in Lafayette Square addressed by elected officials, youth climate activists,  environmental leaders, climate scientist James Hansen, religious leaders, Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams, Naomi Klein, and local opponents of the pipeline from South Dakota, Texas, and Nebraska, the boisterous crowd formed a human chain that completely encircled the White House.  The protest, organized by Tar Sands Action, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, 350.org, and others, appeared to exceed turnout expectations, with the human chain running several people deep in most areas.  President Obamaacknowledged last week that he will make the final decision on the controversial pipeline — a decision expected before year’s end.

Sunday November 6th 2011 Talking Heads!

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

Ron Paul is here, and we can all agree that the kindly old libertarian wizard from Middle Earth probably never sexually harassed anyone, so it's nice to see him today. Later, Representatives Heath "Incomplete" Shuler and Mike "Simpson" Simpson will be here to talk about how they want to sexually harass the budget. Then a panel will sexually harass one another, for our enjoyment/terror.

Scientist Who Testified In Support Of Mining Around The Grand Canyon Stands To Make $225,000 From It

As ThinkProgress reported yesterday, Republican members of Congress have beenwaging a war to open 1 million acres around the Grand Canyon to uranium mining. Last week Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar took one of the last steps in withdrawing the area from new mining claims. But in response, Republicans have introduced H.R. 3155, the Northern Arizona Mining Continuity Act of 2011, to keep the decision from moving forward. The issue has become “one of the top legislative priorities of Republicans in Congress” as Energy and Environment Daily reported this morning.

Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Calls Unemployment Benefits A ‘Lifestyle’

Despite the necessary aid that unemployment benefits provide for those who have been laid off (not to mention the boost they give to the entire national economy), Republicans continue to attack and deride people who collect those benefits. In September, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) dismissed unemployment benefits as “welfare for people that won’t work,” and an Ohio state representative suggested his state drug test all benefit applicants. (He got the idea from Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R), who signed a law in June requiring drug tests for all welfare recipients.)

Islamophobic Texas Gun Instructor: All Muslims Have ‘Sworn The Annihilation Of The United States’

In an interview with the New York Times, a state-certified gun instructor in Texas doubled down on Islamophobic comments he made in a radio ad to attract new customers. As ThinkProgress reported, Crockett Keller of Mason, Texas, said in the ad that he refused to teach Muslims, telling local news outlets and advocacy groups, “I would give up my license to teach before I will teach them,” because he considered all Muslims “enemies.”

Baby Boomers: Aging Population Casts Light On Geriatrics Shortage

PALATKA, Fla. -- In this sleepy, riverside town in northeast Florida, 86-year-old Betty Wills sees the advertisements of obstetricians and gynecologists on the main road's billboards and has found specialists ranging from cardiologists to surgeons in the phone book.

Joe Frazier Cancer: Former Heavyweight Champion Diagnosed With Liver Cancer, In Hospice Care

PHILADELPHIA -- Former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier has liver cancer and is under hospice care.

The 67-year-old boxer was diagnosed four or five weeks ago, Frazier's personal and business manager said Saturday. Leslie Wolff told The Associated Press that doctors have not yet told Frazier how long he has to live.

Want To Switch Banks? Here's What You Need To Know

David Meinert, owner of several Seattle businesses, including 5-Point Cafe, Big Mario's Pizza and Onto Entertainment, recently switched his business accounts from Bank of America and Chase to Seattle Bank. He says many small-business owners he knows are following his lead -- they have also been wanting to make a move but were just waiting for someone to point them to a good local alternative. So if you're fed up with the big guys and ready to transfer to a small bank or credit union, how do you find the right one? Attorney, author and small-business advocate Barbara Weltman provides these tips for a smooth transition:

Nigeria: Boko Haram Suicide Attack Killed Dozens

LAGOS, Nigeria — At least 67 people died in a wave of bombings and shootings carried out in northeast Nigeria overnight, officials said Saturday, as frightened mourners left their homes to begin burying their dead.

