Hullabaloo
Saturday, September 25, 2010
NY Times Miss Manners Hints At Truth
by digby
The New York Times features an interesting story this morning about a move across teh country to remove judges by people who don't like their decisions:After the State Supreme Court here stunned the nation by making this the first state in the heartland to allow same-sex marriage, Iowa braced for its sleepy judicial elections to turn into referendums on gay marriage.
The three Supreme Court justices on the ballot this year are indeed the targets of a well-financed campaign to oust them. But the effort has less to do with undoing same-sex marriage — which will remain even if the judges do not — than sending a broader message far beyond this state’s borders: voters can remove judges whose opinions they dislike.
Around the country, judicial elections that were designed to be as apolitical as possible are suddenly as contentious as any another race.
In Kansas, anti-abortion activists are seeking to recall a justice. In Illinois, business interests are campaigning against the chief justice after a case that removed a cap on malpractice liability, prompting him to run a television ad that opens with the declaration, “I am not a politician.” And a conservative group called Clear the Bench Colorado is citing a host of decisions in seeking to oust the full slate of justices on the ballot there, urging voters, “Be a citizen, not a subject.”
It goes on to point out that the laws many of them were using were designed to remove corrupt or incompetent judges but are now being used to send a message that judges who do not adhere to certain views will be kicked out of office.
It also points out that there is big money involved, with the campaigns being underwritten by corporate interests and wealthy Christian groups.
But they forgot to connect the dots in this story. Do you notice something that all these cases around the country have in common? Yes, I knew that you could -- they are all being waged by right wingers. This "trend" is decidedly one-sided, run by a minority faction in America who have decided that their interpretation of the laws and the constitution will be imposed upon everyone.
Far be it for me to suggest that intimidating judges and replacing ones you don't like with social conservatives might be just a little bit theocratic and surely nobody can believe thatcorporate sponsored removal campaigns are designed to make it impossible for moderate or conservative judges to compete against business friendly judges. It would be very impolite to point any of that out, which is why, I'm sure that the New York Times didn't bother to do it.
They simply left some little hints for the discerning reader to sift through:
Brian S. Brown, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage, which has spent $230,000 on television ads criticizing the Iowa judges, said he understood that removing the three judges would not change the same-sex marriage ruling. (It was a unanimous ruling by the state’s seven justices.) But Mr. Brown said he hoped the judges’ ouster would help prevent similar rulings elsewhere by making judges around the nation aware that their jobs are on the line.
“It sends a powerful message,” he said, “That if justices go outside the bounds of their oaths, if the justices go outside the bounds of the U.S. and state constitutions they’re going to be held accountable.”
Bob Vander Plaats, who made opposition to same-sex marriage a centerpiece of his unsuccessful run for governor in Iowa, is leading the ouster campaign on behalf of the political arm of the American Family Association, a conservative Christian organization based in Tupelo, Miss.
“My bigger fear isn’t about injecting politics into judicial retention elections. The bigger fear is that we don’t hold them in check,” he said, warning that gun and property rights could be at risk.
Make of that what you will dear reader. But never say that the NY Times stooped to the level of shrill bloggers who suggest that the far right might have a radical agenda. Let no one say that the old Gray Lady is anything but well mannered.
.
digby 9/25/2010 09:00:00 AM
|
Getting out of recessions is much like the old joke that if you treat a cold, you'll get over it in seven days; otherwise, it takes a week. If government helps, a recession lasts four quarters, but if it doesn't, the recession lasts a year. The trouble is, the government helped a lot this time (TARP, multiple stimuli), and the recession lasted a year and a half, longer than usual. We are supposed to trust the experts that things would have been even worse without their help.
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Virginia Thomas Leaves Anita Hill a Voicemail Asking for An <b>...</b>
A few days ago, Brandeis University professor Anita Hill received a message on her voice mail at work. Political Punch Blog.
Loopt adds Facebook Places integration | iLounge <b>News</b>
iLounge news discussing the Loopt adds Facebook Places integration. Find more iPhone news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.
TRENDING: Bad <b>news</b> for Dems: New low for Pelosi in Gallup poll <b>...</b>
(CNN) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's favorability rating has reached a new low in Gallup polling, an ominous sign for House Democrats who can't help but be associated with the California Democrat two weeks ahead of the midterm ...
