I can't believe it's not a democracy!

Support Senator Bernie Sanders effort to reign in the financial institutions that are "too big to fail":

Petition to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner -- Too Big to Fail is Too Big to Exist. Sign the petition and pass it on.

Thanks to John for the link.

Another must read from Matt Taibbi:

Goldman One-Ups Gordon Gekko, Says Jesus Embraced Greed. Just click it.

Thanks to John for the link.

Matt Taibbi offers up an interesting idea for 2012:

Elizabeth Warren for President. Why the hell not? Obama is too thick with Wall Street et al., and if we don't get someone in who gives a shit about those of us who aren't greedy fucking thieves, well then we are looking at leaving the next generation a life of servitude. Yeah, I really think it's that bad.

Thanks to John for the link.

Reason wins another round:

Italian scientist reproduces Shroud of Turin. Reuters reports: An Italian scientist says he has reproduced the Shroud of Turin, a feat that he says proves definitively that the linen some Christians revere as Jesus Christ's burial cloth is a medieval fake.

Not exactly breaking news, but maybe this will tone down some of the crazies who drag out the shroud from time to time as "proof" that Jesus existed. Until, that is, someone sees a vision of the Virgin Mary in the aluminum siding on some suburban house in New Jersey. Sigh.

Now here's a politician worth following:

Rep. Alan Grayson (D, Fl.): Whose Side Are You On? Long and short, the republicans are howling and threatening to introduce a resolution disproving his behavior, because Rep. Grayson gave a speech that "told the truth about the Republican health care plan." Here's how he started it: The plan is simple:

1. Don't get sick.

2. If you do get sick...

3. Die quickly.

Oh, he went on. And now they are howling. This is exactly what all democrats should do. And what is Rep. Grayson's response to the republican outrage? He writes this: What is this, junior high school? Do they think my feelings are hurt? Just what do these people think health care means? It's not some abstract "issue", we're talking about life and death! And the Republicans, who ran the government in full or in part from 2001-2009, chose to let those 44,000 people die, every single year when they were in power. And George W. Bush, whom the Republicans somehow pretend was not President for the last eight years, just let them die. He even vetoed health care for poor children.

So apologize? I don't think so.

In truth, he did apologize today. Well, sort of: Rep. Alan Grayson apologizes (just not to the Republicans) Click the link to view or read his apology...to Americans who died because they could not get health care. Man, the republicans must hate his guts. Good. This is the type of democrat I like--the muscular type who fights and doesn't hold back. I won't give any money to democratic organizations, but Rep. Grayson may be seeing some green soon.

Bill Maher, dead on once again:

New Rule: If America Can't Get it Together, We Lose the Bald Eagle. The link takes you to the transcript (not a video) of Maher's latest New Rule. Definitely worth the click. Here's a taste:

New Rule: If America can't get its act together, it must lose the bald eagle as our symbol and replace it with the YouTube video of the puppy that can't get up. As long as we're pathetic, we might as well act like it's cute. I don't care about the president's birth certificate, I do want to know what happened to "Yes we can." Can we get out of Iraq? No. Afghanistan? No. Fix health care? No. Close Gitmo? No. Cap-and-trade carbon emissions? No. The Obamas have been in Washington for ten months and it seems like the only thing they've gotten is a dog.

Thanks to Mr. Slice for the link.

Gotta love Margaret and Helen. Particularly this wonderful post on crazy republicans and health care:

Michelle Bachmann’s Burning Bush. There’s a Pill for that! There is something wonderful about reading a great-grandmother calling bullshit, literally, on Beck, Rush, et al. Here's a taste:

But even with all this proof that the Republican Party has become a Confederacy of Dunces, somehow the Democrats in Washington can’t get their shit together long enough to pass a meaningful healthcare reform bill. Mr. President, I ask you this: If they don’t even believe you are an American citizen, why the hell do you care if they think you are going to kill their grandmother? Rush Limbaugh was not elected to any office. Pass healthcare reform with a public option and move on. Rush will get over it. Trust me. He has a pill for that.

Thanks to Reamus for the link.

Matt Taibbi shows the media whores how to be a real journalist:

Goldman Busted Again. Among other things, Taibbi doesn't let his eye off the ball. He follows up. Every time.

Thanks to John for the link.

An effective ad against the "religious" reich assholes who are trying to kill same-sex marriage in Maine:

Thanks to John for the link.

Can't wait to see this:

It opens on October 2nd.

Thanks to John for the link to the trailer.