More Small Businesses Are Pulling Their Accounts Out Of Big Banks

Even in a tight credit market, David Meinert didn't think he'd have a problem getting funding from his bank. He was a model entrepreneur, with good credit and a profitable business earning $2 million in revenue. But when he applied for a relatively small $50,000 line of credit from Chase in late 2010, he got denied in 12 hours, with no explanation. "It was insulting and made no sense, even to the banker. And there was no one to even talk to about it," Meinert says. "It's frustrating that banks are getting billions of dollars in taxpayers' money and they're sitting on that money and not lending it to small businesses. If you're making less than $10 million, they don't care about you."

Unemployment Benefits: Most Of The Unemployed No Longer Receive Benefits

WASHINGTON — The jobs crisis has left so many people out of work for so long that most of America's unemployed are no longer receiving unemployment benefits.

FBI Says The End Is Near For Investigations Into Civil Rights-era Cold Cases

Every time we think we've seen the last of the trials for civil rights-era atrocities, it seems, prosecutors will parade some stooped, white-haired defendant before the cameras in shackles.

Keystone XL Oil Pipeline: A Symbolic Struggle Steeped In Fuzzy Math

At the end of September, the mayor of tiny Atkinson, Neb., sat calmly waiting for an invasion. David Frederick's rural outpost of about 1,000 residents, set along the northeastern edge of Nebraska's Sandhills, was about to see its population briefly swelled by a phalanx of U.S. State Department officials, itinerant union laborers, ranchers, farmers, environmentalists and reporters.

Move Your Money Activists Prepare For Bank Transfer Day On Nov. 5

WASHINGTON -- While major banks pride themselves on "financial innovation," they always function in a way that stays fundamentally the same: They hold on to people's money and invest it until it's needed by the customer. The nature of those investments -- from 30-year fixed-rate mortgages for qualified home buyers to exotic financial products -- has varied over the years, but banks, no matter how innovative, need capital to make it all happen.

Congressional Black Caucus And President Obama Make Nice Ahead Of Tough Upcoming Election

After a long, somewhat contentious summer, in which the Congressional Black Caucus seemed to fall out of love with President Barack Obama over the black unemployment issue, the CBC and the president seem to be hugging it out and coming together ahead of what will likely be a fierce fight for reelection in 2012.

"Too Nice?"......... a dumbass phrase used by black females today...

Had to Post this......Men are Doomed!!!!

Reason Women Say Why They Cheated On Their Husbands

This are the 5 reasons that they give.

1. He's abusive. 2. He's a work-a-holic 3. We resented each other 4. I was bored 5. He cheated first

CHICAGO TRADER DUMPS MCDONALD’S APPLICATIONS ON THE 99 PERCENT

Chicagoist reports that someone at the Chicago Board of Trade blanketed Occupy Chicago protesters with hundreds of McDonald’s applications, mocking the demonstrators camped outside. Employees at the organization — the world’s oldest futures exchange — have heckled Occupy Chicago protesters almost since day one. They’ve proudly hung “We Are The 1%” in their office windows, papered the movement with fliers, and sent out email spam. Now, they seem to have moved on to “job counseling.” Though it may not be very good advice, as McDonald’s recently hired just 60,000 workers out of 1 million applications they received.

196 House Democrats Sign Letter To State Election Officals Opposing War On Voting

A massive 196 House Democrats — nearly their entire caucus — signed a letter to state election officials asking them to “put partisan considerations aside and serve as advocates for enfranchisement” during this unfortunate era ofvoter disenfranchising state laws:

OCCUPY WALL STREET WAS A BIGGER STORY THAN JUSTIN BEIBER LAST WEEK ON TWITTER

The Pew Research Center Project On Excellence In Journalism finds that Occupy Wall Street was the “top” story on Twitter in the week from Oct. 24 to 28. That means that the topic even topped Twitter-favorite Justin Bieber, as the following Pew chart shows:

CAIN: ‘I AM THE KOCH BROTHERS’ BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER’

