In other news, I had no idea this is a thing.

A National Coalition for Men? Because men really need protection. Leave the white man alone!

Williams’ highlighting that the media is who requested the anniversary interviews and not the administration is a point that is entirely lost on many.

(via The Obama Diary)

Earlier this week, the Republican-led committee voted to ban the Department of Defense from purchasing alternative fuels that cost more than “traditional” fossil fuels. That would eliminate several emerging biofuels that have undergone successful testing by the Air Force and Navy over the past year on aircraft and ships. [...]

Beyond the immediate effect on military operations, the House action could also throw a wrench in a major Obama Administration biofuel initiative that was designed to provide a long term economic boost to struggling rural communities.

Launched last summer, the initiative pairs USDA with the Navy and the Department of Energy in a $510 million partnership with the private sector, to develop a biofuel supply chain including research and development, growing and harvesting biofuel crops, transportation, and refining.

The Navy’s role is to be the linchpin customer, to kickstart the emergence of a mass market for biofuel.

I’ll repeat it again — the Joint Chiefs of Staff already agreed to a budget proposal outlined under the Budget Control Act (the debt-ceiling deal) which reflects reduced spending levels.

Paul Ryan accused the Chiefs of lying when they claimed they were satisfied with the new budget. Ryan later walked-back his accusation, but since then the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has continued to push for higher defense spending, essentially trying to force more money on the Pentagon than they asked for.

This is more than that, however. It’s also a direct challenge to the Department of Defense’s plan to “go green.” A strategy developed for national security reasons, not political ones.

Are the House Republicans trying to say they know how to handle national security better than the Department of Defense?

It’s no secret that technology developed under the Pentagon’s green energy initiative will eventually find its way into the consumer market, and that’s another obvious motivation for House Republicans, who are beholden to Big Oil, to stop it.

President Obama is threatening to veto the House bill which, as far as I can tell, is only seen as preferable to House Republicans. Senate approval of the Pentagon’s budget request is a non-issue.

“Actually, while I’m not sure about the claims by the various people who have reported that Obama has at least participated at times with them in homosexual acts, this [the president's pro-marriage equality announcement] certainly lends some credence.”

DING! We might just have our Birther variant for 2012. The “Obama is Gay” conspiracy theory. Get ready for more insanity where this came from.

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback signed into law yesterday some of the worst legislation imaginable.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) signed a bill yesterday that will allow pharmacists in the state to refuse to fill a prescription they think could be used to induce abortion. But since the “conscience” measure says they cannot be required to provide a drug or devise that they think “may result in the termination of a pregnancy” — but does not define which drug in particular — the law’s opponents say it could allow a pharmacist to interfere with a woman’s health care by refusing to distribute birth control or emergency contraception. [...]

No pharmacist could be fired for refusing to fill such prescriptions, and doctors can refuse to refer patients to pharmacists who would fill a birth control prescription. Additionally, the Associated Press had reported that the law could “allow a doctor to refuse to provide chemotherapy to a pregnant cancer patient because it might end her pregnancy.”

Pharmacists can refuse to fill any prescription based solely on their own suspicions, doctors can refuse to refer patients to pharmacists who will fill their prescriptions, and cancer patients could be denied treatment.

And according to RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, the War on Women is “a fiction.”

Also — Best healthcare system in the world! America fuck yeah!

WASHINGTON — In the three years since he left office, former President George W. Bush has largely stayed out of the political arena. He has spent his time mapping out his library, making speeches, hosting injured veterans for Texas bicycle rides and making clear how glad he is to be out of the nation’s capital.

But gingerly, the 43rd president is beginning to add his voice back into the national dialogue. A month ago, he spoke publicly in favor of one of his defining domestic legacies, the tax cuts that still divide the country. Two months from now, he plans to publish a book outlining strategies for economic growth. And on Tuesday, he made a rare return to Washington to promote freedom overseas.

Former President George W. Bush. The man who killed the economy. Is going to publish a book outlining strategies for economic growth.

By all means, bring back George W. Bush. Parade him everywhere. Remind everyone about his presidency. Tell your friends.

Yesterday, Mitt Romney received another pulse-poundingly enthusiastic endorsement. This time from former President George W. Bush, who could barely contain his incurable case of Romney Fever when he said: “I’m for Mitt Romney.”

And that was all.

It kind of reminded me of that viral video in which a kid is asked by a reporter about his zombie face-paint and he responds, “I like turtles.” Well, yes, that’s nice. Bush is for Romney. And…?

Of course Bush is for Mitt Romney — they’re both spoiled, entitled, wealthy, conservative, dickish frat boy sons of famous politicians. But Bush clearly doesn’t have anything else to say about the presumptive Republican nominee for president. Bush isn’t known to be a wordy talker, but perhaps his endorsement was so obviously concise because there’s really nothing else to say about Romney…. Continued here.

MATTHEWS: Well, they`re not side issues if you`re getting beat up by your partner. That`s not a side issue, it`s your life.

When Matthews pays attention, he nails these idiots every time. It’s a blast to watch — until he kisses Halperin’s hackish ass, then the fun ends.

By the way, while the bill is extraordinarily important, it’s very poorly named. We want to get members of Congress to oppose “violence against women” — but with the title, it could be said that representative X voted for “violence against women” when in fact he or she voted against “violence against women” by voting for The Violence Against Women Act. Get it? The title of the bill should be framed in a way that makes it harder for members to vote against it. Something like the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, or the Spousal Abuse Prevention Act, or the Preventing Violence Against Women Act. No one wants to be accused of being against preventing domestic violence. The name should directly correlate to what it is — not the opposite of what it is.

Okay. Sorry for the framing rant. Moving on…

I don’t think Ron Paul will run again in 2016.

But Rand Paul will. Get your signs and money bombs ready, Underpants Gnomes!

The truth is since Bush’s last budget (2009), the deficit has gone down each year since then. Any Republican who says differently is lying.

(Incidentally, I wish taxes were higher on rich people, and I wish the government was spending more to boost economic growth and job creation, but okay.)