Cruz: Parents With 'Religious Convictions' Should Get A Pass On Vaccines

Cruz: Parents With 'Religious Convictions' Should Get A Pass On Vaccines
Cruz said that there is "widespread agreement" that children should be vaccinated, but he added that states should be in charge of deciding whether vaccines are mandatory, according to Politico. He also said that states should consider exceptions for those with "good faith, religious convictions."




If either Rand Paul or Chris Christie are elected President, Jenny McCarthy has a good shot at becoming Surgeon General.- Ray Coniff Tweet

The World Is A Safer Place Without Saddam

• Islamic State shows burning of hostage, Jordan vows revenge
• ISIS Hostages Likely Faced Mock Executions Before Beheadings, Officials Say
• Soldiers attacked in front of a Jewish community center in Nice (10 photos)
• New Cold War: US, Russia fight over Europe's energy future
• Canadian police say have arrested suspect on terrorism charges
• Seattle Muslims Demand Teacher Be Canned For Showing Muhammad Cartoons To Teens

I'm happy Republicans are embarrassed about their candidates' anti-vaxxer junk. That's how your kids will feel about your climate denial.- LOLGOP

2009: Rand Paul Predicts Martial Law Over Vaccines
Video of an interview surfaced on Tuesday in which Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) told the conspiracy theory website InfoWars.com in 2009 that mandatory vaccinations could lead to "martial law" in America.

Costa Rica also fully believes in vaccinations.

Republicans mad at Democrats because two of their 2016 frontrunners spouted anti-vaccination junk. Sorry, party of personal responsibility!- LOLGOP

Republican Shenanigans

• Poll: Republicans More Likely Than Dems to Say Vaccinations Should be Parents' Choice
• Hannity: "I'm Not Trusting President Obama To Tell Me Whether To Vaccinate My Kids"
• Creationists cry salty tears over blasphemous ‘Come Back To The Sea’ cruise ship evolution ad
• Fox host responds to measles outbreak with junk science: ‘The proximity of vaccinations’ causes autism
• Laura Ingraham Slams Jeb Bush For Not Embracing Right-Wing Radio
• Don Lemon makes an unintended point about measles vaccines with photo of his smallpox vaccine scar
• CNN’s Sanjay Gupta destroys Rand Paul’s dangerous claim vaccines cause ‘mental disorders’

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” - Ernest Hemingway

First No Vaccines And Now No Hand Washing
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) argued this week that restaurants should be able to “opt out” of health department regulations that require employees to wash their hands after using the bathroom.





I thought that Chris Christie's remark was the most damaging thing being done to science right now, and then I remembered that Ted Cruz is overseeing NASA.- Andy Borowitz

Rock The Voter News

• Security showdown looms as Democrats defend Obama on immigration
• Obama's tax cuts target parents, families with 2 incomes
• Attorney General: Final Report On IRS Probe To Come Out Soon

So we're all at risk of getting diseases that could have been eradicated from the planet because conservatives don't like Obama.- Media Matters

Not All Republicans Have Lost Their Minds
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) reportedly described himself as a "big fan of vaccinations" on Tuesday, noting that he had been struck by polio.

When the aliens arrive I refuse to be the guy who has to explain the behavior of humans on Happy Groundhog Day.- John Fugelsang

Business/Tech News

• Oil jumps as dollar plunges, up nearly 20 percent in four days
• In Russia, creeping awareness that economic crisis will last
• Automakers report January US sales jumps, led by GM, Toyota
• Jack Ma defends Alibaba amid fakes row

If opposing vaccinations made money for big oil, Fox News would have a daily show explaining how measles is good for your complexion.- LOLGOP

Croatia: How They Treat Their Poor Citizens
Imagine meeting a fairy godmother that made all your debt disappear. (Bippity boppity boop!)
This fairy-tale scenario is set to become a reality for about 60,000 low-income Croatians who have been struggling to pay their bills.




If any of these politicians actually believed in a free market we'd all be too busy buying cheap Canadian drugs.- John Fugelsang

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Odd News

• Randy Quaid attacks Rupert Murdoch in crazed video rant: ‘You want to f*ck me? I’m going to f*ck you’
• Selfies Likely Caused Colorado Plane Crash, NTSB Says
• Seaweed, dueling laws could get the ax in Rhode Island
• Florida calls on civilian 'patrols' to battle invasive pythons
• Groundhog bites Wisconsin mayor's ear during ceremony

Time To Deflate Photo

Somewhere in Switzerland. I want to go there, with a parachute in case I slip and tumble over the guard rails.

