Senate Passes Far-Reaching Financial Reform

It still has to pass the House and be reconciled, but the financial reform bill passed by the Senate is as far-reaching as anything passed since the Great Depression.  Only four Republicans voted for the bill and two Democrats opposed it.

In providing for the most profound remaking of financial regulations since the Great Depression, the legislation would create a new consumer-protection watchdog housed at the Federal Reserve to prevent abuse in mortgage, auto and credit card lending. It also would give the government power to wind down large failing financial firms and set up a council of federal overseers …

On Twitter: “Obama Needs A Personal Terrorist Act Against Him.”

by Thomas Wellborn

The Political Carnival has spotted another gem of humanity – A “true American”, no doubt, in the eyes of many.

Another day, another sickening threat to our president. As I have said before, by calling these cowards out, we expose them, and often get the Secret Service to pay them a call.

Once again, the miscreant who posted this toxic sludge is a slimy ignoramus who spells as well as he communicates.

Read more about MR. RSCrolls, including a very disturbing screen grab of his Twitter Page.  You may also want to bookmark the home …

Rand Paul Seeks To Clarify Remarks On Discrimination

Kentucky’s Republican Senate nominee, Rand Paul, issued a statement to frame his earlier comments supporting private businesses right to discriminate.

“I believe we should work to end all racism in American society and staunchly defend the inherent rights of every person.” But he did not repudiate controversial comments about the 1964 Civil Rights Act that he made in a newspaper interview last month and then elaborated on during broadcast appearances on Wednesday.

“Do you think that a private business has the right to say we don’t serve black people?” he was asked by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow.

“Yes. I’m not in …

On Thursday’s Radio Show…

• Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), father of Kentucky’s GOP Senate Primary winner Rand Paul, joins Alan to discuss the midterm elections and the significance of the Tea Party movement.

• Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, author of the new book Renewal: A Guide to the Values-Filled Life, tells Alan how we as individuals can improve our society and culture.

• While addressing the U.S. Congress today, Mexican President Felipe Calderon strongly denounced Arizona’s new immigration law and urged Congress to restore a ban on assault weapons. Alan examines his comments.…

Righties, Where’s Your Secret Majority?

By James Frye

During my time on the internet, I am constantly bombarded by our friends on the right with warnings of “Wait until November!” The underlying theme from them is that there is a vast and secret majority just lying in wait to vote all of us Democrats and liberals out of power. I’m sure I’m not the only one getting this message.

This line started soon after President Obama’s inauguration. Unable to accept the fact that he won fair and square, the online right came alive with claims that Obama somehow hypnotized and bamboozled 53% of American voters …

Wisconsin Bartender Burns Obama In Effigy To Cheering Crowd

A Wisconsin bar owner is on videotape burning a statue of President Obama.

So far, the bar owner hasn’t explained why the bartender torched the statue of the President a cheering crowd.

People in West Allis were shouting and laughing as the bartender torched the statue for the crowd. Flames tore through the statue with what looks like duct tape wrapped around it’s neck.

The Secret Service is investigating.

…

BP Oil Threatens To Arrest Reporters Covering Oil Spill

As if British Petroleum doesn’t have enough of a public relations problem, reporters from CBS approaching a part of the oil spill were told by BP contractors to take a hike, or be arrested.  Either the Coast Guard or contractors told the crew they were merely enforcing BP’s rules. (via Mediaite)

…

Pennsylvania Attorney General Subpoenas Twitter To Identify Critics

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett, who is the Republican candidate for Governor, is upset that some people on Twitter have criticized him, so he has subpoenaed the service to provide the identity of the offenders.  He is asking that Twitter appear as a Grand Jury witness to “testify and give evidence regarding alleged violations of the laws of Pennsylvania”.

The subpoena orders Twitter to provide “any and all subscriber information” of the person(s) behind two accounts – @bfbarbie and @CasaBlancaPA – who have been anonymously criticizing the man on the popular micro-sharing service.

According to the subpoena…the information that Twitter …

Tea Party Leader: Ground Zero Mosque Is Place To Worship Muslim “Monkey God”

Tea Party Express leader Mark Williams, who is opposed to a proposed mosque near Ground Zero, says Muslims worship “the terrorists’ monkey god.” Williams refers to what would be a 13-story mosque and Islamic cultural center as a monument to 9/11 terrorists.

“The monument would consist of a Mosque for the worship of the terrorists’ monkey-god,” Williams, a frequent guest on CNN, wrote on his blog.

His statements drew a sharp rebuke yesterday from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a national Muslim civil rights and advocacy group.

“It would be shocking if such ignorant comments failed to elicit a strong …

Rand Paul’s Problem With The Civil Rights Act: It Bans Discrimination In Businesses

Rand Paul, the new Republican nominee for U.S. Senate from Kentucky, told the Louisville Courier-Journal that the 1964 Civil Rights Act should not apply to private businesses.
(via Think Progress)

INTERVIEWER: Would you have voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

PAUL: I like the Civil Rights Act in the sense that it ended discrimination in all public domains, and I’m all in favor of that.

INTERVIEWER: But?

PAUL: You had to ask me the “but.” I don’t like the idea of telling private business owners—I abhor racism. I think it’s a bad business …

Presidents Obama And Calderon Talk Immigration Reform

Mexican President Felipe Calderon visited President Obama at “Casa Blanca” and they discussed the need for immigration reform.

“In the United States of America, no law-abiding person — be they an American citizen, a legal immigrant, or a visitor or tourist from Mexico — should ever be subject to suspicion simply because of what they look like,” Obama told reporters with Calderon at his side.

Calderon noted that many immigrants contribute to society, but “live in the shadows.”

The United States needs a new law that secures the border, targets businesses that hire illegal workers and punishes illegals, but …