Herman Cain may be the billionaire Koch brothers’ favorite presidential candidate, with strong tiesbetween his campaign and the wealthy conservative patrons, and Cain hasn’t been shy about about showing his love for the pair. Today, at a conference sponsored by the Koch-backed group Americans for Prosperity, Cain declared to thunderous applause, “I am the Koch brothers’ brother from another mother.” He added, “And proud of it.” Watch it:

Michigan City Removes Streetlights In Desperate Budget Cut

States and cities around the country have desperately slashed spending in the face of record budget deficits, including unpaving roads, shrinking schools, closing libraries, and even a failed attempt to decriminalize domestic violence.

MICROSOFT FUNDS KOCH’S CLIMATE-DENYING TEA PARTY CONFERENCE

Microsoft Corporation, which argues that climate pollution requires a “comprehensive and global response,” is sponsoring the Koch brothers’ Tea Party convention taking place in Washington, DC. Microsoft is a “gold sponsor” of the Americans For Prosperity Foundation’s fifth annual Defending The American Dream Summit, cheek and jowl with top climate denial front groups like the Heartland Institute, the American Legislative Exchange Council, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Speakers at the conference include climate deniers Herman Cain, Mitt Romney, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS), Ken Cuccinelli, Ann McElhinney, Chris Horner, Myron Ebell, and Carly Fiorina. Their prominent involvement was captured in a photograph by Slate.com reporter Dave Wiegel.

Mississippi Personhood Bill Could Criminalize Doctors Who Perform An Abortion To Save A Woman’s Life

Physicians and medical associations are now speaking out against Mississippi’s personhood amendment, warning that it is “a dangerous intrusion of criminal law into the provision of medical care.”

Bill Gates Champions A Financial Transactions Tax: ‘This Money Could Be Well Spent And Make A Difference’

While Republicans resist any attempt to address growing income inequality, more and more of America’s wealthyare asking to pay their fair share. Joining billionaire Warren Buffet, Microsoft founder Bill Gates recentlyissued his support for “millionaires and billionaires” paying more in taxes.

75 PERCENT OF AMERICANS SUPPORT OBAMA ON IRAQ TROOP WITHDRAWAL

A new Gallup poll finds that an overwhelming majority of Americans support President Obama’s decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year. While 96 percent of Democrats and 77 percent of independents support the move, Republicans are still holding out, with a minority 43 percent approving. Gallup charts the numbers:

As GOP Belittles Cain Allegations, 10 Percent Of Women Are Told Their Job Will Improve If They Are ‘Sexually Cooperative’

It’s not surprising that Republicans leaped to presidential candidate Herman Cain’s defense after allegations that he sexually harassed some of his employees in the 1990s resurfaced this week, despite the fact that those allegations have neither been proven or disproven. Many Republicans, however, have gone much further — claiming that sexual harassment allegations are, in Rush Limbaugh’s words, “a political tool of the left to get rid of people, or to score money gains.” Americans for Herman Cain blasted out a fundraising email headlined, “Don’t let the media ‘lynch’ another black Conservative.” And the National Review actually published this gem:

650,000 Americans Joined Credit Unions Last Month — More Than In All Of 2010 Combined

One of the tactics the 99 Percenters are using to take back the country from the 1 percent is to move their money from big banks to credit unions, community banks, and other smaller financial unions that aren’t gambling with our nation’s future.

18 ARRESTED IN WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE FOR USING CAMERAS, GUNS STILL ALLOWED

Eighteen activists were arrested on Tuesday for using cameras in the gallery of the Wisconsin General Assembly. The arrests were part of a “Concealed Camera Day” event, planned to coincidence with the implementation of a new law that allows Wisconsinites to a concealed firearm,including inside the Assembly building. The Assembly does not allow cameras in the gallery, which the protesters — including the editor of a local progressive magazine — say is a violation of the First Amendment and of Wisconsin’s open meeting laws.