Peace.

Chris Christie's Long Dance with Anti-Vaxxers

Chris Christie's Long Dance with Anti-Vaxxers
Six years ago, the governor-to-be told vaccine critics that he would stand with them.
In 2009, as he was on the way to winning his first term as governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie took the time to answer a question from the vaccine-skeptic group Life Health Choices. In a letter, pulled today by reporter Olivia Nuzzi, Christie assured vaccine critics that he had heard them.




I think it's very impressive that between closing bridges and shouting at teachers Chris Christie has somehow found the time to become an expert in the science of vaccinations.- Andy Borowitz

The World Is A Safer Place Without Saddam

• Syrian Kurds push back Islamic State around Kobani: monitor, Kurds
• Rebels pound Ukrainian troops after peace talks fail
• Jordan says envoy to return to Israel three months after recall
• Hurdles stack up on Iran nuclear deal

@JebBush Shouldn't you wait for the wars your brother lost to be over before you run for president?- LOLGOP

What A Saudi Prince Does For Sport
Pakistani authorities are finalising arrangements for a Saudi prince to visit its southwestern desert region to hunt the Houbara bustard, a bird supposedly protected by law, officials said Monday.




I wonder if Christie's GOP competitors will take the bold stand that we shouldn't spread infectious diseases needlessly.- LOLGOP

Republican Shenanigans

• McCain On Sarah Palin's Incoherent Speech: I Didn't See It
• Georgia Senate Resolution Condemns 'Revisionist' AP U.S. History Course
• Huckabee: I Have Gay Friends But I'll Oppose Gay Marriage Until I See 'New Version' Of Bible
• McConnell Jokes Cruz Throwing Himself In Front Of Train Over Obamacare Has 'Merit'
• Rand Paul Hits Jeb Bush For 'Hypocrisy' On Prep School Pot Use
• Christie's Office Does Damage Control On Vaccine Remarks

Christie and Paul are just going to end up splitting the batsh*t vote.- Tina Dupuy

Liars & Their Damn Lies
Last week, a new, peer-reviewed paper from scientists at Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute was published in the journal Nature Geoscience. The paper is important: for the first time, it shows that scientists can use incredibly old permafrost to find out what temperatures were like in Siberia thousands of years ago. By using this permafrost, the scientists found that temperatures in Siberia have been gradually rising for the past 7,000 years.
Enter the climate denier media. After the findings were published...




I get why flirting with vaccine denialism is political suicide. I don't get why embracing climate denialism doesn't.- Michael Grunwald Tweet

Rock The Voter News

• Obama proposes $3.99 trillion budget, sets up battle with Republicans
• A look at potential Democratic contenders in 2016 race

Republicans coming out as pro-Measles pretty much proves the theory Obama could starve Republicans by advocating food consumption.- LOLGOP

Big Dog Nails GOP
Bill Clinton recently weighed in on the current situation with the government standoff on ABC’s show “This Week”.
Bill told the host “I’ve never seen a time– can you remember a time in your lifetime when a major political party was just sitting around, begging for America to fail?”

Watching McCain push Lindsey Graham for president is a reminder that even the guy who picked Sarah Palin can try to outdo his worst mistake.- LOLGOP

Business/Tech News

• Oil prices rise as US refineries strike
• The homeownership rate hasn't bottomed
• Super Bowl 49's advertising winners and losers
• Oregon strippers lobby for better work conditions
• Mexican opium farmers expand plots to supply US heroin boom

Oscars are where we celebrate film by talking about clothes and Superbowls are where we celebrate football by talking about commercials.- John Fugelsang




Millions Of Gallons Of BP OIL On The Bottom Of The Gulf Of Mexico
 When BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded on April 20, 2010, it spewed 200 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico before it was finally capped after 87 days.

Is it just me, or are Patriots fans acting a little over-inflated today?- John Fugelsang

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Odd News

• Anti-vaxxer doctor leaves public health to others: ‘My child is pure’
• Nut rage: Korean Air boss's daughter treated crew 'like slaves'
• Deputy retires over Wyoming sheriff's ban on Western attire
• Police: Woman dials wrong number, offers detective drugs
• Suspicious package at NYC bus station filled with 1K condoms
• Pro wrestler cheats at Wing Bowl, hides food in fanny pack

Time To Deflate Photo

The Raggiana Bird of Paradise.

Peace.

Rope A Pope

EPA administrator at Vatican ahead of encyclical
 The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency met Friday with Vatican officials who helped draft Pope Francis' upcoming encyclical on ecology, evidence that the Obama administration is seeking to hitch its climate-change message onto that of the popular pope.