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Hullabaloo
Saturday, September 25, 2010
NY Times Miss Manners Hints At Truth
by digby
The New York Times features an interesting story this morning about a move across teh country to remove judges by people who don't like their decisions:After the State Supreme Court here stunned the nation by making this the first state in the heartland to allow same-sex marriage, Iowa braced for its sleepy judicial elections to turn into referendums on gay marriage.
The three Supreme Court justices on the ballot this year are indeed the targets of a well-financed campaign to oust them. But the effort has less to do with undoing same-sex marriage — which will remain even if the judges do not — than sending a broader message far beyond this state’s borders: voters can remove judges whose opinions they dislike.
Around the country, judicial elections that were designed to be as apolitical as possible are suddenly as contentious as any another race.
In Kansas, anti-abortion activists are seeking to recall a justice. In Illinois, business interests are campaigning against the chief justice after a case that removed a cap on malpractice liability, prompting him to run a television ad that opens with the declaration, “I am not a politician.” And a conservative group called Clear the Bench Colorado is citing a host of decisions in seeking to oust the full slate of justices on the ballot there, urging voters, “Be a citizen, not a subject.”
It goes on to point out that the laws many of them were using were designed to remove corrupt or incompetent judges but are now being used to send a message that judges who do not adhere to certain views will be kicked out of office.
It also points out that there is big money involved, with the campaigns being underwritten by corporate interests and wealthy Christian groups.
But they forgot to connect the dots in this story. Do you notice something that all these cases around the country have in common? Yes, I knew that you could -- they are all being waged by right wingers. This "trend" is decidedly one-sided, run by a minority faction in America who have decided that their interpretation of the laws and the constitution will be imposed upon everyone.
Far be it for me to suggest that intimidating judges and replacing ones you don't like with social conservatives might be just a little bit theocratic and surely nobody can believe thatcorporate sponsored removal campaigns are designed to make it impossible for moderate or conservative judges to compete against business friendly judges. It would be very impolite to point any of that out, which is why, I'm sure that the New York Times didn't bother to do it.
They simply left some little hints for the discerning reader to sift through:
Brian S. Brown, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage, which has spent $230,000 on television ads criticizing the Iowa judges, said he understood that removing the three judges would not change the same-sex marriage ruling. (It was a unanimous ruling by the state’s seven justices.) But Mr. Brown said he hoped the judges’ ouster would help prevent similar rulings elsewhere by making judges around the nation aware that their jobs are on the line.
“It sends a powerful message,” he said, “That if justices go outside the bounds of their oaths, if the justices go outside the bounds of the U.S. and state constitutions they’re going to be held accountable.”
Bob Vander Plaats, who made opposition to same-sex marriage a centerpiece of his unsuccessful run for governor in Iowa, is leading the ouster campaign on behalf of the political arm of the American Family Association, a conservative Christian organization based in Tupelo, Miss.
“My bigger fear isn’t about injecting politics into judicial retention elections. The bigger fear is that we don’t hold them in check,” he said, warning that gun and property rights could be at risk.
Make of that what you will dear reader. But never say that the NY Times stooped to the level of shrill bloggers who suggest that the far right might have a radical agenda. Let no one say that the old Gray Lady is anything but well mannered.
.
digby 9/25/2010 09:00:00 AM
|
Getting out of recessions is much like the old joke that if you treat a cold, you'll get over it in seven days; otherwise, it takes a week. If government helps, a recession lasts four quarters, but if it doesn't, the recession lasts a year. The trouble is, the government helped a lot this time (TARP, multiple stimuli), and the recession lasted a year and a half, longer than usual. We are supposed to trust the experts that things would have been even worse without their help.
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Virginia Thomas Leaves Anita Hill a Voicemail Asking for An <b>...</b>
A few days ago, Brandeis University professor Anita Hill received a message on her voice mail at work. Political Punch Blog.
Loopt adds Facebook Places integration | iLounge <b>News</b>
iLounge news discussing the Loopt adds Facebook Places integration. Find more iPhone news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.
TRENDING: Bad <b>news</b> for Dems: New low for Pelosi in Gallup poll <b>...</b>
(CNN) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's favorability rating has reached a new low in Gallup polling, an ominous sign for House Democrats who can't help but be associated with the California Democrat two weeks ahead of the midterm ...