Two Days After Reporting Deadline, Secret Conservative Donor Funnels $250,000 To Repeal Maine Voting Rights

Next week, Maine citizens will vote on a ballot initiative to strike down a Republican-passed bill to repeal election day voter registration in the state.

Senators Introduce Constitutional Amendment To Overturn Citizens United

One of the overarching themes of the 99 Percent Movement is that our democracy is too corrupted by corporate special interests. This corruption was worsened last year by the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which allowed for huge new unregulated flows of corporate political spending.

Glenn Beck-Approved Goldline Charged With 19 Criminal Counts Of Fraud And Theft

Goldline International, the precious metal retailer that has capitalized on conservatives’ anxiety about the economy by forging synergistic relationships with right wing TV and radio hosts, is facing a new series of legal challenges after authorities filed criminal charges against the company and its executives yesterday. Several major conservative talkers — including two former GOP presidential candidates —have endorsed and recommended Goldine, which critics have long contended is little more than a scam.

IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, COLLEGE TUITION TRIPLED

A new report from Demos looking atThe Economic State of Young America shows that “average [higher education] tuition is three times higher today than in 1980.” “Average tuition at public 4-year colleges was $7,600 in the 2010 academic year, up from $2,100 in 1980,” the report notes, while “average tuition at private 4-year colleges nearly tripled in a generation, increasing from $9,500 in the 1980 academic year to $27,300 in 2010.” At the same time, the federal Pell Grant is covering an ever smaller percentage of the overall cost of a college education.

40 House Republicans Sign Letter Saying They’re Open To Tax Increases

Forty House Republicans joined 60 Democrats today in a letter calling on the congressional super committee to consider “all options” in crafting a deficit reduction package, including increasing revenues. As the AP notes, the “letter puts aboutone-sixth of House GOP lawmakers on record as saying the supercommittee should consider collecting more taxes.” From the letter:

New Report Finds Vermont Could Save As Much As $1.8 Billion By 2020 From Shifting To Single Payer

Yesterday, the Vermont Legislative Joint Fiscal Office and the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration released a new report estimating the savings the state could experience if it successfully enacts the single payer system it began designing earlier this year.

VIDEO: Bishop Gene Robinson Explains Why Religious People Should Support The 99 Percent Movement

Over the last few weeks, a number of clergy, religious activists, and writers — both Christianand Jewish — have spoken out in support of the Wall Street protests. This highlights one aspect of the 99 Percent Movement that has yet to be acknowledged by the mainstream media’s narrative: the growing support the protests are receiving from various faith groups and leaders around the country.

New Jersey Plans To Give Food Company $80 Million In Tax Incentives To Create Nine Jobs

Last month, Florida’s economic development agency disclosed that Florida taxpayers have coughed up $1.7 billion in tax credits and incentives for businesses since 1995, but have gotten few jobs to show for it. In fact, “the lion’s share of the awards — 971 — have yet to report any jobs.”

Virginia County GOP Emails Picture Of Obama With Bullet Hole In His Head

Yesterday was Halloween, a day for children to take candy and (apparently) for the Loudon County, Virginia GOP to take a shot at President Obama. As the blog Too Conservative reported, the Loudon Republican committee sent out a “Halloween 2011″ mailer depicting President Obama as a zombie “with part of his skull missing and a bullet through his head.” The email invites recipients to a Halloween parade where “we are going to vanquish the zombies with clear thinking conservative principles and a truckload of Republican candy.”

BOWING TO CONSUMER PRESSURE, BANK OF AMERICA DROPS DEBIT CARD FEES

Bank of America is dropping its plan to charge customers $5 a month for use of debit cards, making a “dramatic retreat” after vocal consumer complaints dissuaded some major rivals from instituting similar fees. “The about-face represents a rare concession to customer sensitivities over fees,” the Wall Street Journal reports. Bank of America has been one of the most prominent targets of the 99 Percenters.

