Something to Know - 4 December

1.  This may come as a shock to Mitt Romney and his data (or screed) on why it is that minorities (or Mitt's Moochers) prefer Democrats over Republicans.   Apparently it is not because of any supposed gifts or bribery, but the fact that the Democrats out perform the Republicans when it comes to measuring the successes of the economies.   Yes, Mitt, you guys suck when the economy is in question:

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-hajnal-democrats-benefit-minorities-20121203,0,1414846,print.story

2.  Genetically modified foods are really buzzing the discussion topics these days.   California defeated a proposition that would have required labeling to indicate some food items that had been modified.  Not illegal to make the stuff, or to sell it, or even to eat it.  However, people just wanted to know if what they were going to buy/eat fell under the "GMO" umbrella.   Well, here is a set of seven foods that have been modified.  Enjoy or avoid at your pleasure:

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-genetically-engineered-foods-20121029,0,5835979.photogallery

3.  In the interest of being fair and balanced, here is some Kookie Conservator from the Right Wing Cato Institute  (is that fair and balanced enough for you?).  The Cato Institute is an American libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded as the Charles Koch Foundation in 1974 (is that better?).   Not willing to accept Obama's Affordable Care Act as a law of the land, he points out how he and his group see an opening on getting rid of it:

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-cannon-defeat-obamacare-20121130,0,2216613,print.story

4.  David Brooks offers up a face-saving agenda for the Republicans to follow so that they can finish the year 2013 better than they have been so far with 2012.  It sounds workable, HOWEVER, in my mind the question is how disciplined the remaining factions of the GOP can pull together to avoid their impending disaster.   Do the Republicans have the sense of mind to be able to compromise within their ranks (whatever is left of the moderates on one side and the Tea Baggers on the other to make it work?  I personally doubt it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/opinion/brooks-the-truly-grand-bargain.html?ref=opinion&_r=0&pagewanted=print

5.  This NY Times editorial correctly identifies Speaker Baynir's limp negotiation offer to the White House as a poorly pasted together proposition.  At best, Boehner can tell his rich pals that "I tried".  It is really a poor offer that is going to go nowhere:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/opinion/speaker-john-boehner-makes-an-offer.html?ref=opinion&pagewanted=print

--
Juan

"You can never underestimate the stupidity of the general public."
       -- Scott Adams

"Someday I want to be rich. Some people get so rich they lose all respect for humanity. That's how rich I want to be."
       -- Rita Rudner

"There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers."
       -- William James

"People can have the Model T in any colour--so long as it's black."
       -- Henry Ford