Abolish property tax exemptions for rich nonprofits

Wealthy nonprofits with expensive real estate use and benefit from the same law enforcement, fire protection and other basic services as other property owners. These nonprofits may not principally use their real estate to make money, but neither do most families.

Malcolm Gladwell – S.H.A.M.E. Profile

Earlier today… A confidential Philip Morris document from the mid-1990s named Malcolm Gladwell as one of the tobacco industry’s top covert media assets. This roster of “Third Party Advocates” was a who’s who list of known corporate shills, including Bush press secretary/Fox News anchor Tony Snow, Grover Norquist, Milton Friedman… Read more“Malcolm Gladwell – S.H.A.M.E. Profile”

Ten Reasons Ronald Reagan Ain’t All That

Ronald Reagan was never a hero of mine – he was the President right as I became interested in politics, and his genial, fact-free hatred of everything liberal still irks me. Even worse is how the conservatives worship him as a god, conveniently omitting mention of all of deeds that don’t conform to the Reagan myth.

Tea Party at the Supreme Court

Recusal wasn’t mentioned in the 4,543 words ((including signatures, which is a stupid way to count, if you ask me)) comprising the Constitution of the United States after all, so why would a strict constitutionalist like Justice Thomas believe in it? … When journalists reported her work, Thomas said she saw no conflict of interest and that she rarely discussed court matters with her husband. and of course, the rules of political engagement have recently changed: As a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, Liberty Central can raise unlimited amounts of corporate money and largely avoid disclosing its donors.

Texas Conservatives Vote To Join Taliban

AUSTIN, Tex. — After three days of turbulent meetings, the Texas Board of Education on Friday approved a social studies curriculum that will put a conservative stamp on history and economics textbooks, stressing the superiority of American capitalism, questioning the Founding Fathers’ commitment to a purely secular government and presenting Republican political philosophies in a more positive light. … In recent years, board members have been locked in an ideological battle between a bloc of conservatives who question Darwin’s theory of evolution and believe the Founding Fathers were guided by Christian principles, and a handful of Democrats and moderate Republicans who have fought to preserve the teaching of Darwinism and the separation of church and state.

Obstructionists As the World Burns

“It was the most aggressive and corrupt lobbying campaign I’ve ever seen,” says Paul Begala, a veteran Democratic consultant. [ well, until the banking lobby got ramped up ] By preventing meaningful action in Copenhagen, the battle to kill the climate bill provided the world’s biggest polluters with a lucrative victory — one that comes at the rest of the world’s expense.

…The industry-friendly bill passed by the House, he now declared — a measure modeled on the cap-and-trade bill he had co-sponsored with Joe Lieberman — was “the worst example of legislation I’ve seen in a long time.”

Bookmarks for November 30th through December 2nd

A few interesting links for November 30th through December 2nd: Media Matters – Wash. Times and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review publish false Heritage Foundation claims about autoworker compensation – " In recent days, The Washington Times and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review published op-eds by members of the Heritage Foundation containing the false claim… Read more“Bookmarks for November 30th through December 2nd”