Mayor Bloomberg: ‘It Was Not The Banks That Created The Mortgage Crisis’

A favorite conservative pastime since the financial crisis of 2008 struck is to try and deflect blame away from Wall Street and its excesses and onto Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and government housing policy. No matter how many times the theory that the government mortgage giants caused the crisis gets debunked, it keeps on coming back to life.

Federal Court Upholds School’s Decision To Send Home Students Wearing ‘Islam Is Of The Devil’ T-Shirts

Two years ago, “International Burn A Koran Day” pastor Terry Jones’ church distributed shirts emblazoned “ISLAM IS OF THE DEVIL” to many of the school-aged members of his church. The students were subsequently sent home when they wore these offensive shirts to school.

Study: Fewer Black College Students Receive Merit-Based Aid

During the 2007–08 academic year, undergraduate students received $62 billion in financial aid through the government, educational institutions and other sources, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Education. During that same period, the department found that Black college students were less likely than white students to receive merit-based financial aid, but more likely to receive aid based on financial need.

Judge Approves Black Farmers Settlement

WASHINGTON — A federal judge has given final approval to a $1.2 billion government settlement with black farmers who claim they were unfairly denied loans and other assistance from the Agriculture Department over many years.

The Most Influential White Americans In Black America

While there have already been tongue in cheek listsfeaturing the white Americans perceived as the most “down” with black folks, Loop21.com has decided to put together a list of the white Americans who have genuinely had the greatest impact on the lives of black Americans in the last century. Some played key roles in altering America’s laws to end legalized racial inequality, while others have helped increase the cultural influence of black Americans through the arts and entertainment, but all have made significant contributions to the black experience in America, whether they know it or not. (And in some cases, whether we want to admit it or not.)

VIDEO: As Republicans Spread ‘Politics Of Division,’ They Hypocritically Accuse Opponents Of Doing The Same

Over the last few weeks, Republicans have begun decrying the “politics of division” supposedly emanating from the White House and Occupy Wall Street, climaxing with Budget Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) speech at the Heritage Foundation on Wednesday. Clearly, these Republicans suffer from some memory loss, or a lack of self-awareness, or both. For some time now, these same people crying about “pitting Americans against Americans” have been enthusiastically labeling various people or groups in American politics as enemies, painting political disagreements as stark divisions over morality and worldview, and describing the Obama administration and Democrats as destructive, tyrannical, and un-American. ThinkProgress has the video report.

Watch it:

State-Certified Handgun Instructor In Texas Refuses To Teach Muslims, Obama Supporters

Crockett Keller, a state-certified gun safety instructor in Texas, wants to help you get a concealed handgun lesson — that is, unless you’re Muslim or liberal. “If you are a non-Christian Arab or Muslim, I will not teach you the class with no shame,” he says in a controversial new radio playing around Mason, TX, where Keller owns a gun store. “If you are a socialist liberal and or voted for the current campaigner in chief, please do not take this class. You have already proven that you cannot make a knowledgeable and prudent decision as under the law,” he added. In an interview with a local ABC affiliate, Keller made it clear he was serious: “I will give up my license to teach before I will teach them.”

Cain Smears Planned Parenthood: Accuses Group of ‘Genocide,’ Says Its Goal Is To ‘Kill Black Babies’ (Please Would Some Black Leader Please Shut-up "Uncle Ruckus?")

Today on Face The Nation, GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain claimed that Planned Parenthood wants to “kill black babies” and is part of an organized effort to commit “genocide” against the black community:

Why Young Men Fear Marriage

Daryl Motte and Seth Conger have got a lot going for them. They're young, attractive, smart, employed, single, funny, down-to-earth, slightly old-fashioned and curious -- the kind of guys who'd make perfect husbands.

Tax The Poor: Forget Occupy Wall Street, Conservatives Have A Different Idea

WASHINGTON -- The nation's ongoing economic downturn has sparked an odd response from a growing number of conservative and Republican leaders: a desire to blame the unfortunate and a demand for the poor to pay more.

