Commentary on current events, politics, government, and popular culture from John Sheirer, author of the book, Make Common Sense Common Again.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Solar energy spill? Good.

A Republican friend tried to tell me that my newly installed solar panels took more energy to make and transport than they would ever produce. That's a favorite right-wing talking point against solar energy, and it's complete crap.

PolitiFact.com rated that claim "pants on fire." 

Republicans probably think their flaming pants are a clean, renewable source of energy.


###

Monday, February 24, 2014

Congratulations to Jason Collins and the Brooklyn Nets

###

The creeps associated with the Westboro Baptist Church responded on Twitter to my meme about Jason Collins with further proof of their bigotry.

 ###

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

CBO Obamacare Report Spurs Alternate Universe Republican Lies and Media Distortions

The new report from the Congressional Budget Office contained lots of positive news about the Affordable Care Act:

- Millions of people will be getting health insurance.
- Health insurance rates under Obamacare will be less expensive than originally projected.
- Millions of people won't have to hold onto jobs they don't want just to keep health insurance.
- Obamacare will significantly reduce the federal budget deficit.

So what did Republicans do? Surprise! They returned to their same old lies: "job killer," "budget buster," "rate shocker." The exact opposite of the truth. How can anyone believe anything Republicans say these days?

Even worse, the corporate media simply repeated the Republican lies instead of being bothered to understand the CBO report.

Here are several sources that explain reality in case your crazy uncle starts ranting again:

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/obamacare-cbo-jobs-reporting

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/cbo-offers-welcome-news-obamacare-backers

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2014/02/04/no-cbo-did-not-say-obamacare-will-kill-2-million-jobs/

http://www.factcheck.org/2014/02/the-aca-losing-job-vs-choosing-not-to-work/

###

O'Reilly is Officially a Parody Now

###

Monday, February 3, 2014

The 9-11 truther nutball who interrupted the post-game interview had only one conspiracy theory. O'Reilly had about a dozen.

###

Headline: O'Reilly Wastes America's Time

O'Reilly is one seriously rude jerk. He pissed away an interview with the President of the United States by dusting the cobwebs off the Obamacare website story, and then focusing on debunked non-scandals, interruptions, and distractions. He never once asked about how the federal government can help improve the lives of everyday American citizens. Welcome to the Foxification of the media. It's pathetic and shameful.

See all 48 interruptions here.

###