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Virginia Thomas Leaves Anita Hill a Voicemail Asking for An <b>...</b>
A few days ago, Brandeis University professor Anita Hill received a message on her voice mail at work. Political Punch Blog.
Loopt adds Facebook Places integration | iLounge <b>News</b>
iLounge news discussing the Loopt adds Facebook Places integration. Find more iPhone news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.
TRENDING: Bad <b>news</b> for Dems: New low for Pelosi in Gallup poll <b>...</b>
(CNN) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's favorability rating has reached a new low in Gallup polling, an ominous sign for House Democrats who can't help but be associated with the California Democrat two weeks ahead of the midterm ...
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Hullabaloo
Saturday, September 25, 2010
NY Times Miss Manners Hints At Truth
by digby
The New York Times features an interesting story this morning about a move across teh country to remove judges by people who don't like their decisions:After the State Supreme Court here stunned the nation by making this the first state in the heartland to allow same-sex marriage, Iowa braced for its sleepy judicial elections to turn into referendums on gay marriage.
The three Supreme Court justices on the ballot this year are indeed the targets of a well-financed campaign to oust them. But the effort has less to do with undoing same-sex marriage — which will remain even if the judges do not — than sending a broader message far beyond this state’s borders: voters can remove judges whose opinions they dislike.
Around the country, judicial elections that were designed to be as apolitical as possible are suddenly as contentious as any another race.
In Kansas, anti-abortion activists are seeking to recall a justice. In Illinois, business interests are campaigning against the chief justice after a case that removed a cap on malpractice liability, prompting him to run a television ad that opens with the declaration, “I am not a politician.” And a conservative group called Clear the Bench Colorado is citing a host of decisions in seeking to oust the full slate of justices on the ballot there, urging voters, “Be a citizen, not a subject.”
It goes on to point out that the laws many of them were using were designed to remove corrupt or incompetent judges but are now being used to send a message that judges who do not adhere to certain views will be kicked out of office.
It also points out that there is big money involved, with the campaigns being underwritten by corporate interests and wealthy Christian groups.
But they forgot to connect the dots in this story. Do you notice something that all these cases around the country have in common? Yes, I knew that you could -- they are all being waged by right wingers. This "trend" is decidedly one-sided, run by a minority faction in America who have decided that their interpretation of the laws and the constitution will be imposed upon everyone.
Far be it for me to suggest that intimidating judges and replacing ones you don't like with social conservatives might be just a little bit theocratic and surely nobody can believe thatcorporate sponsored removal campaigns are designed to make it impossible for moderate or conservative judges to compete against business friendly judges. It would be very impolite to point any of that out, which is why, I'm sure that the New York Times didn't bother to do it.
They simply left some little hints for the discerning reader to sift through:
Brian S. Brown, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage, which has spent $230,000 on television ads criticizing the Iowa judges, said he understood that removing the three judges would not change the same-sex marriage ruling. (It was a unanimous ruling by the state’s seven justices.) But Mr. Brown said he hoped the judges’ ouster would help prevent similar rulings elsewhere by making judges around the nation aware that their jobs are on the line.
“It sends a powerful message,” he said, “That if justices go outside the bounds of their oaths, if the justices go outside the bounds of the U.S. and state constitutions they’re going to be held accountable.”
Bob Vander Plaats, who made opposition to same-sex marriage a centerpiece of his unsuccessful run for governor in Iowa, is leading the ouster campaign on behalf of the political arm of the American Family Association, a conservative Christian organization based in Tupelo, Miss.
“My bigger fear isn’t about injecting politics into judicial retention elections. The bigger fear is that we don’t hold them in check,” he said, warning that gun and property rights could be at risk.
Make of that what you will dear reader. But never say that the NY Times stooped to the level of shrill bloggers who suggest that the far right might have a radical agenda. Let no one say that the old Gray Lady is anything but well mannered.
.
digby 9/25/2010 09:00:00 AM
|
Getting out of recessions is much like the old joke that if you treat a cold, you'll get over it in seven days; otherwise, it takes a week. If government helps, a recession lasts four quarters, but if it doesn't, the recession lasts a year. The trouble is, the government helped a lot this time (TARP, multiple stimuli), and the recession lasted a year and a half, longer than usual. We are supposed to trust the experts that things would have been even worse without their help.
robert shumake hall of shame
robert shumake detroit
Virginia Thomas Leaves Anita Hill a Voicemail Asking for An <b>...</b>
A few days ago, Brandeis University professor Anita Hill received a message on her voice mail at work. Political Punch Blog.
