Quick hit: From DownWithTyranny -Corrupt Conservative Democrats Insist On A Strict Impurity Test In All House Races

The argument for pragmatism has reached an irrational peak recently with DCCC leaders insisting that recruiting candidates move to THE RIGHT OF THEIR DISRICTS! This Must read piece shows why we need to keep the pressure on the party apparatus to ensure progressive success.

— Read on downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2018/03/corrupt-conservative-democrats-insist.html

The Definitive Lush Left Podcast Guest List!

The definitive list of Lush Left Podcast episodes is here. Will be updated as we post episodes! Guests include: Gaius Publius, Matt Breunig, Elizabeth Breunig, Matt Stoller, Kaniela Ing, Austin Frerick, Mike Elk, Dave Weigel, Wayne Gladstone, Jonathan Smucker, Bill Corbett, Dr Jim Zogby, Naomi Konst, Ken Silverstein, Krang T Nelson, Leslie Lee III, Murder Bryan, and more!

Updated February 27th

Fear-porn Peddlers, Parkland And Guns: The Right’s Exploitation of Paranoid Conspiracy Theories Has Gone too Far

The recent Parkland school shooting was the deadliest school shooting since 26 people were killed at Connecticut school Sandy Hook in 2012. And just like with Sandy Hook, the professional conspiracy theorists begin their insanity and grift, declaring the victim’s families are “crisis actors”. This is exploitation of dead, injured and traumatized children and is poisoning the public debate on guns as well as a number of other political issues. If nothing is ever real how do we ever deal with reality?

In the fever swamps and extremist fringes of the internet, the outspoken student survivors of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are depicted as mouthpieces of the FBI, pawns of left-wing activist billionaire George Soros, stooges of the Democratic Party — or all of the above.

The students, who have called for stronger gun control measures, are now the subject of conspiracy theories that have spread far and wide, even reaching cable news and spurring the firing of a Florida lawmaker’s aide.

The speed with which these groundless claims spread points to a troubling digital ecosystem in the era of fake news. In this shadow media network, unfounded information shows up on dubious sites, churns through the news aggregation site Reddit, and works its way into Facebook feeds — and to the mainstream media.

How the internet’s conspiracy theorists turned Parkland students into ‘crisis actors’, NBC News, Daniel Arken & Bob Popken

David Carroll, associate professor of media design at New York’s New School stated in the same piece,

…a supposed secret cabal that orchestrates the liberal conspiracy against the American right-wing would have to involve paid actors, who allegedly appear at staged school massacres, as an elaborate hoax performance to justify gun confiscation.

David Carroll, Professor at the New School

As the National Rifle Association is under fire, they have gone on the offensive after the Parkland shooting, assailing media, calling for more armed school security.

I was personally told of this “solution” by a friend with a large number of cops in her family; very republican. The LAST thing I want is for my children to go to a school with armed teachers!

This is America, and we have the Second Amendment. This fear of guns being taken away, this insane delusion that people have that somehow there will be law enforcement at their door taking away their guns, it’s quite obvious that there is propaganda involved by gun lobbyists and right-wing media outlets.

I always go back to Sandy Hook with this. Without getting into detail, I have a personal affiliation with one of the parents. I can tell you firsthand the pain the professional conspiracy theorists have caused. I can tell you that conspiracy idiots like Alex Jones, who had Wolfgang Halbig on his show several times, Halbig who at one time was an administrator in a Florida school district, had his own grift. He raised thousands of dollars in his quest to “prove” Sandy Hook didn’t happen at all. He convinced the gullible that he would get FOIA documents to (finally!) show Sandy Hook Elementary School wasn’t even open at the time of the event in December, 2012.

But don't take my word for it here is a great video captured by Media Matters that encapsulates the InfoWars insanity regarding Sandy Hook:

An obvious lie, the school was open and Halbig and the conspiracy profiteers made a lot of cash pushing this ridiculous narrative. The LA times  did a great write-up of this scam last year,

Halbig, Jones and the countless conspiracy kooks all spewed the nonsense, claiming Sandy Hook children had been taught to play victims that day, and frequently cruised into town with cameras to "expose" the "child actors." None of this is benign. Aside from not factual, this incites threats and violence from the audience of conspiracy “news” personalities,

“An unemployed waitress was arrested in December in Florida on charges of making death threats against Pozner, with repeated phone calls to his home in which she muttered ethnic and racial slurs and profanities. Another man is in Rikers Island prison in New York fighting transfer to Connecticut for a deluge of harassing phone calls to the home and office of the medical examiner who signed the coroner reports for Sandy Hook victims.
At a memorial run in 2015 in honor of slain teacher Vicki Soto, a 33-year-old Brooklyn, N.Y., man was arrested after police said he shoved a photo in the face of the victim's younger sister, Jillian Soto, and demanded to know whether her sister really died.”

