The Daily Echo

#DaveTheFag

Emails Show How Hawaii Stiffed Arizona Secretary Of State’s Birther Investigation

Justice Department Sues Sheriff Joe Arpaio Over Alleged Latino Abuse - Talking Points Memo

FINALLY!

theatlantic:

America’s Secret Growth Weapon: Why Immigration Really, Really Matters

Immigration is a big part of what distinguishes the U.S. from, say, the EU. Immigration makes us younger. That’s what you see from the graph above. Immigration makes us smarter. Half of all Silicon Valley start ups have a co-founder no more than one generation separated from an immigrant. Immigration makes us work. The U.S. fertility rate is below 2.1, so it’s immigration that pushes us above replacement level growth.

But don’t gloat. There are cracks in our armor.

One in three U.S. immigrants today was born in Mexico, making it the “biggest wave of immigration in history from a single country to the United States,” according to the Pew Hispanic Center. But that wave hit a wall. Thanks to a weak U.S. economy, a growing Mexican economy, and a handful of other policies, net flow of Mexican immigrants to the U.S. has possibly reversed for the first time in several decades.

At the same time, “highly educated children of immigrants to the United States are uprooting themselves and moving to their ancestral countries,” the New York Times reported just two weeks ago. The factors aren’t all the same, but they rhyme. India is getting stronger relative to the United States, and, once again, public policy is getting in the way of immigration. We don’t block foreign-born students at the Texas border. We kick them out if they can’t marry, find a job, or snag one of a limited number of visas. In the race for human capital, this is a deliberate losing strategy.

There are reasonable arguments for using government laws and resources to limit immigration and protect jobs for American-born workers. But the broader picture is that the U.S. is failing to recognize a free and automatic virtue of being America: People want to move here and work in exchange for money.

Read more. [Image: Reuters]

Aggregate & Amplify!  The digital relay revolution is upon us!  Reblog, Repost, Revolt!

www.thedailyechoblog.tumblr.com
www.facebook.com/thedailyecho
@The_Daily_Echo / #TDE
thedailyecho@gmail.com

(via reagan-was-a-horrible-president)

Maddow unveils ALEC’s replacement: The National Center for Public Policy

timekiller-s:

existentialistmumbojumbo:

On her show Monday night, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow explained that the National Center for Public Policy was expected to take over the role of the embattled American Legislative Exchange Council.

Liberal and progressive groups have waged a successful campaign against ALEC, which drafts corporation-friendly “model” legislation for state lawmakers. The little-known but influential organization has been a driving force behind voter ID laws, so-called “stand your ground” laws, business-friendly tort reforms, Arizona’s controversial immigration law, and efforts to privatize public education.

But as corporate members of ALEC continue to leave the organization, the National Center for Public Policy has stepped up to the plate. The organization announced it was launching a “Voter Identification Task Force” after ALEC disbanded its Public Safety and Elections task force.

“Corporate money has always wormed its way into politics,” Maddow said. “Guys like Jack Abramoff and Tom Delay and Ralph Reed and Tony Rudy made a transfixing illegal art form out of doing that.”

Bound and determined to have their way no matter what.

Educate yourselves.

(via holygoddamnshit-deactivated2012)

holygoddamnshit:

GAY REPUBLICANS NOW FUNDRAISING FOR SCANDAL-RIDDEN ARIZONA SHERIFF PAUL BABEU

In the fantasy world Republicans live in, a closeted sheriff accused of threatening to deport his Mexican ex-amigo if he spoke about the relationship doesn’t make you a pariah—it’s the stuff of heroism!

Buzzfeed reports that the Log Cabin Republicans of Arizona have decided to throw Paul Babeu, the scandal-plagued sheriff of Pinal County, a big fundraising party. Only $1,000 a ticket (no dinner, either)!

Where’s it all going down? At the house of fellow scandal-ridden gay Republican, Jim Kolbe, of course!

Here’s the text of the letter (and here’s a jpg):

Arizona Sheriff Paul Babeu is a rising star in conservative politics. Chosen “Sheriff of the Year” by the National Sheriff’s Association in 2011, Babeu has gained prominence for his work securing the border and reforming law enforcement in Pinal County.

An Iraq War veteran, Babeu served for over 20 years in the Army National Guard. In his race for Arizona’s 4th Congressional District, Babeu has won the support of leading Republicans and was warmly welcomed at the Conservative Political Action Conference this year.

In short, Sheriff Babeu is a successful conservative Republican. He is also gay.

Sheriff Babeu follows in the tradition of many conservatives who have stood up in communities, town halls, and in Congress for what’s right for the American people. Following in the mold of the late Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ), Arizonans have long supported the best candidate for office, regardless of their sexual orientation, including Log Cabin member and longtime Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ).

Simply by being who we are – unapologetically pro-gay and unapologetically conservative – Log Cabin Republicans like Sheriff Babeu are helping to secure the freedoms America stands for, and that’s something we can all be proud of.

Proud of? This is the stuff of pride? Ugh. Vom.

Full story here: http://www.queerty.com/gay-republicans-now-fundraising-for-scandal-ridden-az-sheriff-paul-babeu-20120424/#ixzz1syA2mhmk

(via holygoddamnshit-deactivated2012)