Loopt adds Facebook Places integration | iLounge <b>News</b>
iLounge news discussing the Loopt adds Facebook Places integration. Find more iPhone news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.
TRENDING: Bad <b>news</b> for Dems: New low for Pelosi in Gallup poll <b>...</b>
(CNN) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's favorability rating has reached a new low in Gallup polling, an ominous sign for House Democrats who can't help but be associated with the California Democrat two weeks ahead of the midterm ...
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Virginia Thomas Leaves Anita Hill a Voicemail Asking for An <b>...</b>
A few days ago, Brandeis University professor Anita Hill received a message on her voice mail at work. Political Punch Blog.
Loopt adds Facebook Places integration | iLounge <b>News</b>
iLounge news discussing the Loopt adds Facebook Places integration. Find more iPhone news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.
TRENDING: Bad <b>news</b> for Dems: New low for Pelosi in Gallup poll <b>...</b>
(CNN) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's favorability rating has reached a new low in Gallup polling, an ominous sign for House Democrats who can't help but be associated with the California Democrat two weeks ahead of the midterm ...
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Virginia Thomas Leaves Anita Hill a Voicemail Asking for An <b>...</b>
A few days ago, Brandeis University professor Anita Hill received a message on her voice mail at work. Political Punch Blog.
Loopt adds Facebook Places integration | iLounge <b>News</b>
iLounge news discussing the Loopt adds Facebook Places integration. Find more iPhone news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.
TRENDING: Bad <b>news</b> for Dems: New low for Pelosi in Gallup poll <b>...</b>
(CNN) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's favorability rating has reached a new low in Gallup polling, an ominous sign for House Democrats who can't help but be associated with the California Democrat two weeks ahead of the midterm ...
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Virginia Thomas Leaves Anita Hill a Voicemail Asking for An <b>...</b>
A few days ago, Brandeis University professor Anita Hill received a message on her voice mail at work. Political Punch Blog.
Loopt adds Facebook Places integration | iLounge <b>News</b>
iLounge news discussing the Loopt adds Facebook Places integration. Find more iPhone news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.
TRENDING: Bad <b>news</b> for Dems: New low for Pelosi in Gallup poll <b>...</b>
(CNN) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's favorability rating has reached a new low in Gallup polling, an ominous sign for House Democrats who can't help but be associated with the California Democrat two weeks ahead of the midterm ...
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Virginia Thomas Leaves Anita Hill a Voicemail Asking for An <b>...</b>
A few days ago, Brandeis University professor Anita Hill received a message on her voice mail at work. Political Punch Blog.
Loopt adds Facebook Places integration | iLounge <b>News</b>
iLounge news discussing the Loopt adds Facebook Places integration. Find more iPhone news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.
TRENDING: Bad <b>news</b> for Dems: New low for Pelosi in Gallup poll <b>...</b>
(CNN) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's favorability rating has reached a new low in Gallup polling, an ominous sign for House Democrats who can't help but be associated with the California Democrat two weeks ahead of the midterm ...
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I had an interesting conversation with my boss today about people that make a living online. He's semi-old school, so he doesn't really understand (or believe) that so many people these days provide for their families from website revenue and such. As I rattled on and tried to explain to him how every day people are accomplishing this, he obviously didn't understand like I wanted him to, and after 15 minutes of Internet Marketing babble, he shocked me when he asked me if I could name 10 ways people make money online.
Sure, no problem, boss! So here is what I came up with:
1. First choice, obviously, was blogging. Of course, I had to explain the ways you can make money with a blog (paid reviews, selling ads, text link sales, etc...) I think I drove the point home, and it made more sense when I explained the concept to him. The key to making money with your blog is to stick with it no matter what. Add content, grow it, and start raking in the cash.
2. I had to mention Ebay. Ebay was the starting point some 7 years ago when I started to technically "make money online". I even tried to sell paper plates once...it was an addiction. Seriously though, the average American household has so much crap stored away, you'd be surprised at what you can dig out and sell for a few bucks. It all adds up!