In an age of 'alternative facts,' a massacre of schoolchildren is called a hoax, LA Times, Barbara Demick

Now, it’s happening to the families of Parkland, Florida. There will be countless YouTube videos, endless tweets and a well-spring of Facebook groups devoted to telling the world that they are acting as “truth-tellers” by saying this event wasn’t real and that the media is lying to you. The kids are paid to play the part of victims.

I’ll just close with this: it’s been FIVE YEARS since Sandy Hook, the parents still have videos made about their “fake kids”. In addition of losing their child, the families will face years of harassment of claims their loved ones didn’t exist.

My heart breaks not just because we MUST have gun control; reform immediately, it breaks because I can say without reservation, the victim’s family and friends of Parkland will go through years not only of grief but campaigns of hate, death threats and intimidation.

This has to stop.

#BadPoliticalPoetry: A Tale of Russian Shenanigans and Mental Munchkins!

This a tale of Russian shenanigans and mental munchkins. Both probably failed but stole our attentions.

As the Tracksuit 13 played patriot games the Queen’s loyal knight Sir Philippe Reines lost his brains, embracing Neocons because his campaign was lame!
“It can’t be me you see, must be Russia, must be Bernie!”

Sure Russians creeped but the campaign was asleep,
Spending a billion but running field on the cheap!

Our once bright knight had gone dull and full of dread. He and his friends had said “Let’s kill dastardly Bernie dead!

Geniuses they were not and finally they got caught, everyone saw the Clinton Jobs Program was all for naught!

Here’s the good news, the world ensues despite Hillary Men Peter Daou and Tom Watson’s constant boos!

Bernie might have won, maybe he would have not
But he changed the conversation, filling our head with thoughts!

Medicare for all, ending corporate welfare, even Kirsten and Corey now give a care!
So stop Putin your foot in your mouth because real Democrats are back and we are cleaning up our house!

The GOP Needs To Do A Massive Moral Inventory For Gun Violence in Schools

Guns Anonynous

I have had family members and friends who are alcoholics my entire life. I am no stranger to Al-Anon. 12-Steps in program have saved me more times than I can count. I have said many times that the 12 steps can be applied to anything. Well, I didn’t say this, it’s what you learn by regularly going to the rooms. The gun violence in our schools rests fully at the feet of the GOP in America. They need to undergo a massive moral inventory. 

Just seven weeks into 2018, there have been eight shootings at US schools that have resulted in injury or death.

How many US school shootings have there been in 2018 so far?, The Guardian, Lois Beckett

Yes, that's more than one school shooting a week THIS YEAR.

“At least 17 people were killed when a teen opened fire with a semiautomatic rifle at a high school in Parkland, Florida, on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

Fourteen others were wounded, five of whom suffering life-threatening injuries, hospital officials said. Authorities said the suspect, identified as 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, concealed himself in the crowd fleeing Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He was arrested in nearby Coral Springs and later charged with 17 counts of murder.


"You come to the conclusion this is just absolutely pure evil," said Florida Gov. Rick Scott, his hands clutched over his chest.

Scott, a Republican whom the National Rifle Association's Political Victory Fund gave an "A+" rating, didn't address reporters' questions about how the gunman was able to obtain a semiautomatic rifle.”

17 killed in mass shooting at high school in Parkland, Florida., NBC News, Elizabeth Chuck, Alex Johnson, Corky Siemazcko

Well, rest easy, folks. Rick Scott thinks the shooter is evil and sends his thoughts and prayers to the families.

Here's what fashion boot enthusiast and GOP beltway wunderkind had to say.

In fact, nearly ALL republican elected officials said basically the same thing.  But that's not surprising given the outsized influence the National Rifle Association has on the GOP. 

2016 Open Secrets Data on NRA contributions. 

But the real influence is in the use of outside spending:

Contributions are just the tip of the iceberg. In the 2016 Election the NRA spent $54,398,558 in outside spending. 