"Pope Francis said he will not judge priests who are gay. In response, gay priests said they will not judge Pope Francis for wearing that robe with those shoes." –Conan O'Brien

The World Is A Safer Place Without Saddam

• Turkey, Lebanon restart Baghdad flights after shooting, Gulf waits
• Moscow, Washington discuss possible Kerry visit to Russia: sources
• New Saudi king announces major government shake-up

Obama And The New House Of Saud
US President Barack Obama led a heavyweight delegation to Saudi Arabia Tuesday to meet new King Salman and discussed the two countries' ongoing fight against the Islamic State group.

Mitt Romney tells supporters he still loves America, but still not quite enough to pay taxes here. - Richard Hine Tweet



Republican Shenanigans

• Mitt Romney says he will not make 2016 White House bid
• Trump Is As Upset As Palin That O'Reilly Treated Their Reality Shows Like A Joke
• Bill Would Allow Texas Teachers To Kill Students Threatening School Property  
• Sarah Palin inadvertently becomes co-chair of Hillary PAC after disastrous Iowa speech raises $25K
• Gun nuts win meeting with Texas officials they threatened to ‘hunt down’ over open carry

"President Obama is focused now on cyber security. He's pushing for new laws to protect companies from hackers. And who better to do that than the people who brought us the Obamacare website? Not only couldn't hackers get in, no one could penetrate it." –Jimmy Kimmel­




The Pope Is Being Christian Again!
Starting in mid-February, Rome’s homeless will be able to get free shaves and haircuts every Monday at the Vatican.
Volunteer barbers who usually have that day off will provide the services. The program will rely heavily on donated razors, scissors, and other equipment, much of which has already been given to the Holy See.

I felt a disturbance in the force -as if millions of old Mitt Romney jokes cried that they couldn't live again, then suddenly silence.- John Fugelsang




Rock The Voter News

• Obama to request $1 billion from Congress to help Central America
• John Kerry fined $50 for failing to shovel snow outside home

"The IRS suggests filing early to reduce the chance that someone will steal your identity and file before you. Honestly, if somebody wants my identity so badly they'll file my tax return for me, go crazy. You can mow my lawn while you're at it, too." –Jimmy Kimmel



Slip Sliding Away
A Florida prosecutor announced on Friday he will not pursue charges against former neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman stemming from a domestic incident earlier this month after the alleged victim recanted.

Mitt Romney: "Much like Jimmy Carter, I will dedicate myself to eradicating poverty. In my case by building 'Car Elevators for Humanity'"- The Daily Edge Tweet

Science Deniers Won't Like This
Gene research is getting a boost on both sides of the Atlantic, with scientists in England set to launch a project on Feb. 2 to analyze 100,000 entire human genomes and U.S. President Barack Obama backing a big new DNA data drive.

Keystone XL is like Canada sharing their cable service w/China but running the actual cable through your apartment and you pay if it breaks.- John Fugelsang





Business/Tech News

• Chevron Profits Fall to Lowest Since 2009 as Oil Prices Collapse
• US economy cools in fourth quarter, but consumer spending shines
• Myanmar opens deep sea port for Chinese oil pipeline
• Russia cuts key rate to help economy, leaving ruble to drop

Dartmouth College bans hard liquor: Can booze limits improve student safety?
Dartmouth College, a school with a notoriously rowdy and widespread Greek culture, is taking action to curb misconduct on the Hanover, N.H., campus by banning hard liquor.







If Mitt doesn't run, I want to thank him in advance for weeks of blowing foul wind on Jeb's candidacy.- LOLGOP

Low Gas Prices = Job Layoffs
Profits for companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 index are expected to grow at one of the lowest rates in years, just 1.4 percent. The culprit: Energy companies that suffered as oil prices plunged.




If you want to go to the Super Bowl in Phoenix, it will cost you a lot of money, double what they were last year. The average asking price is around $6,000 per ticket. Do people not know the game is on television this year?- Jimmy Kimmel

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Odd News

• Johnny Depp: 'I Was Attacked By A Chupacabra'
• Maui fisherman reels in tiger shark, gets bitten
• Man who died in 2012 gets reappointed to county board
• Plane makes Emergency Landing after its Pilot gets locked out of Cockpit
• Indiana city parking meters besieged with crow droppings
• Pair of Ice Climbers Are First to Ascend Frozen Niagara Falls

Time To Deflate Photo

I don't know where this is, but I want to be there!

Peace.