3. Drop-shipping. This one wasn't hard to explain, and it relates to #2. Basically, a company that offers a drop-shipping program will allow you to sell their products at whatever price you want to sell them at (over their price) and put the profit in your pocket - and they'll also ship the product from their warehouse to the customers home, so you never physically touch any product. This was really popular a few years back, but due to extreme saturation of the market, it's died down some.
4. Sell your skills. Nothing is more in demand online, than talent. Can you write, design, code, or translate? There are literally thousands of people out there that need your help, and usually don't know where to go and find it. Here's the cool part - they'll pay you handsomely for you services! To start finding gigs in your specialty area, head over to the Digital Point forums - plenty of waiting customers! (Logos sell really, really well!)
5. Can you make stuff that sells? If you specialize in making robots out of toothpicks and forks, then why the hell aren't you selling them online through your own website? This tip is kind of obvious (after-all, it IS 2007), but if you have a unique product or service, then pay the $500 (more or less)to get a custom website, and start taking orders! Again, this is a real no-brainer, but sometimes people need reminding.
6. PPC campaigns. This one is one of my personal favorites that I've been testing lately. PPC (pay per click) are ads that you buy on search engines (Google Adwords) to promote a product or service - usually through an affiliate. Each time someone clicks on your ad and makes a purchase, you get a commission. This method can be tricky and potentially costly at first, but the key to success is test, test, and more tests. Get creative with your keywords and ads - make them stand out. Tweak your landing pages until your conversions pick up. Usually, you'll find success after a lot of trial and error. Just watch your spending at first, because it's very easy to lose money if you slack in the research department!
7. Own a popular website or blog? Sell advertising! Although this may seem obvious, there are still a surprising amount of sites that don't actively sell their available ad spots. Make sure you have a link or page that clearly describes your rates and available types of ads. I hate nothing more than when I click on someones advertising page, and all it has is a contact form. I'll pass on it nearly every time.
8.Write and sell an e-book! With digital products being one of the hottest selling items on the internet right now, what better time to create you own and start raking in the cash! Do you know how to make a grilled cheese sandwich using nothing but cheese, cardboard, and lighter? Write a book about it! Trust me, no matter what, someone will buy it. 9. Do you take pictures? If so, another hot selling item is your original photography. With a quick Google search, you'll find 20 sites that offer to buy your stock digital photos. Some even pay royalties when users download them. For those of you that have huge photo collections of interesting stuff, you're sitting on a goldmine.
10. Exploit the virtual gold trade in video games (a personal favorite!). There are millions of people who play online games such as World of Warcraft who do nothing but stash the in game currency and sell it in bulk to brokers who resell it to regular players. This is a HUGE market, and although the market is packed, it seems like there is always room for one more 'player'. Check out ige.com to see what I mean. That's it for now, there are many more ways to make money online, but these are some of the easier and more obvious ones. I didn't go into great detail for each method because it would take me 4 days to get it all down. I know that if you're reading this blog, you're search engine savvy enough to find out more information if you need it. Now get out there and start earning some extra money!
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Virginia Thomas Leaves Anita Hill a Voicemail Asking for An <b>...</b>
A few days ago, Brandeis University professor Anita Hill received a message on her voice mail at work. Political Punch Blog.
Loopt adds Facebook Places integration | iLounge <b>News</b>
iLounge news discussing the Loopt adds Facebook Places integration. Find more iPhone news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.
TRENDING: Bad <b>news</b> for Dems: New low for Pelosi in Gallup poll <b>...</b>
(CNN) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's favorability rating has reached a new low in Gallup polling, an ominous sign for House Democrats who can't help but be associated with the California Democrat two weeks ahead of the midterm ...
robert shumake hall of shame
Virginia Thomas Leaves Anita Hill a Voicemail Asking for An <b>...</b>
A few days ago, Brandeis University professor Anita Hill received a message on her voice mail at work. Political Punch Blog.
Loopt adds Facebook Places integration | iLounge <b>News</b>
iLounge news discussing the Loopt adds Facebook Places integration. Find more iPhone news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.
TRENDING: Bad <b>news</b> for Dems: New low for Pelosi in Gallup poll <b>...</b>
(CNN) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's favorability rating has reached a new low in Gallup polling, an ominous sign for House Democrats who can't help but be associated with the California Democrat two weeks ahead of the midterm ...
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