Rubio himself has received  more than three million dollars over the course of his horrible career from guns rights groups. Governor Rick Scott  made history signing 5 pro-gun bills!

But thank GOD for thoughts and prayers! Nah, as we speak, I’m not thinking about my daughter who is about to catch the bus for middle school. Nah, there aren’t countless moms and dads feeling the EXACT same way I am right now.

I truly thought after Sandy Hook, there would’ve been massive reforms and regulations. Nope! Columbine wasn’t enough, Newtown wasn’t enough, the multiple mass shootings after, just WERE NOT ENOUGH.

So, I’m circling back to the 12-steps. This country needs a MASSIVE, COLLECTIVE moral inventory. Whether ALL OF US demanding inequality be majorly addressed or gun control, AND mental health services available to EVERYONE, REGARDLESS of income or anything else.

Step One says we must ADMIT we have a problem. Clearly we do. The Fourth Step for the unfamiliar, is as follows: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

This step requires self-examination that can be uncomfortable, but honesty is essential in this process. The key is to identify any areas of past regret, embarrassment, guilt or anger.

Yep! I’m going there. If we can AS A COUNTRY can honestly look at our children’s faces today and say we’ve don’t need help as a nation; need to look within ourselves, I’m at a loss.

My daughter just asked me if I think her school is safe and “will a bad person come and hurt people? How do you know, Mom?”

After reassuring her, the truth is, I don’t know.

And THAT is where we are.

To Forgive?

Senator Gillibrand

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has just announced as of February, 13th, 2018 she will no longer take PAC money. Here's Gillibrand's statement she made via Twitter: 

Gillibrand went on to say:

“We won't be able to bring down Medicare drug prices, stop companies from outsourcing our jobs or start to rebuild the middle class until we can stem the unlimited influence special interest money applies over politicians.”

Along with cosponsoring Sanders’ Medicare For All Bill in the Upper Chamber, she’s currently at number five as the most progressive senator accoding to Progressive Punch. Yes, voting records matter.

There was absolutely a time when Gillibrand, a blue dog democrat during her time in the House of Representatives had an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association. She was also not great regarding immigration. A piece from The Atlantic outlines how she shifted once she became a senator,

“Once the proud owner of an A rating from the National Rifle Association, Gillibrand watched her grade plummet to an F after she was appointed to the Senate and began supporting bills to curb gun trafficking. She has shifted her stance, too, on immigration, moving away from the hard-line positions she adopted as a member of the House of the Representatives.”

There’s no question she has a centrist background. Clearly, she has taken a lot of cash from PACs before. According to Roll Call,

PACs have amounted to about 15 percent of donations over her career in the House and Senate, according to data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. A majority of that political money, 65 percent, has come from business PACs. Labor PACs represented about 14 percent of Gillibrand's PAC dollars, while ideological or single-issue PACs amounted to more than 20 percent, the center’s data showed. She did not say that she would return past donations from corporate PACs.”

So with this announcement, and as more elected officials seem to be taking on a…BERNIE SANDERS stance, even if it’s one issue or position at a time, the question remains for the left/progressive wing of the Democratic Party & left-leaning independents:

Do we forgive? Do we trust?

In my view, the answer is a cautious YES. After all, isn’t the goal of calling one’s representatives, organizing, activism to change the positions of elected officials? Last time I checked, it was. So we can stay cynical at politicians like Gillibrand or be glad they are moving in the right, progressive direction. That means PRESSURE ACTUALLY WORKS.

And, hey! If they go back on their promises- we will give ‘em hell. And that includes Senator Gillibrand.

A Valentine’s Day Poem to an Angry Left: Take the W Boo.

Take the w boo!

You are mad, I am mad, we are all mad online. With so much to do and so little time I decided to write my angry friends a Valentine. 

With so much at stake and our wins so few I beg of you friend, take the W boo.

With each cosponsor of "Medicare For All" capitalist medicine will fall. So please, oh please, take the W boo.

You might not love them, they might not love you….but centrists voting left are at least right now our friends. I beg with love, take the W boo.

When each bit of corporate money they no longer take the people win a bigger stake. So for the heaven's above please, take the W boo.

They are not perfect, love never is, but dig deep in your heart and remember this is all for the kids, with the future at stake, efforts we must make to bring our team together even if it feels fake.

You might not love them, they might not love you but when they do right please take delight please, oh please, take the W boo!