Politics

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Sunday Link-Off: Foot In Mouth

I didn’t realize until yesterday that I’m a bit behind on writing posts for the upcoming week. We’ve got F1 Power Rankings and a Barrett-Jackson preview later this week. Anyway, with the new TV season starting soon, here’s one of the stars of Homeland, Morena Baccarin. You probably remember her from another show, though.

Mitt Romney did his best to shoot his presidential campaign in the foot. He had a massive gaff over the attack on the US Consulate in Libya. (Washington Post)

If his statement proved anything, it’s that Mitt Romney just isn’t ready to lead America. (Talking Points Memo)

It’s not just the “liberal media” who are giving Romney a hard time over his Libya statement. Even Republican foreign policy experts are embarrassed by what he said. (BuzzFeed)

After the jump, Fox News’ blatant anti-Obama work, a look back at the Summit Series and the story behind the SportsCenter theme. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Check Your Facts

It’s the middle of the week which means it’s time to catch up on some of the more interesting headlines and news from the week so far. For the second week running, let’s kick off with Canadian actress Nina Dobrev. See, I checked that fact before writing.

It turns out that the Bush White House had plenty of lead time with warnings about a potential terrorist attack ahead of 9/11. For some reason, these warnings from CIA were ignored. (New York Times)

Mitt Romney is starting to change tactics when it comes to his campaign. Now, he’s taking baseless personal shots at Obama over religion. (Talking Points Memo)

The Romney/Ryan campaign wants to cut spending overall but increase defence spending. So isn’t it funny that Congressman Ryan voted for $1 trillion of defence cuts in 2011? (Think Progress)

After the jump, more political lies, the return of Iron Chef and the origin of internet memes. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: A Call To Action

It’s the end of the week. It’s go time for links. Conveniently enough, it’s also go time for the Italian Grand Prix so you’re probably not reading this immediately upon posting. Anyway, since we’re supporters of increasing the popularity of Canadians on the internet, here’s Rachelle Goulding.

I like to think that what we link on these linkdump posts are fact-checking links. However, it’s close so here’s a very detailed look at why Romney and Ryan must be defeated this November. (Kurt Eichenwald)

Documentary film maker Michael Moore has also weighed in with a call to action for people to do what they can to prevent a Romney presidency. (MichaelMoore.com)

The Republicans jumped on President Obama after the recent underwhelming job report. They didn’t mention that their obstructionist politics prevented a further job creation promotion plan from being passed. They’re too busy playing politics to actually try to help America. (Think Progress)

After the jump, an in-depth examination of Bill Clinton’s convention speech, a proper examination of why gay marriage isn’t evil and the Parks & Rec gag reel. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: You Can’t Handle The Truth

There’s lie, damned lies and politics. I know that’s not how the saying goes but it may as well be given how the Republicans have run their Presidential campaign. Anyway, let’s start off with Nina Dobrev. 

Political reporters hate covering this year’s US Presidential election. They’re complaining that the campaigns are trying to control the narrative. Here’s an idea: Grow a pair and be reporters. Make them tell the truth and report the truth if they lie. (Politico)

The problem is that the Republicans’ lies have launched us into something you could call post-truth politics. (Grist)

The Republicans have jumped on the news that the US national debt has increased to $16 trillion. The problem with their glee is that their man is only going to make the debt much, much worse. (Talking Points Memo)

After the jump, more on the truths the Republicans are ignoring, a look inside the big business of ESPN and how the Rebels should have defeated Darth Vader. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: Grab A Chair

Between Romney and Ryan’s lies and Clint Eastwood’s invisible President on a chair, it’s been an interesting week in politics. With the Democratic National Convention this week, it’s not going to be any less dull. Anyway, let’s start this post off with Canadian model Nicole Williams.

What if the critics are wrong and Mitt Romney isn’t actually a flip-flopper but an opportunist who uses that appearance to mask his true intentions? (Rolling Stone)

Paul Ryan’s acceptance speech for the Republican VP nomination was so full of lies that even Fox News called him out on his bullshit. (Fox News)

Last Wednesday, I linked to an article asking if Reagan was too moderate for today’s Republican Party. It turns out that suggestion is gaining some traction. (New York Times)

After the jump, more GOP fact-checking, some fun with politics and all shouting on The Newsroom. Continue reading →

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The Newsroom: Sorkin’s Modern After School Special

Whenever I see a blogger or TV critic wax poetic about an older network comedy, they often bring up episodes that touched on more serious topics. These episodes that touched on controversial or social issues were called “After School Specials” after the ABC TV movie series of the same name.