Sunday October 30th 2011 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

Chris Wallace is in Austin, Texas today, and yes, I'm jealous, because there is music and mole sauce everywhere down there. There, he's got Rick Perry, chilling in the Texas State History museum.

U.K. GIVES WOMEN EQUALITY IN ROYAL SUCCESSION FOR FIRST TIME IN 300 YEARS

If Prince William and Kate Middleton’s first child is a girl, she will be queen, thanks tohistoric changes adopted this week by the 16 nations in the Commonwealth Realm that recognize the Queen of England as monarch. Scrapping a 300-year-old law, the nations unanimously agreed to give women equal preference to succeed the throne for the first time, and also threw out old rules that barred the monarch from marrying a Catholic. Previously, women could only take the throne if there were no male heirs. “It reminds us of the potential in our societies that is yet to be fully unlocked and it encourages us to find ways to allow all girls and women to play their full part,” Queen Elizabeth II said at the opening of a summit of Commonwealth leaders in Perth, Australia, where the reforms were adopted.

Stop and frisk outcry: 87% of those stopped by police in Bronx are not arrested

Willie Hazzard was walking down Westchester Ave. with his two children the other day, wearing a black Transformers fitted hat, black and white Rocawear leather varsity jacket, black jeans, black Jordans and diamond studs in his ears.

Corporate Hacking Firm That Targeted ThinkProgress Now Markets Services Against ‘Politically Motivated’ Attacks

Earlier this year, ThinkProgress exposed a plot concocted by a set of military contractors, working on behalf of the law firm for the corporate lobbying group called the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to hack and sabotage progressive organizations, including, to our surprise, ThinkProgress. The ploy was made public by hacktivists known as Anonymous, who stole a batch of e-mails from one of the military contractors involved, HB Gary Federal, and dumped them online for all to see (the dump revealed a separate conspiracy, on behalf of Bank of America, to destroy WikiLeaks and journalists like Glenn Greenwald). One of the corporate hackers involved in the scheme, Aaron Barr, has moved on to another firm.

CHART: Typical Hourly Wage Went Up Just $1.23 In The Last 36 Years

In a speech yesterday, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) claimed that President Obama created “class resentment” by calling for slightly higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans. At the same time, Occupy Wall Street protesters continue to speak out in favor of an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top of the income scale.

ANALYSIS: Warren Buffett Would Pay As Little As 0.2 Percent Tax Rate Under Rick Perry’s Tax Plan

Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry released a tax plan this week that he and many media reports called a “20 percent flat tax.” But Perry’s new alternative tax scheme is hardly “flat.”

68 PERCENT OF MILLIONAIRES SUPPORT RAISING TAXES ON MILLIONAIRES

According to a new survey by the Spectrem Group, “68% of millionaires (those with investments of $1 million or more) support raising taxes on those with $1 million or more in income. Fully 61% of those with net worths of $5 million or more support the tax on million-plus earners.” Spectrem’s George Walper told the Wall Street Journal, “what this tells us is that there are a number of wealthy folks who said: ‘Gee, we need to increase taxes to stimulate the economy. No one likes to be taxed more, but the reality is maybe it has to be done.’”

GRAPHIC: IF AMERICAN LAND WAS DISTRIBUTED IN THE SAME WAY AMERICAN WEALTH IS

Ever wonder what would happen if land in the U.S. were as unequally owned as wealth? Here’s an infographic showing exactly how much the 1 percent would own:

Just Three Corporate Front Groups Spent 13 Times As Much As The Entire Labor Movement To Buy Judicial Elections

After the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision opened the floodgates to unlimited corporate money in American elections, the decision’s defenders claimed this wasn’t such a big deal because unions could also take advantage of the decision. A new report by three leading voting rights and judicial independence groups gives the lie to this claim. According to the report, just three corporate interest groups — The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Business Council of Alabama, and the Illinois Civil Justice League spent more than 13 times as much trying to influence state supreme court elections as the entire labor movement:

REPORT: House GOP’s ‘Job Creating’ Spending Cuts Destroyed 370,000 Jobs

House Republicans took the government to the brink of shutdown last spring by demanding across-the-board budget cuts to many vital programs. Instead of focusing on job creation, as Americans wanted them to, the GOP turned its attention to slashing funds for programs that funded assistance for women and children, local law enforcement, the social safety net, environmental protections, and many other programs they deemed as either too expensive or unnecessary. Worse, when challenged on why they hadn’t made the effort to tackle high unemployment, Republicans insisted that their slash-and-burn budget cuts were meant to create jobs.

JUDGE BLOCKS FLORIDA’S LAW REQUIRING DRUG TESTS FOR WELFARE APPLICANTS

Yesterday, federal Judge Mary Scriven — a President George W. Bush appointee —temporarily blocked Florida’s law that requires welfare applicants to pass a drug test at their own expense before they can receive benefits. Scriven ruled that the law may violate the Constitution’s Fourth Amendment ban on unreasonable searches and seizures: “This potential interception of positive drug tests by law enforcement implicates a ‘far more substantial’ invasion of privacy than in ordinary civil drug testing cases.” Nearly 1,600 applicants have refused to take the test since testing began this summer, and “they aren’t required to say why.” More than 7,000 have passed while only 32 have failed. Applicants are only reimbursed for the test if they pass. Florida is the first state to enact such a law. The judge’s injunction will remain until she schedules a full hearing.

Dayton, Ohio Welcomes Immigrants Fleeing Harsh Anti-Immigrant Laws In Other States

While other states are cracking down undocumented immigrants — and scaring away legal immigrants at the same time — one town is embracing them. Dayton, Ohio officials adopted the “Welcome to Dayton” plan on Oct. 5 to encourage immigrants to settle in their city. They see the potential influx of new residents as a way to boost the city’s economy, while states like Alabama and Georgia that have extreme anti-immigrant laws are seeing their economies suffer.

‘Pro-Life’ Measure Advancing In Several States Could Ban Some Couples From Conceiving Children

ThinkProgress has been reporting on the disturbing campaign by radical anti-abortion groups to pass “personhood” amendments to state constitutions that would define life as beginning the moment an egg is fertilized. These laws would not only criminalize abortion, but outlaw common forms of contraception as well.

CBO: INCOME OF THE TOP 1 PERCENT EXPLODED OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES

Congressional Budget Office today released a new report on the growth in income that’s occurred in the U.S. over the last three decades. CBO found that, “for the 1 percent of the population with the highest income, average real after-tax household income grew by 275 percent between 1979 and 2007,” while it grew by just 18 percent for the bottom 20 percent of the income scale. “As a result of that uneven income growth, the distribution of after-tax household income in the United States was substantially more unequal in 2007 than in 1979,” CBO said.

Political falsehoods, exaggerations and embellishments

Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican and favourite of the anti-tax Tea Party movement, has claimed throughout his political career that his parents fled Fidel Castro's Communist Cuba for freedom in the US.

Anonymous Hacks Lolita City Alleged Porn Ring

The "hacktivist" group Anonymous has uncovered what it says was a massive child pornography ring,according to the Examiner.

PETA Targets 'We Bought A Zoo': Wants Cameron Crowe's Film To Add Warning

Cameron Crowe's upcoming film, "We Bought A Zoo," features the story of a single dad, played by Matt Damon, who, searching for a way to bring his fractured family back together, purchases a house out in the country. What he doesn't realize, at first, is that the house comes with an entire private zoo. Loosely based on a true story, the zoo ends up bringing the family closer together, and bringing Damon love, in the alluring form of Scarlett Johansson.

Harold Camping Prediction: World Survives Doomsday (Again)

The world refused to end yet again on Friday, despite another prediction from Family Radio network owner Harold Camping that it would.

Global Ban On Toxic Waste Exports Advances

CARTAGENA, Colombia -- More than 170 countries agreed Friday to accelerate adoption of a global ban on the export of hazardous wastes, including old electronics, to developing countries.