After school specials (or “very special episodes” as they were occasionally called in network TV) have essentially disappeared from the network TV landscape. Sure, kids shows will touch on an important topic every now and then but when was the last time you saw something you would call an After School Special. One of the few shows on TV that does touch on important social issues is The Newsroom. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Fight For Your Right

This week marks the GOP convention which is a gathering of rich white men who fail to understand any issues facing someone who isn’t a white man with a household income greater than $250,000. Yet, nearly inexplicably, they still exist. Why do people support a party that is anti-people and borders on anti-freedom? The only freedom they allow are the freedoms they believe in. If they could, they’d outlaw any non-Christian beliefs and religions. Anyway, I’ll get off my soapbox and start this post off with Canadian model turned professional wrestler turned model again Maryse Ouellet.

Somehow this story has been kept quiet. A whistle-blower says that the NSA is secretly spying on all US domestic electronic communications. In other words, the American government is spying on you. (The New York Times)

MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews finally takes the GOP to task for their disrespect of President Obama and continuously insinuating he’s not American. It’s about time a Democrat grew some balls. (Think Progress)

With the Tea Party dragging the Republican Party farther and farther to the right, would Republican hero Ronald Reagan be too moderate for today’s GOP? (Bloomberg Insider)

After the jump, Republicans say more dumb things about rape, Lisa Ann brings her Sarah Palin act to the RNC and a look inside first class airfare. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: Millions of Dollars

It’s the end of the week which means it’s time for an end of the week set of links. We’ve got the return of a couple of regular features this week on the blog this week which will be fun as always. Anyway, let’s hit the road starting with Canadian model Kim Cloutier.

Mitt Romney keeps claiming that he’s going to save Medicare by killing Obamacare. The problem is that his plan will bankrupt the Medicare trust before the end of his first term in office. (Talking Points Memo)

By the way, this election is about the economy. However, even Mitt Romney says that big businesses are doing fine. That doesn’t mean he’ll back off on the corporate tax cuts. (Think Progress)

Who is going to pay for continuing corporate tax cuts? It’ll be the middle class to the tune of about $2,000 per year. (Center for American Progress Action Fund)

After the jump, Mitt’s secret Cayman finances have been leaked, is the Joe Paterno biography a fair representation of the man or a defence and Toronto Batman makes his return. Continue reading →

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The Growing Gap Between the Rich and the Poor (Infographic)

While we seldom use this blog as a political pulpit, we feel as though we have an obligation to ensure that you are exposed to the facts. So much of politics is the spin. Facts, comparatively, are hard to come by. While the Republicans would have you belive that lowering taxes for the rich would benefit everyone, it would really only benefit the rich.

I say that because the wealth gap between the rich and poor has grown massively over the last 90 years. In terms of real dollars, the gap between the average one-percenter and the 99% was never bigger than at the peak of the housing bubble. In 2008 (the last year with complete data), the average pre-tax income of the top 1% was almost $1.1M greater than the bottom 99-percent’s. For these and more facts about the disparity between America’s rich and poor, we have a handy infographic for your perusal. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Too Legit To Quit

I have to give Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin credit for inspiring the post’s title. However, he’s not too legit to quit. He’s just too oblivious to quit. Anyway, let’s change pace for a moment and start with Irina Shayk.

Mitt Romney thinks the Democrats are making a mountain over a molehill when it comes to his income taxes. However, he has a history of lying to the public about his taxes. (The Raw Story)

The Romney/Ryan campaign is taking Obama to task for shifting money from Medicare to Obamacare cutting Medicare. However, their plan for “saving Medicare” won’t do seniors any good as they plan on raising the eligibility age. (Think Progress)

Let’s break up the action with a Chinese political scandal. What goes for a Chinese political scandal, you ask? Photos leaked of high-ranking Communist Party officials having an orgy. (Gawker)

After the jump, Todd Akin isn’t alone in his backwards beliefs, NBC goes big (presumably before the network goes home for good) and Bill Ghostbustin-Ass Murray. Continue reading →